Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Formosa

After 1.5 years of struggle in Hong Kong, I finally made the move to look for alternative opportunities and most importantly, a quiet place to create in Taiwan. Why was it so difficult back home this time? I could go on and on and whine about all the so-called practical reasons, but it seems silly to do so now. Who doesn't have baggage, heartache, and responsibility anyway?
3 years ago, things were going smooth. I nonetheless decided to take off to Europe for a life-changing adventure. It turned out to be the climax of my life. Yet the same thing which brings you to the top can also haunt you for the rest of your life. That's probably why so many heartbroken romances leave the couples devastated. Hong Kong simply cannot compare to the inspiring London and blissful Barcelona. It still doesn't have the soil to nurture creativity and the capacity to embrace differences. To be honest, my heart was barely alive in this dark period.
Anyhow, there is no one to blame, including myself. Although something could have been handled better, all was meant to be. I have to learn this necessary lesson possibly no other way. How could I be reconstructed if not broken first? Both the glorious and gloomy time of life clearly show me that nothing is permanent. My priority is no longer searching for more highs to fill the holes but a tranquil dwelling to ground my soul and cultivate my art. Surely inner peace is attained from within not without, but I'm also aware that my spirit is not calm enough to go far at the moment. A location with soothing energy can give me a lift. Thus, this is where I am at, Formosa.  Here I carry on my soulful journey in mindful pace.

在台灣一個月,感覺平靜了。放下香港的工作室及其他瑣事後,我再踏上旅途,這次目標更明確:尋找機會,靜心創作。無需任何華麗刺激的冒險,只要讓我重新感受大地,使困擾已久的心靈得到休息,令差點枯乾的藝術得到滋養,就足夠了。

離開前個多月,胃部忽然感到脹痛,起初以為只是消化不良,嘗試過多種坊間療法,情況也沒有好轉,於是中西醫雙管齊下,入院差不多全身檢查, 但仍找不到所謂的病因。其實心中有數,身體不適往往是生命其他部分出了亂子,從歐洲回港後這年半充滿了深層掙扎,難道我真以為可以免於一病嗎?

謝謝胃病老師,為這趟旅程揭開了一個謙卑的序幕,現在只要稍為緊張急速用餐,身體便會立刻發出警告,終於沒有選擇餘地,要把所有生活節奏 - - - 來。

近日生命之河帶我到北海岸「海邊的家cafe」駐村創作,每天跑去看天色、聽浪花、寫隨筆,把非筆墨所能形容的觸動幻化成一件件與大自然對話的環境裝置。這裏的體驗讓我有感而發,為總結這篇相隔十八個月的網誌,寫了八句似詩非詩的文字:

「久違了的, 寧靜和平,身心所需,就是如此 ,一切從簡,回歸基本,放空當下,海闊天空 。」

Ready for yet another go?
Teaser for a series of installation/land art by the sea.
And your catch for the day is...
The Blue Monument
Mini Nazca Lines?
Daily visit to the beach.
Precious space, time, and people
Can breakfast be more enjoyable?
Ease
My little cutie chalk drawing!
All set to paint.
靜心 Be Still My Soul
[Kituru] means practice or learning in Paiwan, an indigenous tribe in Taiwan.  LOVE the earthy but minimal aesthetic of this cafe.  [Kituru] 排灣語練習或學習的意思,這家位於台東的原住民咖啡店暫時是我的台灣至愛。
Our lovely host in Hualien.  Thanks for lending me The Path to Freedom by His Holiness The Dalai Lama! I'm learning a great deal about Tibet and the scary liberation by China.
生彩 Breathing Hue
One magnificent view of our mother earth.
Grounded - a closure piece for this life period.  From here on, it's highlight of 2013-14 Hong Kong flashback.
爸爸媽咪,多謝你們一直以來的支持,我會努力的!回來再一起行山!
Let's shout, my beloved sisters in HK! Thank you for your company all along.
The closing ceremony of "Grow On" - a disastrous installation during JCCAC Art Festival.  I squeezed out the last bit of energy from the chaos of life to perform this creative offering.
Paint! Mess! Crap!  Pretty sure JCCAC won't let me do a large scale installation there again but neither would I.  No hard feeling.  It's just over.
My much missed JCCAC art critique group!  Wai, second from the left, is my first and only art residence student from Netherlands.  Mentoring her was a rewarding experience.
Here we're trying the set up of an upcycle X'mas decoration.  This big project wouldn't be possible without the help of many many many friends.
Last touch at Zero Carbon Building.
Colorful rubbish art, baby!
Upcycle wedding decoration for the same client.  All made from abandoned woods and furnitures.
Jeff from Canada, also the first and only resident artist I received, investigated the idea of HOME in HK, where his father was born and raised.
His closure exhibition was a great turn out!  Glad I was able to offer this opportunity to him.
Modelling performance at John McArthur's solo exhibition opening. Drawing by Jack Loo on the right.
Can you find the Tao?
Big thank you to my dear friends who came to help out an important blind-folded session for my Right Brain Potential Creative Course.  Really proud I managed to pull off this class with Conney in the midst of ups and downs.
Close your eyes and see.
Thanks to yoga; I could enjoy the periodic peace and silence.
You can tell who has a better posture OR you can say I'm not a very good teacher, ha...
Thank you, dear, for leaving me with a delightful memory in the beginning of 2013.
2013 is over.  2014 is half way done.  Let the rest unfold in peace.