“Nothing surprises you anymore. You are so used to going with the flow now.” A Turkish traveler who sat next to me in an experimental live gig said after hearing my story this half a year.
Am I, really?
I must admit I am much less paranoid when it comes to the uncertainty of life these days. Money? Housing? Career? Relationship? We can always wrap our mind around these matters and feel the insane pressure from our society, family, peers, and inner critic. Yet my experience teaches me that everything somehow cooperates for the benefits of all in the end; we will be able to savor it if we have an open heart.
The expedition is continuous. I still have a long way to go. Curling up in my little cold studio in Barcelona, I take a moment to taste the flavors of how far I have come. It is like a miracle to undergo such transformation. I don’t even remember when I started seeing lessons instead of failure. All I know is the growth I have been longing for is here and now.
One month in London went by faster than my senses as I worked days and nights to save up for this time back. Fortunately, all these temporary jobs brought me to the behind the scene of places I wouldn’t have the chance to go otherwise.
It is time to focus on my art again. Moreover, I will put my energy into writing, teaching, and experiencing the vibe of the city. Yes, I am going to write a short piece about my past and how I deal with depressing emotion nowadays for Chris’s new book. Last year, I illustrated for her first book about depression. It will be a challenge as Chinese composition isn’t exactly my strength. Yet I’m sure revisiting those old memories and articulating my journey of maturity will be meaningful. Stay tuned for my chronicle.
不消兩小時的機程，我便回到巴賽隆納，由於在倫敦日以繼夜地苦幹，到步工作室重見熟識的人和物時，感覺很不實在，彷彿一切都是夢境與現實交錯的效果。
然而又可以專注藝術，今次沒有展覽的壓力，我還有時間兼顧寫作及教學，真真正正去感受這個城市的脈搏。對呀，我將會為《鬱．盡時》作者Chris的新作寫一篇關於面對抑鬱體驗和心得的文章，縱然知道自己文字功力有限，但仍想盡力去試，相信這個不簡單的寫作過程會為我帶來另一趟心靈之旅。
期待當回顧上半生的甜酸苦辣，但願我的故事能為不同的人帶來一點點鼓勵和啟發。
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| My new home in Barcelona for the next 6 weeks - a sailboat! |
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| Survived my first night in the cold, I look forward to more unexpected experience in this little space. |
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| Thanks to my ex-flatmate Shane, I had a couch to crash for the first few nights. |
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| Love Linda's arty home with high ceiling. The bizarre decoration is a bonus. |
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| Gotta reconnect with my couchsurfing friends at the language exchange meeting. My Spanish hasn't progressed much though. |
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| Hunting for super cheap warm cloths at the Lost & Found market in a train station. I ended up getting a colorful scarf for only 50 cents! |
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| Left: ran into this human pyramid as I was wandering on the street. Right: upcycle installation in the air outside of DRAP ART Festival. |
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| DRAP ART fair with loads of upcycle products. |
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| This guy can make music out of almost anything, be it real instruments or trashes on the street. |
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| Swingy jazzy blue - not sure if it was me or them, I kept falling asleep watching this gig, hehe... |
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| This is the experimental gig I was talking about. Poetry reading plus lots of wacky noises. Strangely enough, I started to feel repetitive after a while. I guess it's not so weird after all. |
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| Kinetic art exhibition opening by students at the studio - these artworks have a mechanism which is somewhat interactive with the public. |
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| Rewind back to London: a spectacular performance by Orchestra Elastique. These guys played with regular instruments as well as devices they put together. It would be awesome if I can perform with them one day. |
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| Now we know this is indeed United Kingdom, not Spain. |
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| Walked by the canal after work one day & saw these two swans. They thought I had food & came right to me. |
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| And so, the life-modeling continued. This time with cloth on. |
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| Still work in progress. Can't wait to see how they will look like when I finish my last two sessions with these artists in February. |
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| Farewell gathering for Asia at CoolTan Arts - a social art centre for mental wellbeing. |
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| At the Museum of London - can you believe it? Slavery is still taking place in the 21st century, even in London! |
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| The boys busy making a deliciously wonderful dinner. THANK YOU, my dear Ali! |
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| Waiting for Anabel to get off work from her cozy Wild Food cafe. Raw & organic foods, yummmm... |
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| Looking null catching the bright early train to work. |
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| Work took me to Emirate Stadium to serve behind the bar. |
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| Then as a waiter at the prestigious Banquet Hall. I learned how to formally set up the table, lol! |
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| Also as a suite attendant for a concert in the O2 Arena. |
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| Oh yeah, baby, give it to me! |
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| Nanny dressing up for our little princess. |
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| Miss you dearly, my love. |
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| Packing up last night in London. I painted those calligraphy for my dear friend. It means "Heart shall always stay calm in the chaotic world. Seas of troubles on the chest will fly away in dreams." Bless you, my love |
