Friday, June 22, 2012

Past Lives

"We have met in previous lives." Dan, my first host in Paris said to Philomène & me while we were having tea in the morning. "Perhaps this meeting of us was arranged by our souls in the dream."

"During one life I was a sick little German girl, You, an injured Russian soldier, and Philomène, a doctor. Our brief encounter was on the hospital beds." Dan continued, "Before this life, we were even one Vietnamese family: I the child, you the mother, and Philomène the father."

Regardless incarnation is true or not, I was fascinated by the idea of a soul reunion.  Since I didn't have much quality sleep camping for the art festival in cold & rainy Wales, my recovery time in Paris with OLD friends was exactly what I needed.  No rush, no plan, no stress, just good companies & delicious homey foods! Thanks to my warm hosts, Paris didn't give me the bitter aftertaste most tourists got. Instead, my heart was well rested and nurtured in this sparking cultural city.

I have been back to my 3rd home, Barcelona, for a week already. This time I'm settled in Sitges (45 mins from BCN).  The sun and beloved people continue to bring joy to my whole being. The artist residency in Poland will be an intensely creative period next.  My heart has been itching, and is more than ready to create from all the inspiration I received this past year.  But am I ready to say yet another goodbye to my love?

巴黎 - 很多人心目中的浪漫之都,但有不少朋友失望而回,投訴這個城市不友善,並不歡迎遊客。多得沙發客幾個素未謀面卻親切得驚人的東道主,舟車勞頓的我,經歷過在英國威爾斯Wales一個小型藝術節寒冷天氣下露營及車站過夜後,竟可以在聞名的文化大都會中從容不迫地閒逛、舒適自在地休息。

人與人之間微妙的關係輕輕觸動我的心,令到一個本來冰冷的旅遊景點變得真實有人情味,我等旅人在途上總會交上數之不盡的知己朋友,有些會在這幅畫上留下深刻的色彩,今次遇上偶然看到前世景像的Dan分享我倆過去的關連,還有接待我如多年老友的DidierBruno,可能,我們真的曾在另一個時空相親相愛、守望相助,生命之可能性,已超越一剎那的感動。

第四次再嘗巴塞的體溫,卻有截然不同的經歷,今次住在離市中心45分鐘車程的錫切斯Sitges於炎炎夏日瘋狂地開會、工作、愛、敘舊,熱得快失去自我,相信是時候為七八月波蘭藝術家駐場計劃準備心情,在新環境釀下一朵以生命綻放的花。

Free food on the street with Hen & Jess in London!
Look at your smile.  How can I not love you, my dearest Jess?
Trial run for Creative Alchemy, a blind-folded interactive performance. 
The tree house in Mellowcroft, Wales during CWM Festival.
Some participants going through their own blind-folded trip. 
A moment with you is more than a thousand words.
Beautiful light with gorgeous people.
A short hike near the camp site.
Spot light on the chosen land?
After first hitchhiking, I also had my first privilege to sleep in train station.  Yeah!  I DID it!
Last London family reunion before I took off.
Dan took me to his Butoh teacher, Ken's, dance performance right after I arrived Paris.  His little boy is so adorable. 
Cool centre for a variety of art.
Left: Philomène & Dan negotiation in process.  Right: STOP sign is heavy, man. 
Doesn't this labyrinth look like my upcycle magazine art, LOL?
The pearl of France.
FREE ME!
Exhausted...  Only have a few hours left.  Where to go?
Love this painted wall of fames in the museum of Modern Art.
The Eiffel Tower in the gate of peace.
Do those shining statues look fake or just me?
Daniel Buren's Monumenta 2012 in Grand Palais.  The space is magnificent, and the circles look fun, but is there more to it?
Nevertheless, it's the perfect public space to take your family & chill with friends.
The only group picture of Didier, Bruno, and me in the reflection.
"Les Deux Plateaux" by the same artist, Buren, at the main courtyard of the Palais-Royal, Paris. 
Such a bizarre juxtaposition of art and architectures.
Jazz on the street of Paris - exactly my cup of tea.
Cozy home of Didier & Bruno - where I regained my strength for more travel. 
The famous "Grande Arche" (Great Arch) in la Défense.
La Défense, the "new" town where all the skyscrapers are.
Looking at the "Arc de Triomphe" through art.
A super quick catch up with lovely friends within my 12 hour stopover in London.
Introducing my dear and the sky castle in Sitges.
Thanks to David, I finally visited an organic farm...
Iris's sculpture looked stunning in the performance, and Arnout did well as the MAN!
Linda & I got caught in the washing machine.
LinLin & Numi's first try of selling at the Lost & Found market.
What are you looking for, love?
I will be launching the Hong Kong school of Estudio Nomada Art Program in January 2013!  Check out the following site for details: 個旅程有另一個大收獲:我將會於2013年1月與位於巴塞隆納Estudio Nomada合作開香港分校!http://hongkong.estudio-nomada.com/

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Skin

"My skin is coming off!"
What? How? Why?  8 straight days of sun in Vienna without sun screen is the cause. I couldn't resist to stripe off as much as possible to absorb that radiant light my being so needed.  Yes, I was told that it was unusual for Vienna, but this golden experience of the city has been printed on my mind.  My tanned skins remind me that this dream was real. I did run by the canal, cycle through the woods, climbed into an abandoned church/restaurant, party in the mountain, hug a tree during sunrise...

On the contrary, Prague was a more introspective trip. The beautiful city has a calm spirit with a slight touch of sadness.  I felt a sense of alienation and disconnection not only in the architectures but also in the very air we breathed.  Perhaps the history of continuous occupation and the communist ideal still have subtle influences on its society or was it just me? Nevertheless, my lovely couchsurfing host lives a nudist lifestyle, and he gave me my first taste of a naturalist indoor swim.

I enjoy the kind of travel which takes me out of my comfort zone as well as stimulate my intuition and sentiments.  Each city will be remembered as a specific experience; not merely a postcard photo.  One year of non-stop adventure has given me the inner strength to fearlessly pursue what makes me come alive.  Yet this expedition only feels like the beginning of something much bigger.  No rush to find out what it is, but this much I know – I need to keep learning how to flow with open arms.

三星期的旅程完滿結束,難忘巴塞隆納的情、布拉格的靜、維也納的光,倫敦生活緊迫,密密麻麻的時間表跟長長的工時立即帶我回現實,但那不是夢境,我真的偷了西班牙之吻、吸了捷克優美略帶哀傷的空氣、飲了奧地利熾熱奔放的能源。

離港闖蕩已一年了,重看第一篇博客,記起當時的憧憬及心情,意想不到的事已接踵地發生,究竟要做一個擔驚受怕還是從容不迫的人,其實到最後都是自己的決定,還想什麼?繼續感受當下,為認為值得的人和事而活吧!

A quiet small town near Prague - only 40 mins by bus.
Run into this peaceful foresty park while I wandered in the city.
Sketching is one of the best way to observe and feel a city's details and rhythm.  I sat there for almost 2 hours! (well, with some naps n between)
Prague 2 is rather calm and has less tourists, especially at night.
Big road, small alley way all seem to have a history, tell a story.
Captivating Jazz/blue performance by Stan the Man (right); just a little too expensive for poor travelers like me
The modern art museum, Veletrzni palace, carry the same grayish cold feeling as the city.
Mushroom-like form and marked motionless child - can't be a coincidence, right?
These are my kind of artwork - vibrant order in chaos.
An enjoyable 4.5 hours bus ride from Prague to Vienna went by real fast.
My first impression of Vienna - sun, sUn, SUN!!!!!
Left: Before Sunrise?  Right: an artwork casted from a 2000 years old tree in a Greek temple exhibition hall.  Terrific space for installation!
Museumsquartier assembles most of the art museums in one area.  Easy for visitors to see it all.  I only managed to check out the Museum of Modern Art though.
MUMOK was mostly showing works by Claes Oldenburg.  To be honest, apart from this soft/fabric everyday object series, I wasn't really engaged.
Sunbathing time outside of the galleries!
Joined my friend for a geo-scientist post-conference party - a very different crowd.
Splendid night view of the canal.
Hiking time, tanning time!
Gosh, I miss being surrounded by woods.
Checking out an abandoned restaurant (possibly previously monastery) with Stefan.
It's very exciting to explore deserted places.  Loads of history and breath-taking energy.
The exterior of the building and the church next to it.
A lovely meaty Austrian family lunch with my superb host, Roland.
Cute looking scene from a movie.
Ready to cycle through the woods?
Left: pure self-amusement.  Right: fountain in Schlosspark
What a magnificent view of the mountains outside of the Goa party, 2.5 hours drive from Vienna.  This is where I had my first and probably last psychedelic trip.
Sunrise only means half-time in the party.
How can I miss out painting in such a natural/chaotic phenomenon?
The sun is up & shining.  Time to dance more!
Not your usual party location.
Back to London.  The forest tribe in preparation for yet another party.
Ready to rock N' roll.
The tribe patiently waiting for the tube.
Introducing the full gang: Mother Earth, Goblin, Dark Rainbow & Shaman Lau.
So here's how the story begins...