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 - 慢 - 下 - 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.

NOW

2012 will end tonight. I woke up before the sun without planning.  Just reviewed what happened this past year again.  I realize the biggest lesson I learned is to live in the moment.  When I was traveling, I had no baggage of the past and future but made decision based on NOW.  A risk/opportunity is presented before me.  Only a moment is needed to take it or miss it.  The rest is history.  Many people may spend a whole life running away from the past and worrying about the future.  Yet life passes by when we are not here and now.

My ego never lets me get away easily.  It is constantly under threat and will look for all possible ways to survive, including taking my whole being down.  I was there – the bottom of the pit, the wrestling ring, the isolated corner…  But I refuse to live in self-conflict anymore.  NOW it’s the time to take a step back and observe the bullshits my ego has been feeding me all my life.  All those fears, hatred, anxiety blinded me.  How could I have mistaken my ego as my true self?

Nevertheless, the only way to deal with the monstrous self is not to fight it but to be with it.  No analysis, no critique, no negotiation, no nothing.  Just simply be, as you are.  Such a presence will bring peace and shine light on the chaos.  In fact, it is just another way to live in the moment.  When a gap is created between the compulsive thoughts, we feel our breaths and come alive.

Anyhow, goodbye, ego.  In 2013, you are no longer the ruler of my heart.  I am.

天未光一早醒來，腦袋報告還有不少事務要處理，但我偏偏選擇回顧2012發生的種種，發現這一年最大的功課是活在當下，遊歷時，我沒有過去和未來的包袱，只管面對眼前一個又一個的挑戰和機會，它們不會等人，一瞬即逝，很多人窮盡一生精力與過去周旋及為未來憂慮，但卻忘記了生命其實只有現在這一刻是真實的。

「自我」從來不會輕易放過我，他經常感受到威脅，會用盡一切方法求存，甚至賠上生命也在所不惜，那些深淵、鬥場、死角… 我已經歷過無數次並厭倦了自我掙扎這門把戲，是時候退一步觀察「自我」一路以來在耳邊說的狗屁，原來我一直被那些恐懼、憎恨、焦慮蒙蔽了雙眼，竟把「自我」誤以為真我。

雖然如此，與這個霸度的「自我」搏鬥卻不是出路，相反我要學習與之共處，不再分析、批判、理論內裏的想法，靜靜聆聽，感受真我那平和的存在，簡單而言，它只是活在當下另一種演繹方式，不用思前想後，以靜制亂、以柔制剛。

總之2013年，自我拜拜，當下自由自在地隨心過活！

Already started working the second day I was back... this is Hong Kong...

HUGE THANKS to three sisters who helped me soooooo much!  LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

In the middle of the night, at an old factory, an artist painting, what's next?

A great sunny day for the actual installation.

Presenting the one & only Upcycle Xmas tree at Gold Coast HK! 

My heart smiles when trash finally got transformed into art.

Make a wish, my friend. 

What's up with this kiddy looking set?  Well, I was on a TV kid's program, LOL!

Lau family with grandma

Sis, you looked stunning.  Glad to be back earlier for your big day.

Happy wedding, my beloved!

Believe it or not, this is indeed HK.  NO KIDDING.

Happy Gale looks tiny in the rocky scene.

My tough & lovely Ship who is always up for any challenge.

Oh yea baby, I modeled again... this time with plants.

Love the scarf.

Haven't modeled for almost half a year.  Brought back lots of memories. 

Seven Deadly Sins Opening Performance.

wrestling ring

bottom of the pit

isolated corner

Underneath Sloth - one of the paintings for the exhibition

Participated in Moving Arts Hong Kong, I danced with the waves, the sands, and the light in my homeland.  My scene is at the last 30 seconds of this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHvMsfYDMAg

The 3 babies united at last.  Good show, my dear!

CHEERS, for 2013!

The nomadic art grant is still on.  For details, http://hongkong.estudio-nomada.com/