T'estimo

“Sometimes, to lose balance for love is part of living balance in life.”

The morning following my first introduction lecture and performance in Bielsko-Biala, my mind started dancing bright early and finally dragged me out of bed around 7am.  Great, the perfect time for catching this slogan, finishing the movie Eat, Pray, Love, and writing it all down.

Since this is an artist residency, I have been walking around and brainstorming what to make in this little Polish city the past 1.5 week.  My concept involves using old abandoned buildings in the city, so permission has to be granted from the officials.  Who knows if I can actually work on them or have to change this and that to fit the regulation?  I’m not really worried.  One way or the other, art will grow through me to meet the world.

Seeing Julia Roberts travel through cities to find herself reminds me of my own time this past year.  After all the wild experience, I also met my love.  Perhaps it’s silly to think too far ahead.  When you meet that special someone who touches your soul and sparks up that fierce passion within you, what else can you do but to love and be loved? 

Now is the moment to live.  Let it be.  Miss him as your heart moves, send him your soothing vibe, meditate to simply be who you are, experiment your body in performance, create the form that has been growing in your subconscious… 

Whatever life brings to you, behold and flow.

或許我很傻，愛上一個未必有結果的異地戀人、在表演中把身心赤祼祼地表露、幻想可以在這個波蘭小市鎮進行接近不可能的計劃… 但這些憑真心幹的傻事，卻正正是生命中不能或缺及令人感到活著的重要元素。

這個小城很寧靜，物價指數偏低，最好的娛樂便是行街市，每每買到又平又靚的蔬果，我都不禁沾沾自喜，上星期完成了第一場演講及表演，雖然裝置計劃仍未獲批，但我並不焦急，藝術已經在我體內蠢蠢欲動，時機一到，她便會破繭而出。

生命之河帶我不住遊歷，不同體驗的機會接踵而來，既然有幸能與心靈接通的人墮進愛河，便在思念中送他暖心的能量，然後靜坐冥想時繼續學習回歸真我，放膽去創作試驗身體及藝術的可能性。

隨流水漂動，讓遍地開花。

Et trobo a faltar!

My usual sight in Sitges everyday!

My beloved David was about to open a cafe, so I tried to help as much as possible.  Here I was working on two doors.

To be honest, I actually quite enjoyed painting the bench.

Let's check out the wine cellar of the supplier, baby.

The not-so-manual process of the wine.

Most people would be thrilled about this kind of wine tasting, but I was more excited about the biscuit sticks which were served with the wine.

More self-amusement while waiting for friends, lalala...

Always an enjoyable time with lovely Linda!

Why so serious, my love?

I made the lunch for my favorite people in Barcelona. Yup!

Lin Lin, miss you already. :P

Artist making quick portraits for the cafe! 

I maybe the only Asian in the series, but is there something wrong with my eyes or what?

What kind of face would be appropriate when you miss the stop to your destination?

The main street of Bielsko-Biała.

Both Kostas & I love this gallery bar.

The back terrace is an awesome place to chill!

Do you find this old town square a little messy?

Abandoned buildings are my target.  What kind of art will grow on them?  Permission is the question.

Without any specific instruction, I went on the quest for the lake.

Though the lake wasn't exactly what I expected, at least I got some sun, swim & green!

How wonderful is this moment.

What do you think about life?

Charming night view of the city.

Nice company, delicious food, beautiful view...  what more do you want?

The Spanish artists, Juan & Naza, working hard on their mural.

Two connected coffees in "little Vienna".

Best dessert in town to wrap up Conney's 3-days visit.

Thank you for all the joy, comfort, and laughters you brought, my dear!

The organizer of my artist residence - Bielska BWA Gallery.

The spacious exhibition area.

Ready?

Slow down and feel.

Performing with my past.

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Didier及Bruno，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、戀愛、敘舊，熱得快失去自我，相信是時候為七八月波蘭的藝術家駐場計劃準備心情，在新環境醖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: 這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/