Week 18

Last week (Week 17 post) you could see images of the collaborative process I did with Adrian. The next stage was not as much process focussed but was intended to let him experiment with the results using digital media. Adrian was totally in control of the creative process this time, directing me what to do with the choices I offered him. The results you can see below. This and last weeks images were taking during 2 hour session.

The scanned original

19/2 Monday
All is well, but no observation, still filming in Maastricht.


Choosing which is up.

20/2 Tuesday
All is well, but no observation, still filming in Maastricht.

Changing colour.

21/2 Wednesday
All is well, but no observation, still filming in Maastricht.

One shape stands out for him, which he chooses to copy and paste a few times.

22/2 Thursday
All is well, but no observation.

Eliminating the clutter around that shape and choosing a new background.

23/2 Friday
All is well, but no observation.

Multiplying the shape on the new background.

24/2 Saturday
All is well, but no observation.

A little play to finish up an amazing and intense 2-hour session.

25/2 Sunday
All is well, but no observation.

Week 17

Images this week: an interesting creative collaborative process with an added dimension.

Adrian did not know what he wanted to do in the studio today. A thought came to me (intuition), to suggest that we do a collaborative piece today (one that requires dealing issues of boundaries and respect). He did not have to think about it for one second and enthusiastically agreed. I suggested we take turns making a mark on the big paper and see what happens.

Adrian’s turn.

12/2 Monday
All is well, bridge still standing.

My turn. We are doing well. He loves it, telling me in English when it is my turn, no need for translation (he learned the words instantly). There is enough space for both of us to make marks, sometimes we respond to each other’s marks, sometimes we start a new separate mark. I am the first one to go over one of his marks (I am curious to see how he responds when I cross an invisible boundary, and break ‘rules’ that were not established. Till now we were polite and there was enough space). He does not like it, but likes the idea and begins to do the same (by example I gave him permission to explore the crossing of boundaries).

13/2 Tuesday
No observation, filming in The Netherlands.

Then he takes over and wildly covers all previous marks. I mimic his action (confirming permission), to which he responds with a more energetic covering the page as quickly and intensely as he can for a long period of time. He displays a range of emotional expressions in the process.

14/2 Wednesday
No observation, in The Netherlands.

There is no longer time to take turns. We jointly cover everything we did before (I am on his side and support him). He is very happy for me to help him.

15/2 Thursday
No observation, in The Netherlands.


He is very cheeky, kind of respectfully challenging my 'authority'. He starts taping my mouth and later my eyes as well (silencing my authority by taking away the tools used to exercise authority). I let him as he does it with care; I feel it is an important part of the process that he is going through. He is laughing and loves having an advantage over me (must be quite empowering).

16/2 Friday
No observation, heading for Maastricht in The Netherlands.

He covers his own eyes as well. We both know how to cheat and see a bit anyway and continue making marks. At times he barely gives me time to have a turn, I do the same taking cues for my behaviour from him. The process is going at a tremendous pace. (I mimic his energy, seldom do I need to focus him back to the page, when I do he accepts my cues readily).

17/2 Saturday
No observation, filming carnival in Maastricht, The Netherlands.

After some time he frees both of us from our tape with care and we negotiate how to end the process. He is getting tired (no wonder, it was quite an intense session). Happily we jointly cover the last bits of the page. I know this was an important process of expression for him. A lot of energy was released. I am not interested in analysing what it was about. What counts is that it found a safe way to experiment and express his emotions. I was not concerned at any moment what the end result would look like; the process was the objective, not creating a 'master piece'. The process did not end here though. I took a digital photo and we continue working with the piece using digital tools. The interesting results will be published next week.

18/2 Sunday
No observation, filming and participating in the parade in Maastricht, The Netherlands.

-Carnival in Maastricht has officially begun today. I am filming some of the symbolic aspects of this festival, I may not be able to restrain myself and join in as well.

Week 16, Bridge Guard 7 Exhibition Opening

Friday 9 February was the opening night of my first exhibition in Sturovo, Slovakia. The exhibition comprised eighteen soft pastel drawings (A4), sixty-five series of seven digital images (45x420mm) and the screening of two video shorts; H20 (5 min.) and Searching for Silent Night (17 min.), the first two videos made during the residency.



5/2 Monday
All is well, bridge still standing.



Gyuri Himmler, the local coordinator for the Bridge Guard Residency (left) welcomed the guests and introduced the speakers. Hanneke Fruehauf (right) of Dutchartdesk.ch from Switzerland opened the exhibition. The speeches were kindly translated by Eva Uzsak (centre) from German into Hungarian.



6/2 Tuesday
All is well, bridge still standing.



I am counting the number of languages used among the people present at the opening in this small Slovak town. I counted six: Hungarian, Slovak, English, German, Dutch, and art.



7/2 Wednesday
All is well, bridge still standing.



I had prepared my speech in English, but had to do it in German, which was required for the translator. Even though I speak German reasonably well, it was not easy to talk about my work in German. My mind was constantly switching back to English, causing me to start sentences in English instead of German. Quite a few times I had to start over again prompted by a polite smile from the translator to the delight of the guests.

The list of exhibited images was made available in three languages; Slovak, Hungarian and English. Both Hungarian and Slovak have many different accents on letters. I tried my best to get them all right. Some of them were not available on my computer. On this blog all proper accents are missing for convenience reasons, my apologies.



8/2 Thursday
All is well, bridge still standing.



Most digital images were recorded using a video camera rather than a digital still camera. The images I record this way differ from the ones taken with a still camera. I discover many images after shooting when I scroll through the footage. It is a joyful process of discovery.

For me, filming and taking stills are closely related to the Buddhist practices of ‘being present with’ and ‘observation’. It is an intimate activity that I impose on the viewer by printing the images quite small. They measure 45x60 mm. The viewer needs to get up close to observe the images.




9/2 Friday
All is well, bridge still standing.



The central theme is that unites my work across all the disciplines I engage in is ‘transition’, a process or period in which someone or something undergoes change from one state to another. I am particularly interested in transitions people aspire to, seek or achieve in life through deliberate actions and rituals.

The video ‘H20’ is a short meditation on the ritualistic collection of water by people in sanctuary of Lourdes, France. They seek transition from being unwell to a state of wellbeing through the medium of water.

‘Searching for Silent Night’ is a musical search among people and buskers in the main streets of Vienna for the essence of Christmas. Silent Night is often sung at the start of a midnight mass. It marks the moment of transition between the most frantic and quietest days of the year, a magical moment at which all goes quiet. I love that moment and the carol that symbolises that moment for me. The video explores the lack of silence at this time of year.

Both videos are similar is style. They were filmed at night, when the camera records less frames per minute, creating series of snapshots rather than a smooth flowing film. I do not stand still or hold the camera steady. Filming is a dynamic process for me, more like a dance with the camera and the subject matter. This style of filming creates abstract footage that carries the viewer from one focussed moment to the next.



10/2 Saturday
All is well, bridge still standing.



Some visitors were surprised to discover that I used the space I live, work and sleep in as the gallery. I used the three large rooms and the hallway for the exhibition. The only area not used was the bathroom.

It was a great evening. People stayed for many hours and I enjoyed their company and interest in my work. The next exhibition opening will be on Friday 13 April 2007, 1:00 p.m., here at the Bridge Guard Residence. The exhibition will illustrate the creative process I do with the kids that live across the road from me in the orphanage (hence the unusual opening time).




11/2 Sunday
All is well, bridge still standing.

Week 15

Images this week: Julia is learning to make choices.

Julia (7) is very shy, and only communicated with me by whispering via Szilvia, never addressed me directly. She made a painting, which we scanned it into the computer. Then we collaboratively played with the following actions: copy/paste elements, change size, change colour. I gave her each time two options to choose from. In the beginning she did not know what to choose, possibly because she is not used to having choices in life. Soon however she got used to the idea of having options and determined her choice before I could finish my question. As she left through the main gate (in the safety of neutral territory), she suddenly addressed me directly, with great confidence. Later I heard from Szilvia (the pedagogue who accompanies the kids to the studio and acts as a translator) That Julia talked non-stop about me after they left. She wanted to come and live here to keep me company (I must surely be lonely and scared, living by myself). She would cry for me, she said (a sign of the ability to empathise, she probably knows what it is like).

29/1 Monday
All is well, bridge still standing.

Original painting.

30/1 Tuesday
All is well, bridge still standing.

Adding clouds.

31/1 Wednesday
All is well, bridge still standing.

Adding houses.

1/2 Thursday
All is well, bridge still standing.

More houses this time on clouds.

2/2 Friday
All is well, bridge still standing.

Drawing of a flower.

3/2 Saturday
All is well, bridge still standing.

More flowers.

4/2 Sunday
All is well, bridge still standing.

The end result.