The Mária Valéria Bridge Log by the 7th Bridge Guard

A stone with a purpose.

2007-04-26T20:12:00.000-07:00

Video still: Anti carrying the stone from the residence to the park.

I moved a stone, an obstacle that blocked the flow of creative thinking in the life of the children. What happens with stone when it has been moved? Does it remain an obstacle but just in a different location, or can it serve a new purpose?

Video still: Digging the hole.

During the exhibition ritual I promised to lay the 'altar' stone in the park that separates the house from the town. A symbolic gesture, wishing it to a stepping stone for the kids to the town and the foundation for new developments, connections, ways of thinking. Today I got confirmation that the stone has not become another obstacle in a new location, but that it has indeed has already become a stone with a different function as a rock, a foundation for something new.

Video still: Kids watching with interest.

I visited the director of the orphanage to thank him and to say goodbye. He thanked me for showing a different way of working with the children and that as a result he will think differently and will continue to do so in the future. Well that was just music in my ears. It gives me hope that change is always possible, no matter how 'stuck' systems or people seem. The Berlin wall came down, maybe one day the parameter fence of the orphanage will too. From the inside out hopefully as that would be most empowering.

Video still: All set.

The director cannot do this alone, he will need support from visionaries who can envisage change, new possibilities, different modes of thinking and operating. I hope he will have the courage to implement change. He has Szilvia as an ally, which is a great start. Accessing creative thinking is a crucial tool for growth. A simple art project as I did with the children can make a difference and is proof to me that access to the arts in its widest possible meaning is extremely important for humans and human development.

Video still: Tucking it in.

I derive great satisfaction from knowing that what I have set in motion will not stop with my departure. I am an idealist, wanting to move mountains, easily frustrated when they don't move the way I see possible. With online support from friends in New Zealand (Lynsey, Marica) and The Netherlands (Henriette) I have learned to be satisfied with the small subtle changes. There is no such thing as charity, there is always an exchange when one engages with other people, a teacher is also a student and the student is also a teacher. This is the foundation of critical pedagogy which, alongside writings by Paolo Friere has influenced my way of working with people and communities. This has been true in this project as well. I have learned so much and have been able to grow personally for which I am really grateful.

Video still: paying a spontaneous tribute.

So, I am saying goodbye to all the readers of this blog, as my role as Bridge Guard ends with my departure tomorrow. I will be traveling to The Netherlands and Turkey to film, followed by an adventurous holiday in Syria, what comes after that I have no idea. I will continue posting on my own blog: http://marcel.baaijens.blogspot.com as I continue my Bardo, my journey of transformation. I know my life has changed as a result of my experience here. I plan to be back in Sturovo his summer to finish video projects and I hope embark on a new adventure as well that may begin in Sturovo. I will keep you posted. Thank you for your company and interest.

A big thanks to the town of Sturovo for the residence, Gyuri Himmler from the cultural association 'Sturovo and Vicinity' for providing local support and last but not least the initiators of the residency Karol and Hanneke Fruehauf.

The best of luck to Theresa Cebrian, the 8th Bridge Guard who will arrive shortly in Sturovo from Spain.

Marcel Baaijens, signing off as the 7th Bridge Guard.

Video still: I have embedded sacred New Zealand jade (Ponamu), the two halves of my pendant, as 'protection' on either side of the stone.

The Pillar Supporting the Bridge

2007-04-26T11:54:00.000-07:00

A bridge will not survive without solid support, neither will the 'Bridge Guard'. My work with the kids from the orphanage would not have been possible with the fantastic loyal support of Szilvia Novak. She had just started working at the orphanage as a pedagogue when I came along. She acted not only as my interpreter, but also as my colaborator in the project. She organised the kids to come to the studio at 3 pm daily, she collected any information I needed, spoke with the director on my behalf, provided me with honest feedback, and last but not least became a very good friend. We share the positive belief in the children (there are some who don't) and an addiction to chocolate. (If anyone has a spare bar of chocolate to spare, just send it to her.) We laughed, moaned, worried and solved problems together. She was happy to be working behind the scene but she deserves a bright spotlight. She did all the above while looking after two kids of her own as a solo Mum and writing a thesis. She is smart, modest and has a golden heart, a rare combination that makes her very special. I know you will continue to advocate and provide access to the arts for the children. You did an amazing job in helping me move a heavy stone on earth and free up the flow of many rivers as a result. So a big thank you to Szilvia.
Szilvia and the bridge.

Beans for a Boy

2007-04-25T12:55:00.000-07:00

Video stills from a dinner with a boy:
Dried beans soaking in water.

One day Balint, 9 year old Hungarian boy came to visit me one day with his mother. While we were busy talking in the studio he sneaked into the kitchen where leftovers from lunch were still sitting in a pot on the stove. He took a tea spoon out of the drawer, tasted the vegetarian bean dish, washed the spoon and put it back again into the drawer, leaving no trace of his secret mission. Once home he told his mother and said that my food tasted really good!

A toast with fresh apple juice.

Consuming a bean.

So I decided to invite him over for dinner one night, but alone!!! His mother dropped him off, and the two of us had to make conversation over dinner without an interpreter. The only thing we both agreed to do is talk and reply regardless weather we understood anything that was being said, which was most likely very little, if anything at all.

No thanks, to the second helping.

Homemade ice cream for desert.

He brought with him a wonderful gift, a handmade book containing a short story illustrated with art, diagrams and even a musical notation for a song. It became a great conversation piece. I still don't know what it is about, but it is quite magical.

He is trying to explain his story to me, I am trying to make sense of it.

He liked the dinner and the whole event so much that he now wants to cook a dinner for me at his place! This is tentatively scheduled for later this summer as time is running out with only one day left. I filmed the whole event and once I have figured out what was said I intend to edit it and show for all to enjoy.

Text and a song.

I thought it was extremely brave of this kid to go to the house of a foreigner, have dinner with him on his own and eat food that he is not accustomed to. This kid does not know what xenophobia is and with his fantastic attitude and sense of adventure probably never will. The relative social isolation I have experienced in Sturovo from adults has been compensated for by the wonderful spontaneous interactions with kids.

A pirate turned into a cow, or something... (translation pending)

Spring Cleaning

2007-04-24T05:58:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to view the above publication.

I just finished the creation of a blog for outsider artist Yelena Barbalich from Wellington, New Zealand. I had the pleasure to work with Yelena for six years through Art Compass Studio-Gallery. I promised to create a portfolio blog for her. Together with publishing three other Art Compass publications online I have tied up all loose ends from my previous commitments in New Zealand. It was important to make these blogs public as testimonies to an amazing project I did for five years prior to becoming the Bridge Guard. I had to close the project due to lack of funding.

Click HERE to view the above publication.

Today I met a person with intellectual disabilities who like many others in the world sit at home all day, doing little. I have discovered that some have amazing creative abilities that can enhance the life of many including their own.

Click HERE to view the above publication.

Art is such a meaningful occupation of time for anyone, but specially for those who are deemed by society to be redundant. All the artists featured in these four publications have touched so many hearts and changed so many minds. Their work is enhancing the lives of those who bought their work. In the New Zealand project we also sold copyrights of art and designs used for graphic design, T-shirts, buildings, gift boxes, jewelry, wrapping paper, etc.

Click HERE to view the above publication.

All is well, bridge still standing.

2007-04-23T14:25:00.000-07:00

I am taking a break from my daily observations of the bridge. It is time for me to shrink all my possessions that are scattered around this spacious residence into a tiny backpack. This coming Friday I will leave this residency and make space for the next Bridge Guard. Being here is not over, but I can already conclude that I feel very privileged that I have been given the opportunity to serve as a Bridge Guard in Sturovo. The glorious weather that has been blessing this place since Easter is helping me to shed the double dose of winter blues. It was not a tough winter, but even two mild winters in a row can be a bit much.

The feedback from the exhibition has been very positive, the continuous spontaneous interactions with the kids, meeting new people as the sun is warming up the town and the visit of Monique are making these last few days go very fast.

Below images from Adrian, Szilvia and me playing with a beetle and trying to convince Adrian that his prickly legs won't hurt him. Because of the creative process I did with Adrian, a solid bridge has been forged between him, Szilvia and myself that make spending time together such a joy. We have his full trust, as we gave him our trust. We have his full respect, as we gave him respect. It was so simple, but so effective. What did I get out of this? The opportunity and the excuse to connect with my inner child. What does that mean? Well just observe the following sequence of Images of Adrian. He does it naturally, hopefully all his life.

Trojan Horses in Sturovo

2007-04-23T14:16:00.000-07:00

As part of the exhibition the kids and I made Trojan horses that were displayed around the Main street in the heart of Sturovo. It was used as a draw card to make people curious about the exhibition. At the same time however is was a symbolic gesture by me to conquer the hearts of the people of Sturovo on behalf of the kids from the orphanage. By showing a different side of the children people may begin to see that the kids are more than just orphans.

Visiting Bridge Guard No.2

2007-04-23T13:42:00.000-07:00

Monique Besten (Netherlands), who was the 2nd Bridge Guard visited Sturovo for a few days.It was great to meet her and 'compare notes' of our experiences as the Bridge Guard in Sturovo.

Borders and Barriers: exhibition documentation.

2007-04-16T14:21:00.000-07:00

Images used in Trojan horse (L): The Children

Images used in Trojan Horse (R): Borders and Barriers in Town.

Mapping Xenophobia: Digital media printed on paper (A4).

"There is much apathy and depression present among people who have been oppressed by an authoritarian regime such as communism. Communism discouraged people from being authentic, connecting with one’s Soul and with other Souls. The regime is gone but the effects it had on people such as sub-conscience, internalised xenophobia have not. Xenophobia, the dislike or fear of foreign people, their customs and culture is still present and effects people like gypsies, gays, children in an orphanage, a visiting artist from New Zealand, Jews, Muslims, etc.", Marcel Baaijens

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I created a ritual for the exhibition opening to acknowledge the end of project I did with the children and the fact that I had to surrender the responsibility I had taken on for their creative development.

The elements used in the ritual were: river stones from the Danube which flows past the orphanage, silk orange fabric and ribbons from India (orange is the colour associated with the second chakra, the chakra of creation), a plastic 'magic wand', a candle and some spring flowers symbolizing new beginnings.

Children's Art

Dear children,

Our time has come to an end. It is time to continue on our respective journeys through life. It was a privilege to have been part of yours. You brought sunshine in my life with your smiles, enthusiasm and willingness to accept my challenge to do the best you can.

A stone has been moved in the river and the water will never flow the same again. What was once a barrier has become a steppingstone. Please take a stone as a reminder of the creative time we spent together.

I hope that whenever you have to make important decisions for yourself, you will remember your ability to be creative. I will now use this magic wand to transform these ordinary river stones into commemorative ones.

The large stone represents the responsibility for the creative development of the children. I will place this stone in the park separating the orphanage from the town. I will leave the stone in Sturovo and release myself from the responsibility and hand it back to the town. May the stone be a symbolic foundation supporting the development of new connections to between the children and the town.

.

Borders and Barriers (English)

2007-04-05T03:26:00.001-07:00

‘Borders and Barriers’ is an art exhibition by Marcel Baaijens from New Zealand. Marcel is serving as the 7th Bridge Guard at the Bridge Guard Art and Science residency in Sturovo. The exhibition illustrates his attempts of building bridges using art as a connective medium between:
1. The children from the local orphanage and him self,
2. The children and each child’s authentic self,
3. The children and the people of Sturovo.

For the first and second bridge Marcel invited two children at a time into his art studio to make art. Thirty-two children took up the challenge. Most children would initially draw pictures with three blue clouds and a yellow sun. Such pictures have little to do with art or creativity but all with conformity.

Marcel then used his art facilitation skills to draw out a more personal picture with a unique individual quality. His approach, which is founded on ‘Critical Pedagogy’, is radically different from traditional art education offered through the school system. It is an individual approach based on the following two simple yet essential assumptions:
1. Everyone is creative.
2. There are no mistakes in art.

In order to engage in art, or any form of creative thinking, people need a safe environment and permission to connect with their authentic selves. Generally children and adults are discouraged from connecting with their authentic selves. This is especially true for children who are raised in institutional settings where they are cared for and managed in groups. Discipline, compliance, and the comfort of the carers/managers and the group often come before the interest and needs of the individual and determine what children can or cannot explore in life. In such settings it is easy loose one’s unique identity, one’s self esteem and faith.

Offering each child the opportunity to create art in the studio with Marcel has been a unique experience for many of the children, one Marcel hopes they will remember whenever they have to make important choices in life. Creativity is a crucial skill for navigating life. It is all about making the best choices for oneself, without creative thinking, one will default to conformity. In doing so one’s Soul is denied expression.When the Soul is denied expression, apathy and depression set in.

There is much apathy and depression present among people who have been oppressed by an authoritarian regime such as communism. Communism discouraged people from being authentic, connecting with one’s Soul and with other Souls. The regime is gone but the effects it had on people such as sub-conscience, internalised xenophobia have not. Xenophobia, the dislike or fear of foreign people, their customs and culture is still present and effects people like gypsies, gays, children in an orphanage, a visiting artist from New Zealand, Jews, Muslims, etc.

Sub-conscience xenophobia can easily transform into hate, which easily transforms into aggression. Xenophobia is an invisible sub-conscience barrier that is much harder to recognise and overcome than any visible state border or natural barrier such as the Danube. Becoming conscious of the existence of a barrier, by naming it or making it visible is a first important step in overcoming it. How else does one learn why and where a bridge is needed?

Installation, 5x3,5 m, paper, tape, digital images on paper.

Marcel employs the metaphor of the siege of Troy to make this barrier visible. The city wall of Troy was an insurmountable barrier that was overcome with creative thinking. The Maria Valeria Bridge has been rebuild, the national borders opened, but an invisible ‘Trojan’ sub-conscience barrier of xenophobia still survives today in post communist Eastern Europe. Becoming conscious of the existence of a barrier, by naming it or making it visible is a first important step in overcoming it.

Detail of the Trojan Horse with portraits of the children from the orphanage.

The third bridge that Marcel attempts to build consists of paper horses. Horses, decorated by the children of the orphanage and himself that will be strategically displayed in the heart of Sturovo. It is not a trick as in Troy to win a war, but a genuine attempt to raise awareness as well as an invitation to the people of Sturovo to take a closer look at the exhibition titled ‘Borders and Barriers’. The exhibition will feature artwork by the children from the orphanage, illustrations of the transformative process the children experienced and Trojan horses addressing issues of xenophobia.

Detail of the Trojan Horse with images of barriers in Sturovo.

The exhibition will open on Friday 13 April, 5:00 p.m. and can also be viewed Saturday 14 April 10:00-5:00. The Trojan Horses are on display in the centre of Sturovo from 5 April till 15 April.

A Trojan Horse decorated by Mario (r) in a local bar.

Hranice a bariéry (Slovak)

2007-04-05T03:17:00.000-07:00

Fond "Stefan und Viera Frühauf"
Detský domov v Štúrove
Kultúrne združenie Štúrovo a okolie

Hranice a bariéry
Výstava Marcela Baaijensa (Nový Zéland)

Marcel je siedmym Strážcom mostu v Štúrove, ktorý pôsobí v tomto umeleckom a vedeckom centre. Výstava prezentuje jeho pokusy, ktorými stavia mosty prostriedkami umenia:
1. medzi sebou a deťmi miestneho detského domova
2. medzi deťmi a ich autentickým vnútorným svetom
3. medzi deťmi a obyvateľmi Štúrova

Pri stavbe prvého a druhého mostu Marcel pozval k sebe zakaždým dvoch detí do svojho ateliéru. Výzvu prijalo celkovo tridsaťdva detí. Drvivá väčšina z nich na prvý pokus kreslila obrazy typu „tri modré oblaky a jedno žlté slniečko“. Takéto obrazy nemajú veľa spoločného s kreativitou a umením, ale o to viac svedčia o prispôsobení. Potom deti pomocou Marcela vytvorili oveľa osobnejšie a jedinečnejšie obrazy, pričom vyplávala na povrch ich vlastná kreativita. Jeho pohľad vychádza z metódy Kreatívnej pedagogiky, ktorá sa radikálne líši od metódy, ktorú ponúka umelecká výchova zaužívaná v klasickom školskom systéme. Tento individuálny a jedinečný pohľad vychádza z dvoch hypotéz:
1. Každý je kreatívny
2. V umení neexistujú chyby

Vyhotovenie umeleckých diel znamenalo pre každé dieťa jedinečnú možnosť a skúsenosť. Marcel verí, že deti budú vždy spomínať na takto získané skúsenosti, keď budú stáť pred dôležitým životným rozhodnutím. Kreativita je totiž zásadná schopnosť potrebná k riadeniu života, prostredníctvom ktorého môžeme učiniť naše najlepšie rozhodnutia. Bez kreatívneho myslenia totiž jednotlivec môže blúdiť iba na ceste večného prispôsobenia sa.

Pri stavbe tretieho mostu Marcel používa metaforu trójskeho koňa, v záujme odbúrania neviditeľných bariér existujúcich medzi obyvateľmi mesta, resp. obyvateľmi detského domova. Múr Tróje bol totiž takou neprekonateľnou prekážkou, ktorá sa dala odbúrať jedine silou kreatívneho myslenia. Most Márie Valérie bol obnovený, ale podvedomá „trójska“ bariéra xenofóbie je aj dnes prítomná v hlavách ľudí. Prvým dôležitým krokom vedúcim k prekonaniu tejto bariéry je jej pomenovanie, čiže zviditeľnenie.

Tretí most pozostáva z tých papierových koní, ktoré vyhotovili spoločne deti z detského domova s Marcelom, a budú vystavené na strategickom mieste – v srdci Štúrova. Toto nie je trik, akým chceli dobyť onoho času Tróju, ale jeden úprimný pokus v záujme toho, aby sme upriamili svoj pohľad bez hraníc a bez bariér na tých, ktorí tieto diela vytvorili. Na výstave môžeme vidieť diela obyvateľov detského domova - ilustráciu procesu premeny, ktorá v ich skúsenosti prebehla.

Otvorenie výstavy bude 13. apríla 2007 (piatok) o 17,00 hod.
v Dome Strážcu mosta,
Pri colnici č. 2 (budova mestského múzea)

Výstava je prístupná aj 14. apríla 2007 (v sobotu) od 10,00 do 17,00 hod.
Každého očakávame s bezhraničnou láskavosťou !

Installation, 5x3,5 m, paper, tape, digital images on paper.

Detail of the Trojan Horse with portraits of the children from the orphanage.

Detail of the Trojan Horse with images of barriers in Sturovo.

A Trojan Horse decorated by Mario (r) in a local bar.

Határok és korlátok (Hungarian)

2007-04-05T03:11:00.000-07:00

"Stefan und Viera Frühauf" Alap
Párkányi Gyermekotthon
Párkány és Vidéke Kulturális Társulás

Határok és korlátok
Marcel Baaijens, új-zélandi művész kiállítása

Marcel a Hídőr-ház – művészeti és tudományos központ – hetedik hídőre Párkányban. A kiállítás az ő próbálkozásait mutatja be, amelyek során a művészet eszközeivel hidakat teremt:
1. a helyi gyermekotthon növendékei és önmaga között
2. a gyerekek és azok autentikus világa között
3. a gyerekek és Párkány lakói között

Az első és második híd megalkotásakor Marcel kettesével hívta meg a gyerekeket a Hídőr-házban levő műtermébe. Harminckét gyerek vállalta a kihívást. Legtöbbjük elsőre „három kék felhő és egy sárga napocska” típusú képeket rajzolt. Az ilyen képeknek nem sok közük van a kreativitáshoz és a művészethez, de annál több az alkalmazkodáshoz.

Marcel segítségével ezután – saját kreativitásuk felszínre hozásával – egy sokkal személyesebb és egyedibb alkotást készítettek. Megközelítése a Kreatív pedagógia módszerét követi, amely radikálisan különbözik az oktatási rendszer által nyújtott hagyományos művészeti oktatástól. Ez az egyéni és egyedi megközelítés két alapvető feltevésen nyugszik:
1. Mindenki kreatív
2. A művészetben nincsenek hibák

A műalkotások elkészítése minden gyerek számára egyedülálló lehetőség és tapasztalat volt. A művész reméli, hogy a gyerekek mindig emlékezni fognak az így szerzett tapasztalatokra, ha valamilyen fontos döntést kell hozniuk az életben. A kreativitás ugyanis az élet irányításához szükséges döntő képesség, amely által a magunk számára legjobb döntéseket hozhatjuk. Ugyanis kreatív gondolkodás nélkül az egyén csupán az örökös alkalmazkodás mezsgyéjén bolyonghat.

A harmadik híd megalkotásakor Marcel a trójai faló metaforáját alkalmazza a város lakói és a gyermekotthon lakói között feszülő láthatatlan korlátok leküzdésére. A trójai városfal ugyanis egy olyan áthághatatlan akadály volt, amelyet csak a kreatív gondolkodás ereje győzhetett le. A Mária Valéria hidat újra felépítették, de a xenofóbia láthatatlan - „trójai“ - tudatalatti korlátja ma is jelen van az emberek fejében. Az első fontos lépés ezen korlát leküzdéséhez,hogy nevén nevezzük és ezáltal láthatóvá tegyük.

A harmadik híd azokból a papírlovakból épül, amelyeket a gyermekotthon növendékei és Marcel közösen készítettek és egy stratégiai helyen - Párkány szívében - lesznek kiállítva. Ez nem egy olyan trükk, amellyel annakidején le akarták győzni Tróját, hanem egy őszinte próbálkozás annak érdekében, hogy határok és korlátok nélkül tekinthessünk azokra, akik ezeket készítették. A kiállításon a gyermekotthon lakóinak munkáit, az általuk megtapasztalt átalakulás folyamatának illusztrálását láthatjuk.

A kiállítás megnyitója 2007. április 13-án (pénteken), 17,00 órakor lesz
a párkányi Hídőr-házban,
Vámház köz 2 (a városi múzeum épülete).

Megtekinthető továbbá április 14-én (szombaton) 10-től 17 óráig.

Korlátlan szeretettel várunk mindenkit !

Installation, 5x3,5 m, paper, tape, digital images on paper.

Detail of the Trojan Horse with portraits of the children from the orphanage.

Detail of the Trojan Horse with images of barriers in Sturovo.

A Trojan Horse decorated by Mario (r) in a local bar.

Week 24

2007-04-01T09:01:00.000-07:00

Images: Facilitation process with Martin(8).

26/3 Monday
Bridge still standing, will there be space for another bridge, one that connects the children from the orphanage and the town?
The initial painting made by Martin. He rushed the process as he was keen to get on to the computer. Note the three blue clouds and one yellow sun along the top of the page. Most children drew the same symbols in exactly the same quantities. Which well-meaning but uninspiring teacher taught kids that clouds are blue, that there are always three of them in a drawing and that the sun is yellow and shines from the corner of the page?

Works like that are signs of conformity rather than creativity. With the right encouragement, a bit of challenging, and a safe environment for kids to experiment the following process can take place with a very different result that is individual and creative. It sends quite a different message to the kids at the same time; it is O.K. to think creatively and as an individual rather than follow a majority or superior (blindly).

27/3 Tuesday
Bridge still standing, will there be space for another bridge, one that connects the children from the orphanage and the town?
First he just mucked about a bit, but then it was time to ask him to concentrate and make the most of this opportunity, and he did.

28/3 Wednesday
Bridge still standing, will there be space for another bridge, one that connects the children from the orphanage and the town?
He wanted a new page and began drawing with intent.

29/3 Thursday
Bridge still standing, will there be space for another bridge, one that connects the children from the orphanage and the town?
I showed him how to use elements of his initial painting, which he was keen to try out.

30/3 Friday
Bridge still standing, will there be space for another bridge, one that connects the children from the orphanage and the town?
He got the hang of it quickly and was able to take control of the mouse and the process himself, changing colour, size, and position of elements of his work.

31/3 Saturday
Bridge still standing, will there be space for another bridge, one that connects the children from the orphanage and the town?
He continued to develop and layer his work, something unimaginable an hour earlier while painting.

1/4 Sunday
Bridge still standing, will there be space for another bridge, one that connects the children from the orphanage and the town?
The end result demonstrates his growth in one session. It also shows that kids like Martin are able to be creative and unique, if only adults can let them. Can a town like Sturovo handle creative individuals or does it only feel safe with conforming citizen?

Week 23

2007-03-26T13:04:00.000-07:00

26/3 Monday
Bridge still standing, but is all well?

There is house in the shadow.

27/3 Tuesday
Bridge still standing, but is all well?

There is a house
In the morning shadow
Of the beloved Basilica
On the bank
Of the Danube

28/3 Wednesday
Bridge still standing, but is all well?

There a house
In the noon shadow
Of the beloved bridge
On the border
Of Slovakia and Hungary

29/3 Thursday
Bridge still standing, but is all well?

There is a house
In the evening shadow
Of beloved Sturovo
On the edge
Of the town

30/3 Friday
Bridge still standing, but is all well?

There is house in the shadow
There is a shadow...

31/3 Saturday
Bridge still standing, but is all well?

Preparations are underway for an exhibition that attempts to expose and name the shadow in the hope to change the shadow just a bit for the benefit of the occupants of the house(s) in the shadow.

The longer I am here, the more I observe disturbing symptoms of xenophobia. The longer I am here, the more I realise what is really going on. The longer I am here, the more it is becoming a challenge to feel safe. The longer I am here the more I question if I should choose safety first.

To do the exhibition properly and honestly I need to address issues of xenophobia and discrimination in this community, this country, these cultures. I am still assessing weather it is safe to speak out or not. I feel intimidated by attitudes and mindsets of some people. Some advise me to leave, or stay but remain silent and not speak my mind, be it in words or using visual language. But if an artist has to sensor him(her) self, then what is the point of being an artist(-in-residence), if only pretty pictures are of interest to the community then what is the point of being an artist(-in-residence)? If viewers do not really want to observe then what is the point of putting an exhibition together? If it is undesirable to observe, witness and address the barriers that require bridging then what is the point of observing the existing bridge?

1/4 Sunday
Bridge still standing, but is all well?

Week 22

2007-03-19T14:36:00.000-07:00

This week images were taken in Budapest earlier this winter of an old busker. He was trying to play a citer in the freezing cold while mumbling a song. Fascinating to watch but rather sad really. Made me wonder what kind of life the man had. I asked for his name, but he was not interested in a conversation of any kind.

19/3 Monday
All is well, bridge still standing

20/3 Tuesday
All is well, bridge still standing.

21/3 Wednesday
All is well, bridge still standing.

22/3 Thursday
All is well, bridge still standing.

23/3 Friday
All is well, bridge still standing.

24/3 Saturday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-organised a folk dance night at the Bridge Guard House. 25 people said they would come, prepared food etc. 5 actually showed up, do I need to say more. Thank God people visiting from Budapest walked by, were curious and joined in so we could actually make a circle of 8. It’s tough building bridges in this town. So, I just keep working with the children. My own work is on hold till I get my new laptop and camera next week. Laptop is overloaded and camera died a peaceful death.

In the afternoon two locals who migrated to new Zealand came by. The word had gotten out to them in Auckland that there was a Kiwi in town. People seem to be talking about me alright (and gossiping) but not to me of course... I had a write up in a Hungarian news paper today as well. Quiet a happening day! I did Google search for fun and discovered that my name is mentioned on a few sites in Hungarian, no idea what they are saying or where they got their information from.

25/3 Sunday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-Keen to have a cinema experience I went to see ‘Dream Girls” out of desperation in the local cinema. Would have preferred to see Astrix and Obelix earlier in the week, but that was dubbed in Czech.

Week 21

2007-03-12T14:35:00.000-07:00

More images this week from Carnival in Maastricht. The short video about the event is ready. To view click here.It amazes me how people use language to put up barriers rather than to build bridges. It is a problem in many countries where multiple languages are spoken. It is also a problem in single language areas. People in Maastricht for example speak a very distinct local dialect that is not easy to understand for people from other areas like me. Many times remarks were made in a complaint like manner about the fact that I did not speak thelocal dialect and that I was not a local. When I told the people I was from New Zealand (in Dutch) their attitude changed and they were more friendly and accepting. If I’d said I was from another part of The Netherlands their attitude would not have changed. The fact that this happens even with dialects may be an indication that people will look for any excuse to throw up barriers based on origin.

In Slovakia people often emphasise the fact that I cannot speak the local language(s) and focus on that fact rather than finding out which language we have in common so we can communicate and connect.

I travel much globally, have lived on different continents and mastered various accents of Dutch and English (I was very good at Irish!) Where ever I go I will always be identified as ‘being from somewhere else’ because of how I speak. In New Zealand I have a 'Dutch' accent, in the USA a 'New Zealand' accent, in Australia they often think I am 'South African' and in The Netherlands they can’t quite figure out what is different in my way of speaking. So I have given up on trying to fit in by adopting local ways of speaking. It is more important for me to be authentic than to conform.

I had made a hand puppet as part of my costume for carnival, which came in very handy as a mediator. I used the puppet to mime and make contact with people, avoiding the whole language issue. I flirted and people responded readily. My origin was no longer an issue. Many were happy to have their photo taken. My dear puppet was my bridge to overcome language barriers. I was accepted as on of them. Not that I cared much about acceptance. Connecting with the essence of carnival was more important for me. My puppet ‘Dukkie’ had a tough time in Maastricht. It lost its tongue (it rolled out like a lizards tongue), lost its voice, and even an eye. But we had great fun together and fooled many locals about our origin (hehe!). Art with a big ’A’ or a small one is such a fantastic medium to bridge cultural differences.
5/3 Monday
All is well, bridge still standing
-bored kids knocking on my door.

6/3 Tuesday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-bored kids knocking on my door.

7/3 Wednesday
All is not so well, bridge still standing.
-but two girls from across the road ended up in hospital. They played with drugs as they were bored. It is school holidays and 40 kids were left to their own devices. No wonder they got into mischief. Of course they are being punished for their behaviour, such as you can’t go to the art studio this week, but who should be held accountable for their deeds, after all they are kids. What they did was not very smart, but there is no point punishing ignorance. The adults should have known better and could have provided appropriate activities keep them meaningfully occupied and out of trouble.

8/3 Thursday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-bored kids knocking on my door.

9/3 Friday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-girls out of hospital.

10/3 Saturday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-ahhhhhh, spring weather, was able to work outdoors today in the sun, warm sun! After 2 winters in a row a welcome change (yes t-w-o winters!). They may have been mild, but still dull, grey and lacking daylight and SUN!

11/3 Sunday
All is well, bridge still standing.

Week 20

2007-03-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

More images this week from Carnival in Maastricht. The short video 'Daar Komen Ze' about carnival is ready. To view click here.

It amazes me how people use language to put up barriers rather than to build bridges. It is a problem in many countries where multiple languages are spoken. It is also a problem in single language areas. People in Maastricht for example speak a very distinct local dialect that is not easy to understand for people from other areas like me. Many times remarks were made in a complaint like manner about the fact that I did not speak the local dialect and that I was not a local. When I told the people I was from New Zealand (in Dutch) their attitude changed and they were more friendly and accepting. If I’d said I was from another part of The Netherlands their attitude would not have changed. The fact that this happens even with dialects may be an indication that people will look for any excuse to throw up barriers based on origin.

In Slovakia people often emphasise the fact that I cannot speak the local language(s) and focus on that fact rather than finding out which language we have in common so we can communicate and connect. In New Zealand I have a Dutch accent, in the USA a New Zealand accent, in Australia they think I am South African and in The Netherlands they can’t quite figure out what is the matter with me. So I have given up on trying to fit in by adopting local ways of speaking. It is more important for me to be authentic than to conform.

I had made a hand puppet as part of my costume for carnival, which came in very handy as a mediator. I used the puppet to mime and make contact with people, avoiding the whole language issue. I flirted and people responded readily. My origin was no longer an issue. Many were happy to have their photo taken. My dear puppet was my bridge to overcome language barriers. I was accepted as on of them. Not that I cared much about acceptance. Connecting with the essence of carnival was more important for me. My puppet ‘Dukkie’ had a tough time in Maastricht. It lost its tongue (it rolled out like a lizards tongue), lost its voice, and even an eye. But we had great fun together and fooled many locals about our origin (hehe!). Art with a big ’A’ or a small one is such a fantastic medium to bridge cultural differences.

5/3 Monday
All is well, bridge still standing
-bored kids knocking on my door.

6/3 Tuesday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-bored kids knocking on my door.

7/3 Wednesday
All is not so well, bridge still standing.
-but two girls from across the road ended up in hospital. They played with drugs as they were bored. It is school holidays and 40 kids were left to their own devices. No wonder they got into mischief. Of course they are being punished for their behaviour, such as you can’t go to the art studio this week, but who should be held accountable for their deeds, after all they are kids. What they did was not very smart, but there is no point punishing ignorance. I travel much globally, have lived on different continents and mastered various accents of Dutch and English (I was very good at Irish!) Where ever I go I will always be identified as ‘being from somewhere else’ because of how I speak.
The adults should have known better and could have provided appropriate activities keep them meaningfully occupied and out of trouble.

8/3 Thursday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-bored kids knocking on my door.

9/3 Friday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-girls out of hospital.

10/3 Saturday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-ahhhhhh, spring weather, was able to work outdoors today in the sun, warm sun! After 2 winters in a row a welcome change (yes t-w-o winters!). They may have been mild, but still dull, grey and lacking daylight and SUN!

11/3 Sunday
All is well, bridge still standing.

Week 19

2007-03-05T00:37:00.000-08:00

This week’s images are from Carnival in Maastricht. I cannot help myself and begin with publishing a series of out of focus or moving images. I like such images as they trigger a process of projection (imagination) in the viewer.

I took about 500 photos and filmed only 4 hours as my video camera died half way through. I was lucky to film 'Prince Carnival' on numerous occasions before the camera died. I came specifically to film him because I am researching the king archetype. Prince carnival plays the symbolic role of a prince (king), as the ‘mock' prince of the city during the festivities. This research is for a video documentary I am currently working on.

Video still: Maastricht Carnival

26/2 Monday
All is well, but no observation, still away.
-The last time I celebrated carnival in Maastricht was 20 years ago. I had a great time then. This time was no different. In fact I thought that the celebrations had grown in strength.

Video still: Maastricht Carnival

27/2 Tuesday
All is well, bridge still standing.
- The weather was much warmer than average making the outdoor celebrations at night a joy as I did not feel cold at all. The number of Dutch style brass bands and Brazilian style batucada bands playing every day in the streets had increased.

Video still: Maastricht Carnival

28/2 Wednesday
All is well, bridge still standing.
- At night I guess 99.9% of the people celebrating were fully costumed in the most amazing homemade outfits with often matching painted faces.

Video still: Maastricht Carnival

1/3 Thursday
All is well, bridge still standing.
- Many more people carried out ‘acts’ or played roles for the 3 days, making the streets a simple but fun theatre.

Video still: Maastricht Carnival

2/3 Friday
All is well, bridge still standing.
- What was rather new compared to 20 years ago that many people had decorated and fabricated carts of all sorts that were related to whatever they were expressing and dragged them every night through the crowded streets without any problem.

Video still: Maastricht Carnival

3/3 Saturday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-The weather was so unseasonably warm that one could stay outdoors all night without getting cold. It is the outdoor carnival that is so wonderfully unique in Maastricht.

Video still: Maastricht Carnival

4/3 Sunday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-It all starts on Sunday around midday and ends on Tuesday exactly at midnight, as that is when Lent officially starts.

For more images and text click here to go to my personal blog and look for the post titled 'Joy' (posted 7 March).

Week 18

2007-02-26T09:53:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-19T15:06:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-12T07:42:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-05T03:06:00.001-08:00

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.

Exhibition Invitation

2007-01-31T01:33:00.000-08:00

You are invited to an exhibition of my work:

-Pastel drawings: Camino De Santiago, Spain
-Photography: video stills from around the world
-Video screenings: 'H2O', 5 min., (2007), 'Searching for Silent Night', 12 min. (2007),'This Drawing Looks Intelligent', 30 min. (1999)

When:

Friday 9 February 2007, opening 17:00 pm
Saturday 10 February 2007, 10:00-17:00 hrs

Where:

Bridge Guard Residence
Pri Colnici 2
Sturovo
Slovakia

Week 14

2007-01-29T08:15:00.000-08:00

Images: Railway tunnel along the tracks between Esztergom(H) and Budapest(H).

I visited the House of Terror Museum in Budapest this week as a mental and emotional preparation for an intended visit to the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland later this year. The House of Terror Museum used to be the place where during Nazi and communist times people were interrogated and tortured. The visit helped me to articulate questions that I will use as a reference when I will visit Auschwitz:

How do or can people pick-up life again after experiencing the worst possible atrocities of torture, war and terror? How do you come out of a tunnel of darkness and enter into the light? How can you forgive those who tortured and abused you? How can you ever have faith in people, enjoy a party, enjoy life? I only know stories of people who remained victims and scarred physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually for the rest of their lives. How can one recover?

I suppose I have an opportunity to observe how people recover in Slovakia and Hungary. What I do not know is how people were before fascism came here and which aspects of their human behaviour developed because the way they were treated by the regime.

Buddhist and related spiritual philosophies have an answer I think. Forgiveness and understanding of karmic relationships are key to the solution, but for me it is a theory only as I do not know of anyone who has been able to actually put the theory into practice. I would love to meet such a person and make a documentary, if that is not possible, at least explore the idea in video.

In one video in the House of Terror a crying man (victim) poses the question: ...but one is supposed to forgive somehow, no?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Week 13

2007-01-21T09:15:00.002-08:00

Video stills: Janko (8), one of the kids who came to the studio. These images were taken while he watched his own work change using digital media. He started out drawing the traditional house-clouds-sun drawing, just like all the other kids. Then he had the courage to do something radically different and try a random drawing technique. He did with fabulous results. I scanned that into the computer and we then collaboratively altered the image. First I sat at the controls and he directed the creative process, after a while he was able to take control of the mouse himself. I doubt it if he will ever draw two blue clouds and a sun again.

15/1 Monday
All is well, bridge still standing.
This week I will let the images speak for themselves and refrain from talking about anything less important than the creative process of transformation you see below.

16/1 Tuesday
All is well, bridge still standing.

17/1 Wednesday
All is well, bridge still standing.

18/1 Thursday
All is well, bridge still standing.

19/1 Friday
All is well, bridge still standing.

20/1 Saturday
All is well, bridge still standing.

21/1 Sunday
All is well, bridge still standing.

Intitial drawing made by Janko.

The experimental drawing made by Janko.

Digital experimentation.

Digital experimentation.

Digital experimentation.

Digital experimentation.

A detail of his mixed media work.

week 12

2007-01-17T07:47:00.001-08:00

This weeks images a double dose: details of a communist era apartment block in Sturovo (could be anywhere in Slovakia) and details of a painting by Joli, a marginalised kid from across the road. Who would you like to be your next architect/designer/town planner? Why do adults make the world such a depresssing place? When mayor (architect) Jamie Lehrner took office in Curitiba, Brazil, he replaced many of his bureaucratic staff with creative minds and started each day with a 'think tank' rather than meetings. This city is now an amazing place with excellent public transport, recycling, a glass opera house in a disused quarry, wetlands were returned to the river to flood, creating a green belt for the city dwellers to enjoy and where a food-for-rubbish initiative cleared a lot of junk from the slums... there is a lot more to that city yet no other city in the world has been able to match.

8/1 Monday
All is well, bridge still standing
-I ended the self-imposed quarantine as my flu was improving and had the kids back into the studio. They bring so much joy and life into the studio, such a contrast to the bleak outside world created by serious adults, or adults that take themselves too serious, and let's not forget the political systems that they created and took very seriously. The housing block pictured here is a stock one, reproduced everywhere, in the same dull colour scheme, including all the white lines created by the gap fillers.

9/1 Tuesday
All is well, bridge still standing
-a day of breakdowns: my juicer broke, my mobile phone lost it's credit (I probably sat on it without the lock applied and probably dialed New Zealand with my bum.), the tap water turned a scary brown, but worse of all, I lost my internet connection again. On the other hand, it was beautiful spring weather and my Ozzy friend Danny and his work mate Greame came over from Budapest.

10/1 Wednesday
All is NOT so well, but bridge still standing
-Danny and Greame woke up early and went for a walk along the river, but did not get far. They stumbled on a man hanging from a tree, dead! When they came back they asked me if there were often dead people hanging around. I assured them that I was not aware of it. Greame was quite shaken by the sight. The police had just arrived and cut the body loose as they passed, not a pretty sight. Later I heard it was a suicide. I am glad I slept in. Later that day I could still sense the bad (spiritual) energy that the event left hanging around. Oh, where are the Maori elders when you need them. They are well versed in clearing negative energy. Tapu lifting ceremonies (Tapu: Maori word meaning something like taboo) are still carried out in New Zealand by the native people in such circumstances.

12/1 Thursday
All is well, bridge still standing
-the bad energy had cleared overnight. An uneventful day, but that is not necessarily bad at all. There are many days like that here, great days to get work done. I am quite happy with the quiet life to be honest. I really enjoy being here, specially knowing that I won't be stuck here for ever like some locals are, who do not have much to be optimistic about in life at the moment.

13/1 Friday
All is well, bridge still standing
-went to the local cinema (kino) for the first time. They were screening Casino Royale in its original version with Slovak subtitles. I normally do not go to James Bond movies, but for SK65 (NZ$3,50, almost 2 Euro's) I could not resist. Sk65 is very expensive for the locals (an average hourly rate is SK40 I was told). For me it was cheap as in New Zealand you pay at least $15. With only 20 people the cinema was rather empty for a Friday night. Locals kept on chatting throughout the movie as they were not dependent on the audio to get the plot (not there is much of a plot in 007 movies, but you might as well follow it if you pay to see a movie). Not sure if talking your way through movies is a normal habit here.

13/1 Saturday
All is well, bridge still standing
-had two (older) visitors from Germany stopping by for a cuppa. I met them on the train coming back from Vienna on 2 January. They were very interesting people. I bought dressing shoes for the annual Sturovo-Esztergom Ball to which I was invited. Tomi kindly lend me a jacket and a tie. I had black pants and a shirt that passed the dress code. Some 130 people attended, dressed in their finest. There was entertainment (ballroom dancing and excellent belly dancing), a tombola--I missed out on the larger than life toy dog (if I had won I would have taken it daily for walks down the mall, true!!), a band called "Acoustic" playing only electronic instruments, and a supper, oh and last but not least alcohol. It would not be an event that I would normally attend, but I had a ball! I danced a lot and had fun and enjoyed watching everyone having a good time for a change.

14/1 Sunday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-After such a great night of dancing I was reminded again of my disappointment about the lack of traditional music and dance in this town/region. I have decided to do something about it and will try to get the music I need and organise a (folk dance) night here in the Bridge Guard Residence for the locals and an afternoon for the kids across the road. The room is big enough. Time to put some umpf into this sleepy town. I left all my music in storage in New Zealand, but I hope friends in Holland will help out with some copies.

Week 11

2007-01-08T12:55:00.000-08:00

Images: video stills : Kids from the orphanage across the road making art in the artist-in-residence studio.

1/1 New Years (Mon-)Day-Happy New Year
No observations, visiting Hundertwasser's KunstHausWien in Vienna.
-My second visit in as many days. This time to see the exhibition of his art in the gallery that is also designed by him. It is not very often that an artist has the opportunity to exhibit in a space he designed as well. You can't get better treat than that. I love his work, his use of colour and organic shapes. It had a playful, childlike quality to it that reminded me a lot of the work created in the studio I operated for artists with intellectual disabilities in Chicago, USA and Wellington, New Zealand. I can relate to Hundertwasser's philosophy as a fellow artist/architect even though I do not necessarily agree with everything he said. One thing I can say is that I did not want to leave the environment he has created. I felt at ease, at peace, human and at home. Through his work I connected with this man whom I never met, even though he lived 'close by' in New Zealand until he died a few years ago. Art can build strong bridges between people. Time and distance are irrelevant.

2/1 Tuesday
All is well, bridge still standing.
- today I got my still camera fixed and my lap top's performance improved by helpful Mac store staff in Vienna (one great advantage of having a Mac computer). I returned to Sturovo a year older but very happy with my toys in working order again.

3/1 Wednesday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-the first kids from the orphanage that lies opposite my residence came to the studio. After filming a few times among them during various occasions, the kids are getting curious and seem to be asking after me. I love their company and have fun with them. They are spontaneous, fun loving and they reach out. They are not intimidated by the fact that we do not share a common verbal language and try anyway possible to interact with me and my camera. As a result I have decided to invite them all over in groups of 2, and let them make art.

4/1 Thursday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-my idea to do a project with them, that started out as a one-way bridge has now turning into a busy 2-way bridge. The facilitation skills that I developed for working with artists with intellectual disabilities seems to transfer quite nicely to the kids, I never worked with kids before. They made 2 works each, the difference between the first and second one is quite remarkable. I love this process of facilitation. There are stories developing in each kid's work about the content and the process.

5/1 Friday
All is well, bridge still standing.
- the kids' bridge is temporarily suspended by me, reluctantly. I got the flu, so I voluntarily quarantined myself (lip). Trust me to catch the flu in a mild winter.

I hear that the kids are disappointed and bored... there seem to be no other bridge for them to cross despite the prime location on the banks of the Danube in a building that is decorated with Slovak and European Union flags. My guess is that they get few Slovak, European Union, or Hungarian visitors. Their prime location, with a million dollar view that would give anyone celebrity status, seem to do little for theirs.

Their lives are overshadowed by the socio-cultural-historical significant bridge next door, which gets all the attention, their hopes and aspirations silenced by the daily blast of music from the Hungarian side, that laments the dramatic loss of national territory that soon will no longer exist.

6/1 Saturday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-still sneezing and coughing in quarantine.

7/1 Sunday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-why don't get flu viruses a day of rest? Don't they have a religion or a union? Oh there is no justice in this world.

Week 10

2007-01-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

A series of winter images this week, better do it now as I am not sure if more winter weather can be expected, winter has been unseasonably mild so far, and after all, it's Christmas... If you forfeit Christmas on a sunny beach in New Zealand, the least one can hope for is a bit of white stuff to brighten up the dark winter days of the northern hemisphere. Not that we had a white Christmas, but hey if nature does not oblige, I can... I am creative so I can create what I want (hehe).

25/12 Christmas (Mon-)Day
All is well, bridge still standing.
-Attended midnight mass in St. Stephens Basilica of Budapest, a huge basilica with as many people standing as sitting, but with a choir of about 5 people...
The vocal bridge was too flimsy for the musical Christmas spirit to reach the masses below. I am not a practicing catholic, but going to midnight mass is special to me. Just the thought that for that one hours millions everywhere are in church, not fighting, not abusing, not bullying... For that one moment, remembering the birth of Jesus Christ forges a bridge of calm and peace across many peoples, nations and continents and moves as a wave around the globe through the countries where Christianity is present. That is worth being part of for me, adding one little stone to support that bridge. Pity it is only Christmas once each year.

26/12 Boxing (Tues-)Day
All is well, bridge still standing.
-I always loose track of which day is which in this last week of the year, laughed with friends in New Zealand and Netherlands after discovering that my video camera works as a web cam. This new visual bridge has made the world so tiny, and a lot more fun too.

27/12 Wednesday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-reviewing and logging video footage shot in Vienna last week to see what other footage I may need to shoot when I go back on Saturday. When I review or work with footage shot in other parts of the world, I am instantly drawn back into the 'reality' of that place and time. I experience daily 'culture shocks' when I switch between viewing footage from elsewhere in the world and the reality of Sturovo, Slovakia.

28/12 Thursday
All is well, bridge still standing.

29/12 Friday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-There is a flash neon sign in Sturovo informing citizens about pollution levels and maximum permitted levels. Whatever those level are, it does not look pretty (see image below). The colder weather makes the pollution visible from the Basilica in Esztergom. The sky is an eternal bridge that spans across any border. Man-made pollution unfortunately does not adhere to borders. In this image the pollution is very stagnant and seems to hang around the factory where it is created.

30/12 Saturday
No observation.
-Vienna, meeting total strangers for drinks through the CouchSurfing website that sets out to build bridges between people from different cultures. The fact that I ordered water was no issue for them (Austrians and Germans), unlike in Slovakia or Hungary where locals look at me in total disbelief when I tell them that I prefer not to drink alcohol. Drinking alcohol is very much part of social protocol there, which sadly can become a bit of an issue when you don't drink. I had a wonderful time with the crowd in Vienna.

31/12 My 50th birthday, New Years Eve/Silvester, or plain Sunday
No observation.
-visited Hundertwasser's Kulturhaus, Wien. Hunderwasser is an artist/architect who also lived in New Zealand, where he died a few years ago. I can really relate to his work and philosophy. I will write more about that next week. From the Kulturhaus I went to the city centre and hung out along the 'Silvesterpfad' filled with live music and I waltzed into the new year. At midnight it was time to escape the madness and went to a private party where I danced to fabulous (recorded) Balkan music into the wee hours. Images of that trip will be published next week.

Week 9

2006-12-28T02:11:00.001-08:00

18/12 Monday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-My (internet) bridge to the world broken. Cables are there but no signal coming through. Tcom sent someone over who did not speak English and did not understand much of my computer screen. Nothing was solved, my laptop conveniently received a guilty verdict and I was left standing at the end of a broken bridge, no idea where to turn to next.

Video still: Manuatu, New Zealand

19/12 Tuesday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-My (internet) bridge to the world still broken.

Video still: Manuatu, New Zealand

20/12 Wednesday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-My (internet) bridge to the world still broken. Filmed the orphans having a Christmas Do at the town hall with the mayor. I think the highlight was going into his office and going over everything on his desk, wearing his chain, and asking millions of questions. Santa appeared with a little angel by his side with lots of gifts.

Video still: Manuatu, New Zealand

21/12 Thursday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-My (internet) bridge to the world still broken. Filmed the orphans having their Christmas dinner in their group homes. I filmed in one home. They crosssed the bridge (my camera) with big smiles on their faces and a great sense of humor, cannot say the same about the staff unfortunately, they dicided en masse not to come onto the bridge even. The kids received more presents. I made a desperate call today to one of the young technicians who solved the initial internet connection problems. He kindly came during his lunch break, could not help but arranged for his english speaking boss to come tomorrow.

Video still: Manuatu, New Zealand

22/12 Friday
All is well, bridge still standing.
- The boss came and solved the connection problem. Yeah, my virtual bridge to the rest of the world is restored again.

Video still: Manuatu, New Zealand

23/12 Saturday
All is well, bridge still standing.

Video still: Sturovo, Slovakia

24/12 Sunday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-Christmas Eve, everything is closed while in others countries, such as New Zealand, people are still shopping franticly. Hardly anyone out on the streets. I crossed the bridge to go to Budapest, a friendly borderguard wished me a Merry Christmas and a happy birthday, they studied my passport. Sat next to a young Israeli couple on the practically empty train to Budapest. All was closed in Budapest too except one Turkish take-away, which was flat out serving fast food to foreigners caught out by the total shut down of the city. The restaurant staff had already put all it's food away and was ready to close as I came in. People kept on walking in, food kept being pulled out of storage again and again, the place just got busier and busier. Italians, Turks, Indians, Koreans, Japanese, me and my Aussie friend/host Danny all very happy with the microwaved left-overs of the day for Christmas Eve's dinner.

Video still: Sturovo, Slovakia

week 8

2006-12-21T12:43:00.000-08:00

11/12 Monday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-Filmed at Jack's factory. Jack is an Irishman setting up a business to manufracture hurling sticks. Hurling is an Irish form of hockey. Hurling sticks are made of Ash trees, which are hard to come by in Ireland but plentyfull in these regions. An unusual timber bridge.

Video still: Slovak busker, Vienna, Austria.

12/12 Tuesday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-Got permission from the director of the orphanage across the road to film the kids. After weeks, a bridge was finally opened. As Jack confirmed for me, things take time in Slovakia.

Video still: Hungarian busker, Vienna, Austria.

13/12 Wednesday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-Did some more filming at Jack's.

Video still: Serbian busker, Vienna, Austria.
14/12 Thursday
All is well, bridge still standing.

Video still: busker (Asian origin), Vienna, Austria.

15/12 Friday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-There was a fabulous concert in Sturovo by a Hungarian group called Ghymes, playing traditional style music with contemporary lyrics (so I was told, not that I understood any of it, which was a blessing this time as it made me listen to the lyrics differently. They were just like another instrument, fitting the music beautifully). The crowd clapped their hand sore after every single tune they played.
For me traditional music (and dance) are bridges that I feel very attracted to, because they allow me to absorb the essence of a culture without the need to master the language.

Video still: Romanian busker, Vienna, Austria.

16/12 Saturday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-Went to Vienna as promised (to myself). Stayed with a great host in the 5th district, just around the corner from a mouthwatering market with beautiful fresh produce, cheeses, organics, asian food, fresh fish (haven't seen that for ages). As I got to the city centre I was surprised to find buskers from many eastern european countries, singing and playing with passion. No wonder it is so hard to find life music in the east.

Video still: busker (origin unknown), Vienna, Austria.

17/12 Sunday
No observation.
-Spend another great day in Vienna, listened to a wonderful free classical concert (dress rehearsal), listened and filmed more buskers, enjoyed a free organ concert in one of Vienna's churches.

Video still: Hungarian busker, Vienna, Austria.

Week 7

2006-12-10T13:33:00.000-08:00

4/12 Monday
No observation.
-as promised this week will feature shots of Santa: Dutch and Hungarian/Slovak style. In The Netherlands St. Nicolas is dressed as a bishop, accompanied by his helper Zwarte Piet (Black Peter). He is said to come from Spain by boat, eventhough historically he was a bishop in Turkey. In Sturovo he was dressed like a Santa (USA/Coca Cola style) was accompanied by the devil and said to come from Finland. The kids will believe anything, as long as they get their presents. What was interesting is that he carried a bishop's staff like in the Netherlands but was dressed like father Christmas. His devil had also a staff/stick with chains attached ( I suspect Still from hidden video camera: it is a punishment tool, very much like the twigs Zwarte Piet traditionally carries).

Still from hidden video camera: St. Nic. arriving at the house (I am St. Nic. The members of my family, except one, do not know that I am in the country to act as St. Nic.)

Still from hidden video camera: Niece Saskia stares at me not yet knowing...

Still from hidden video camera: A few seconds later, while I am still outside she suddenly recognises me.

Still from hidden video camera: My sister Puck and her husband Bert and are their grandchildren. It took Puck half an hour before she realised that it was me. Bert refused to believe it was me even after he was told until he actually saw me afterwards at the neighbour's getting out of my costume.

My friend Henriette is 'Zwarte Piet'.

5/12 Tuesday, the official day St. Nicolas is celebrated in The Netherlands.
All is well, bridge still standing.
-flew back from Netherlands to Budapest, Hungary, continued by bus-metro-train to Esztergom station and cycled the last 3 KM to the bridge and my home in Sturovo, Slovakia. Total journey took about 7 hours, a cumbersome journey, but the only way to get home in one day.

At midnight I cycled across the bridge to the Slovak side until I was stopped by the border guard. The guard looked at me, then my bike with the backpack strapped on the back and then my New Zealand passport. I could see his brain doing overtime trying to midnight with a abckpack strapped to the rear of the bike. 100 more meters and I was home.

6/12 Wednesday, the official day St. Nicolas is celebrated in Slovakia.
All is well, bridge still standing.
-filmed St. Nicolas celebrations at the orphanage across from my residence.

Mikulas ( St. Nic.) and his devil in Sturovo (apologies for the lack of proper accents on some letters).

Photo offline till permission is granted

The kids performing in front of St. Nic.

7/12 Thursday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-filmed the soccer team of the orphanage at the annual school soccer tournement. The buys were playing soccer, the girls were playing up in front of the camera and teased me. One of them started to speak to me in Spanish!

Photo offline till permission is granted

The girls cheering on the boys.

8/12 Friday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-went to the International Film Festival In Bratislava. Watched 'The bridge that survived' a film about a famous 500 year-old bridge in Mostar in former Yugoslavia that was detroyed during the Balkan wars. The Mária Valéria bridge was twice destroyed by war and the Danube became a new border. Central to the movie is a reunion of a local band called Mostar Sevdah Reunion that plays the most fabulous traditional music from Mostar.

Mostar Sevdah Reunion (Image: copy from website)

9/12 Saturday
No observation.
- watched an Irish, Australian and Hungarian movie at the IFF in Bratislava.

10/12 Sunday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-it is still unusually warm with temperatures at least 10 degrees above normal for a fifth week in a row.

Week 6

2006-12-06T11:05:00.000-08:00

video stills: windmill, The Netherlands (of course).

27/11 Monday
All is well, bridge still standing.

28/11 Tuesday
All is well, bridge still standing.

29/11 Wednesday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-crossed bridge by bike to catch the train in Esztergom for Budapest.

30/11 Thursday
No observation.
-flew from Budapest to The Netherlands. It was the warmest autumn on record (300 years, +3c above avarage) in The Netherlands, and probably in most of Europe.

1/12 Friday
All is well, bridge still standing.
No observation.
-attended IDFA (International Documentary Festival Amsterdam), The Netherlands. My doco pick of the day: Shit and Chicks by Kees van de Geest (NL), 3 minute film, no talking, just images and subtle sink sound telling the story, great little gem.

2/12 Saturday
No observation.
-filmed mindmill in The Netherlands.

3/12 Sunday
No observation.
-acted as Sint Nicolaas (Santa) for my family who did not know I was in the country and filmed with a hidden camera,The Netherlands.(Images next week, promise!)

Week 5

2006-11-27T09:51:00.000-08:00

20/11 Monday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-a council worker recognised me and waved, my first wave!

21/11 Tuesday
All is well, bridge still standing.

22/11 Wednesday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-visit to Nove Zamky, facing bureaucarcy Slovak style, came home without results.

23/11 Thursday
All is well, bridge still standing.

24/11 Friday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-left for Bratislava 135 km (100 miles)away, the capitalof Slovakia. Believe it or not but this tiny village is directly linked by train to international cities like Berlin.

25/11 Saturday
No observation, but walked across the Novy Most (new bridge) in Bratislava .
-visited Danubiana, a contemporary art gallery set on the banks of the Danube outside Bratislava.

26/11 Sunday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-Bratislava getting ready for Christmas, only 29 days to go.

Week 4

2006-11-20T12:12:00.000-08:00

13/11 Monday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-learned a new Hungarian word out of desperation: csonkovacks (bone-smith) the best translation for chiropractor. Doubt it if I will ever forget that one. A permanent bridge has been built in my brain as it is linked to a physical experience. Yes I am a kinesthetic learner.

14/11 Tueday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-when my camera moves, I see differently

15/11 Wednesday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-filmed a few kids from the orphanage across the road roller skating. Had no common language to communicate, but the camera got the message through.

16/11 Thursday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-same kids from yesterday saw me in the street and said "jo napod" (hello).
Hello!!! The foundation of a small bridge.

17/11 Friday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-An American tourist walked passed just as I left the residence. We chatted and he gave me his business card. "Let me know when you get famous", he said. Hehe, if only he knew...

18/11 Saturday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-Mala from New Zealand came to stay for the weekend. The New Zealand population of Sturovo doubled just like that.

19/11 Sunday
-walked across the bridge and strolled through historic Estergom, a wonderful place to stroll.
-teenagers performed a puppet show in a cafe and had a ball doing so, a joy to see.
-new pavement in the square (it is actually more a triangle) almost finished.

Week 3

2006-11-13T13:13:00.000-08:00

6/11 Monday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-was thrown off the last train for Sturovo, bike was not allowed, the conductor grinned, spend the night in Bratislava.

7/11 Tuesday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-4:30: Hungarians did not play their nationalistic tune across the river today!

8/11 Wednesday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-tune back 'on air', bridge of attachment restored.

9/11 Thursday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-feast today, found avocado's, yummm.

10/11 Friday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-back is so sore, made a date with the 'bone smith' as they are called here.
-met new people at a concert, a much healthier 'bridge' to cross than the pub.

11/11 Saturday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-will use art as a 'bridge' bypassing language. Made first (non-verbal) contact with local orphans across the road through my camera, would like to build a bridge with them, for them, getting a sense the are outsiders just like me, living on the edge of town, the edge of the Danube, the edge of Slovakia, the flood plane of the Danube, virtually no-mans land.

12/11 Sunday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-would like to cross the bridge freely to the bright lights on the other side, just like the locals, without having to sacrifice a passport page for four stamps each time. Get a bit of an idea what it must have been like behind the iron curtain, seeing the greener grass, but not being able to step on it.

Week 2

2006-11-11T12:49:00.000-08:00

30/10/06 Monday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-first snow today.

31/10/06 Tuesday, Haloween
All is well, bridge still standing.
-locals bring flowers to the graveyard and light candles.

1/11/06 Wednesday, All Saints Day
All is well, bridge still standing
-Graveyard looks magic

2/11/06 Thursday
All is well, bridge still standing
-wonder if anything will happen while I am observing the bridge? Two filmmakers followed a fire crew for months and nothing ever happened..., till 9/11 that was, they caught the first plane hitting on film, the rest is history.

3/11/06 Friday
All is well, bridge still standing
-need to get out there and find a 'bridge' that will connect me with the locals.

4/11/06 Saturday
All is well, bridge still standing
-do as the Romans do, so went to the Green Pub, a very smokey joint.

5/11/06 Sunday
All is well, bridge still standing
-still coughing from last night,hmmm..., pub was not so green, will need to find a healthier 'bridge'.

Week 1

2006-11-08T13:19:00.000-08:00

23/10 Monday
All is well, bridge is still standing.
-arrived late afternoon at the Bridge Guard residence.

24/10 Tuesday

All is well, bridge still standing.
-Danube has beaches complete with shells (just like New Zealand).

25/10 Wednesday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-crossed bridge and back by bike, 4 stamps in passport.

Guards stop
Stamping twice
Once
Cannot be trusted

Guards stop
Checking photos
Of
Commuter faces

Guards stop
Holding on
Till
Bridge is understood

26/10 Thursday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-indian summer still on 20-25c.

27/10 Friday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-where was I again, Slovakia or New Zealand?

28/10 Saturday
No observation, out of town.
-danced the csardas with locals in Budapest, that 'bridge' always works.

29/10 Sunday
All is well, bridge still standing.
-suspicious boat hiding on the bank in the bushes.