Interim (off the topic)

"When it rains, it pours."

So true.... I was depriving my sleep almost everyday so I can get stuff done. That was last month. I thought dark circles under my eyes were permanent... But I am getting at least 5-6 hours of healthy sleep nowadays. I look better and feel better. But I feel like my creativity is slightly going south.... I am not saying that artists have to beat up himself physically to sharpen his mental aspect (creativity), but there are some truth to it.

I used to compete in Martial Arts Tournament. I went through severe physical training. Also I was on much severer diet that makes even vegans run for their money. More I make myself physically exhausted, I realized my overall mental state got sharpened. I was thinking much more clearly and more aware of things I usually dismiss.

I was reading an article written by a writer who decided to take anti-depressant to curve his anger. After taking the pills for a period of time, he realized that he is much more calm and happier. But his creativity was noticeably decreased. I am not going to jump to conclusion and saying that artists have to suffer in order to be creative, but there is always this one question remains.

"Would I make art, even if I am fully satisfied of my life?"

But again, who is truly satisfied of his life? I don't know any. Do you?

Strange Country Post 3: Greg Maka's Amazing Works.

One of the photographer, Greg Maka, came over to share his works with me last night.
I was totally blown away. It was a treat for my eyes.

I do not know a word to describe his works. If I put them down in the words, it will be very simple.

It is a picture of bird-eye view city scape. But it is beyond what the subject matter is. I don't know what he does, but I don't want him to stop. His images are just gorgeous.

His works are too good for my exhibition space. I knew it already. All the artists for "Strange Country" are too good for my space. But I wanted to set a standard. I wanted to show how good we can be. How amazing unknown artists could be. And how "good" art can enrich lives.

"Strange Country" Post 2

"Strange Country" will be my first official Curatorial Debut.

It is to investigate how location (or change of location) affect human Psyche. Like you feel a strange nostalgia in places you have never been, or feel of lost in places you are familiar with.

My case was all started from one photograph. I saw one photograph (actually a series of photos, but the one stood out), and I felt this strange yet strong connection to the piece. It was a picture of Cambodian children. The picture itself is a quite simple, almost traditional, portraiture. But something about it "touched" me so strongly. I can't quite understand why till this day....

Then I wanted to find out what and how it made me feel so close to the picture. Is it the artist who took the pic? Is it the location? Is it the technique. etc....

So in a way, this show could be an investigation to my own personal question. But what matters most is how the exhibition is (there are no, NO, questions about how good my artists are! I love saying "my artists"...) There shouldn't be much concern for how the show started out.

It will be a great show and I am so excited about working with (so far) three photographers, Melissa Buesing, Colleen Gutwein, and Greg Maka.