Happy first day of a new month and week guys! Just wanted to share the beautiful artworks of my talented friend, who doubles as my activist soulmate tackling issues like gender discrimination and animal cruelty, please meet the very charming, Elfe.
I’ve told Elfe countless times that I will adorn my own apartment (when that comes) with a variety of her paintings. Oh and I’ll throw in a bonus- she’s fantastic to work with!
You can commission Elfe to paint and know she’ll have it done beautifully (for a budding artist, she’s shipped her work all the way to Australia and fast going beyond).
Show her some love over at her blog or contact her to see more of her work and don’t forget to show young local artists some love along the way.
Inspirations are everywhere, you just need to look. This christmas letter from Drey in '06 will remain on my inspiration board forever and by simply reading it over again yesterday, i've come to a decision that i'm giving my dancing self a second chance. Slowly this time.
A life without dance, is like a life without love.
I've been meaning to watch this cute and endearing story of the famous Vogels. It's finally screening for the first time here in Asia and you can watch it at the Design Film Festthat's near over. I think i've been missing out on these goodies for some time now, let's get back on track.
p.s WHDH, sad you can't make it cos this other one's for you!
By the way, WHDH has a wonderful blog, so give her a visit. Her posts are really fun and informative. She makes me want to go back to art school all the time!
In other news, i'm just about to link everyone following me from here. Tell me if that's okay or i'll just go ahead with it. xx
Print & display in your window, school, workplace, car & elsewhere over the holiday season, and send as postcards to your friends.
If you don't see your language here, then send us your translation of WAR IS OVER! IF YOU WANT IT Happy Christmas from John & Yoko so we can make a poster for your language.
The enchanting Yoko Ono calls for a peaceful protest every Christmas and i'm in this year. For some time now, i've been on a hunt for budget-friendly gifts and ideas this Christmas but nothing quite does it like this nostalgic print.
This is in Bahasa Indonesia. Is it any different in malay?
Dear John & Yoko, Your love will pave the way for peace in the world, someday. Thank you for believing. Imagine peace.
Have you seen the works of Loretta Chen? One of the big names in our local theatre scene today. Sometime ago she directed 251 and The Vagina Monologues. Now she's gone on to direct What The Butler Saw which is a remake of Joe Orton's satire and that's to debut this 7th February. I am so going to see it and you should too! More details and ticket prices here.
I didn't know she was directing another play until i bumped into her just a few days back. The story is that Loretta was my lecturer back in arts school, she taught me art theory and was probably the most laid back teacher at that time. She's incredibly open to discuss any topics, questions or answers and was a nice balance of passionate teacher and humorous friend. Which eventually lead to students smuggling beer into the lecture hall and such. That was then.
Anyway, we did a quick catch up and it ended with me telling her the unfortunate tale of why i left dance and what i was about to do in the months to come. She was so excited for me, knowing i wasn't going to give up art as a whole and handed me her name card. So now here's the happy ending. As if my star was bright that hot and humid Sunday, she offered me to come work for her when i graduate and come back. Eeeek! I would've ran around naked! It was such an honour.
The issue is, though, i never imagine i'd come back but i suppose it's always great to have a Plan B.
We'll see what the future has in store for me. For now, i invite you to join in my journey towards the unpredictable future.
In Rachel Papo's Desperately Perfect series, she documents young Katya's story at the St. Petersburg Vaganova Ballet Academy in Russia. Ballet is the most fascinating Art form in my opinion and Vaganova the most beautiful of all the different Ballet techniques/methods/school of thoughts. But probably also, more gruelling.
These young dancers fascinate me and at the same time, make me feel sorry for them. Perfection is the spell that magically captivates audiences into the surreal world of Dance. And perfection, is every dancer's goal. By any means necessary.
I'm all nostalgic looking at these excellent pictures and I can hear my teacher screaming at me in her Russian accent already!
"Maria you're fat and jelly! Don't sickle your feet! Point harder! Suck in your stomach! Lengthen, lengthen! Don't arch your back! Stop being lazy! Your legs are weak! Jump higher! Strengthen your ankles!"
No less vividly, i remembered the incessant nursings of my dancing self just a little more than a year ago, pursuing the hopes of emerging an artist. The sore body, the bruised ego, adhering to a strict diet, the extinguished strength, depleting confidence, the fragile mind, the broken heart, the scattered soul. I, just like many others, took the plunge and decided- this is what i need, this is what i want to do, this is all i want to be, this is me and i am not in my skin if not here.
Art is a one way ticket, it's not even like going to war, you climb into the magic school bus and you're not coming back. Getting there or otherwise, will never matter. There is no turning back, you're never coming home to the pre-decided you. Go on and run but hiding is tomfoolishness at its best. Much of your life will either suffer or rejoice from this altered routine. You leave it and it comes searching for you, almost haunting, carrying all the impact of a restless spirit. With what little i know of art, i know this much well enough.
Infusing the maelstrom of events that followed since welcoming a new head of department and that unfortunate accident equating to a busted knee of close to an eternity, this fat cow of a kid upped and left. One Tammy Wong randomly charged forward, bulldozed her zeal and badly shakened up, 18 year-old Maria walked away. WITHOUT A FUCKING FIGHT. Supposedly meek but sadly, an apparent coward. And eversince, nothing but lies.
The aftermath was made of endless attempts to digest the idea of a shattered dream and the end of school life, followed by jugs full of tears, fits of irrational behaviour, unstoppable rants and cursings of oneself. I was the reigning drama queen for some months. Somewhere in the process of healing, i hatched a little plan to kick my own ass and move on. I took up another diploma which bears no relevance to art in any major degree. I lied i would like it, maybe to get by, i was never serious but i never regretted anyway. Funny how the grades came back quite promising when i hated pretty much all things media. Life goes on anyway but lies wouldn't, ain't it? And i scurry on to a place, not wholly a home but very close. We forget the acrimonies of past and proceed on to tomorrow. I hate sulking and brooding over spilled tits milk. In a matter of months, I'm moving on to do art all over again, not in college but in university this time. It's hard to kick this drug and the high it brings.
In the spirit of preparing myself for another shot at fate, i've been reading, contemplating, discussing old art theory notes and other materials. And back in school, i remembered our dampened spirits as soon as we arrive at a plateau in our learning, trying to comprehend our stagnated abilities. While the more advanced dancers struggle to find an identity for themselves because copying the identical of a teacher combats the idea of individuality, which is, promoted in dance or art anyway. Everyone toughens up against the pressure, everyone hungers for inspiration.
There comes our idols, icons and masters of the field, readily standing in like a commited teacher past midnight. Recharges you with wisdom, ideas, propellors to throw you back into the arena like a brand new person. During that difficult time, Yoko Ono had my back (and now, she is becoming a statement and trend, FYI). Who's got yours?
Which brings me to share some good kicks in the ass:
Welcome to my blog! Here's where i document everything that inspires me, the people i love & the goings-on in my life. Everyday i fall deeper & deeper in love with life (yes- the good, the bad & the ugly) & would be thrilled to have you join me in my adventure. xo
Happy first day of a new month and week guys! Just wanted to share the beautiful artworks of my talented friend, who doubles as my activist soulmate tackling issues like gender discrimination and animal cruelty, please meet the very charming, Elfe. 
