Saturday, June 30, 2007

Malaysia Trip: Artist talk at Lost Generation Space, 6 June 2007

Another artist talk was organized during my trip in Malaysia based on the title The Ground We Share, it was approximately 20 people attended the talk. Again, thanks to Kim Peow Ng and also Lian Heng Yeo, curator of Lost Generation Space whose helped with the coordination work. Lost Generation Space is an exciting alternative gallery space situated in Taman Seputeh, the heart of Kuala Lumpur and a stone throw from Mid-Valley, the biggest shopping mall in Malaysia. This year, they organized Notthatbalai Art Festival 07 based on the theme Sama-sama, which is going to take place between 20 July and 5 August. It is "an art event organized by a group of individuals from diverse art disciplines and social backgrounds who are passionate about art, embodying the spirit of sharing and giving."

Outside Lost Generation Space, Lian Heng Yeoh (in the middle) and Kim Peow Ng (in white).

A discussion after the presentation

Another scene during the discussion


Malaysia trip: Artist talk at the Dasein Academy of Art, 10.05.2007

An artist talk was organized in Dasein Academy of Art while I was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Special thanks go to Kim Peow Ng (An artist and fine art lecturer in the Academy) helped to organised this. The talk (about an hour and 45 minutes) based on the title The Ground We Share was attended by about 50 students, it presents my work from 1998 to date. The student raised questions on my work based on the presentation and discussed studying art abroad.

Outside Dasein Academy of Art

A scene from the talk

Answering students' questions over a light refreshment


IRHH's "What is Karma ?" seminar on 25 March 2007

IRHH Europe organised a seminar on "What is Karma?", it took place at the University of Westminster on 25 March 2007. What is IRHH? IRHH Europe (The Institute for Research in Human Happiness) is a charity organisation made up of people who aim to refine their souls and deepen their wisdom, the center spreads the light of Truth, with the aim of enlightening people in the principles and practices of Buddhism. Besides book and electronic materials, IRHH is one of the resources for my knowledge on Zen Buddhism.

Mr George Noguchi (director of IRHH Europe) delivers a talk on "What is Karma?"


Visitors to the seminar browse through the books written by the founder
of IRHH Master Ryuho OKawa during the tea break


A simple ceremony to join the new members



Welcome to the ground

Thank you for stopping over. The Ground We Share evolves from my research study where I make a comparative study between the concepts of the everyday in art practice and Zen.

My art practice may be seen as the result of my interest on the matters of the everyday and Eastern thoughts. Over the years, I have produced a body of cross-disciplinary work that explores the as-it-is-ness of things, and interconnectedness between objects and people. My own cultural background and life experience are often revisited, examined and evidenced in the work within this journey of exploration.

In Zen tradition, mindfulness to everyday trivial is important in their spiritual pratice, my research relates this notion of attentiveness from my work to this tradition. Historically, many important twentieth century artists and art groups who expanded Duchamp’s theory of the ready-made and the everyday were also influenced by Zen teaching from D.T. Suzuki and Shunryu Suzuki that can also be related to this research.

In contrast to the Western sociological perspective on the study of the everyday from important thinkers like Henri Lefebvre and Michel de Certeau; I look at it from a different perspective - through the prism of a contemporary artist that comes from an Eastern background.

This blog provides a space to share my activities and information arising from my work and research. You are welcome to be part of this interconnection by posting your valuable experience, thoughts and comments.