Park Island, part 1: Ma Wan Highrise Park

Yesterday I ran into Darren on Lamma Island's Main St. He's an old HK hand, so I asked him for a good island to explore that sunny afternoon.

"Do you think Park Island's any good? No one seems to know much about it," I said. "When I talked to a ferry employee there, he said 'Oh, it's very modern.'"

In HK parlance, that's meant as a compliment, but I wasn't sure how photogenic it would be for my island-shooting assignment.

"Nope, I've never been there," Darren said, "but a friend said there's an interesting village, somewhere outside of the park and the highrises surrounding it. No idea how to get there, though."

So I decided to catch the ferry & explore for a day.


First impressions, arrival at Park Island: overpriced concrete decor


2nd impression, kitsch topiary next to water so polluted that all the real dolphins have asphyxiated


Park Island is a popular spot for wedding & graduation shots. Here, a bride crosses the underpass to Ma Wan Park, followed by her photographer



An indication of Ma Wan park's aesthetic: cute and colorful plastic



Plastic seagulls under the overpass


Kitschy park toilet signs



Another couple poses in front of a 3D mural. The murals are an ingenious idea: painted on two sides of the concrete, they appear to ripple as one walks by them. Unfortunately, they're poorly-painted, so this dilutes the effect.


(you get a glimpse of HK kids' daily lives in this picture: frowning helper, docile sister)
What's this kid up to?


These steam vents keep you cool in the summertime


And they're lots of fun to run through



A hint of what was to come: this vendor sold locally-dried seafood under the Tsing Ma bridge


Behind the too-cute park with its plastic signs and concrete walls, I saw this graceful old village house


Then a mysterious path


and this No Trespassing sign. But I quietly ignored it and continued on


Soon I passed this traditional grave and knew I was headed somewhere interesting

To be continued very soon....

Obstacles: creative conquering, not creative excuses

Today I commented on Anna's post on obstacles to art-making, on a day packed with personal speed-bumps. Somehow they made me even more determined to work through them by writing: to my publisher, to several arts people, travel agents, my partner, to bloggers I've never met before.


Night-time photos from a Star Ferry cruise we took this week, saying goodbye to Hong Kong

I can't tell you how many times I've heard "I don't have time" from people - this is why they can't make art outside of Sundays.


You've got to conjure up the time, it doesn't suddenly appear.

[here are some good tips for making the most of small blocks of studio time]

Work fewer hours at your day job,

stay up later, wake up earlier,



don't have kids for awhile, if ever;

choose an admiring partner - or none at all - don't accept anything less.


R, looking like he's walked straight out of a film noir set

work a flexible job; make yourself irresistible to potential employers for freelance/flex-time work.



All of these are choices many contemporary artists make to keep going full-tilt towards their work.



Space?

It's unfortunate that for much of the past half-century, professional artists have been expected to rent studios separate from their living spaces, in some of the most expensive cities in the world. (this I am hopeful is changing in the 21st century).





Small spaces tend to generate small work, yes, but when starting out, paying for those spaces can become a distraction from the making of it.

Make it wherever you can: in the living room or underneath a tree, in a museum or in a classroom.

While I'm in the process of moving our lives to Sydney, I'm temporarily using the concrete slab in front of our flat for exposing my blueprint photos. Next spring, I'll be making art in various spots in SE Asia. None of these spots are "studios" per se, but they're ideal for a nomadic artist, and combine living/working spaces.


You need understanding roommates when making a mess in the bathroom - even if it's "art"



it helps if your roommate's a male


Artists who are dedicated don't just say "I can't", they say "How can I do this somehow - or at least something like it?"


silk dress printed with rooftop water tower - view from the Long Bien bridge, Hanoi

Postscript:


Damien Hirst was the art director behind this video. You can see his influences in splashing paint & cow's blood. Sienna Miller's an overblown histrionic, but watching her crawl through high street stores filled with artfully-lit handbags reminds me of my first year here in HK, walking through slick & superfluous IFC to the ferry piers on the way home.

The Hours - See The Light

I've just set up a new project-specific blog for the book, called Book of Blueprints. Why? To give you a glimpse into the stories behind some of my favorite illustrations.



Naturally, the first entry's about the Star Ferry on its cover. Stop by when you've got the chance. You've never seen Hong Kong quite as blue and brilliant as it is in these pictures.

Yes We Did

Celebration sticker. Get a free one here

Way back in the day when I tried my hand at being a New York-based artist, I'd walk over the Williamsburg bridge and was often riveted by stickers & stencils of a somber-looking face. It was Andre the Obey Giant, but to me it was my green man, a presence that humanized this city where I felt so small.

ArtInfo gives us a glimpse of Shepard Fairey, the man behind the iconic red, white & blue Obama images. "Why would Barack Obama invite a graffiti artist with a long rap sheet to launch a guerrilla marketing campaign on his behalf?"

Read more in this article by ArtInfo

"Obama - OK!"

This said to me today first thing with a thumbs-up and a high-five, from Ah-Moy: the wildest cleaning lady at Colour My World. She'll put a grin on your face every day, and was especially happy that Obama won.


Hong Kongers celebrate Obama's victory (photo by Vincent Yu, AP)

"Hong Kong People" (as the local English-language newspaper refers to HK residents) have the bottom line on the mind more than most, but they DO know how to party! And there were parties aplenty last night, celebrating the USA's change in leadership.

But where was I? Hanging out at the atmospheric Philia Lounge for e.v.e.n.t's monthly Speak Up! showcase, to talk about my new book of blueprints and meet other artists/creatives in HK.

"After the festivities, it's time to get back to work" - a sentiment oft-quoted in newspapers about the president-elect's priorities.

And it's time for me to get back to work, too: press releases to be written, appointments to keep, framing to finalize, an international art festival to attend, final large images to print in coming weeks, travel arrangements to and from 6 countries...and a continental move before the end of the year.


More info on the book coming SOON - I mean in the next few days soon!