Balancing my luggage for weight versus content, I can see how much all the effort of packing my painting materials to bring them to Krumlov has paid off. In particular, the raw canvases and the Golden Paint gesso made it worth to deal with backaches for more than three days. I have found here neither gel medium nor the variety of acrylics we have in Canada. The art suppliers I found around Krumlov mostly carry oil paints and very few acrylics. Maybe there are other suppliers I am not aware of. Anyway, I am glad I have decided to bring the materials, it truly rewarded the hassle of bringing all the stuff here.
The ArtForum magazine is a must for the uncertain traveler. It is really heavier in content than in weight—and, it does weigh quite a lot. ArtForum is not only “educational” but it also influences the direction of my experiments in many ways. My recent Color Investigation in Intaglio was inspired by the article on Joseph Albers. Right now I am intrigued by Olafur Eliasson’s thoughts on the function of a museum (ArtForum, Summer 2010, XLVIII, no. 10: pp 308-9) and the “transformative model of artwork.” Eliasson talks about the “radical museum” as a model that speaks on behalf of artists and honors the artists’ propositions, strengthens them. I take Eliasson’s thoughts in a broader sense, beyond the function of the radical museum to apply to art production in general. I feel that my work is to “cultivate language based on my emotions that intents to amplify our felt experience.” (emphasis mine)
This period of solitude enables self-remembering as a way to connect with one’s emotions. Exercising the body becomes a deliberate effort to feel, to connect with my being. There is this internal permission to let the emotions arise and the hope for an encounter with myself. Both the pleasant and the unpleasant are embraced while the breathing in and the breathing out in a very existential way.
My walks at the castle gardens have turned into runs around the waterlilies’ pond. Sometimes, I have to stop to pick up a little rock or a fallen flower as a colour reference. For the last days, I have been going back to the gardens to take pictures of what I cannot bring with me. As the roses and flowers were at their peak, I took the opportunity to photograph them. There are so many varieties and I enjoy their vibrant colours.
Being “archaic” I look at the waterlilies and think of Claude Monet… so last century but I cannot help. I also cannot resist stopping by to say “hi” to the castle bears. They are so fascinating eating their huge Czech buns from the local bakeries, like triple-sized cinnamon buns.
