Urban Camping

“The city is seen imaginatively as the heart of contemporary darkness [...] a jungle of brick, stone and smoke, 
with its greedy predators and apathetic victims, its brutal indifference to either communal value or individual feeling."  
  Nochlin, L. (1971) Realism. Penguin Books : London

In a failed attempt to get away from the city over Chinese New Year, Molly and Chad pitched a tent in the alleyways and carparks of Tiong Bahru Estate. Naming their adventure Urban Camping, and armed with a camera and two iPhones, Molly and Chad shot a series of dissociated holiday snaps, capturing the isolation they experienced, alone in an abandoned suburb.

Why do we live in cities so full of life and possibility, yet feel so alone? Artist Edward Hopper explored these themes through his realist paintings. We are faced with the antithesis of city dwelling – a feeling of disconnection, isolation and aloneness that accumulates as brooding sentiments of anti-urbanism.

New Beginnings

"Aquarius is the sign that represents the future, hopes and wishes manifest [...] 
if you ever wondered when is the best time for a New Year's resolution, it is definitely now, 
on the Chinese New Year, which brings a swell of powerful waves we can use to make things happen." 

Gahl Sasson (Kabbalah, Astrology and Mysticism)

Today Venus moves out of Retrograde, the New Moon moves into Aquarius, and it's the first day of the Chines New Year of the Horse. I'm thinking it's pretty auspicious all round. What better day for new beginnings and fresh starts?

Mindfulness is awareness, acceptance and letting go, a check-in on thoughts and feelings, actions and reactions. Meraki describes doing something with soul, creativity, or love — when you put “something of yourself” into what you’re doing, whatever it may be. Mindfulness plus Meraki is a journey of creativity, love and acceptance, a conscious letting go of judgement, status and attachment.

This year, 2014, I pledge to live my life with mindfulness and meraki. Engage in creative endeavours regardless of merit, to play with art making across disciplines regardless of ability. 

Happy New Year!! x