Robert's Journeys

When Dreams visit dreams

2012-01-26T02:15:00.000-08:00

All things that are of value in life we can't express in total.

It is as an artist important to me , to conjure up without giving it all away and leave the viewer with an essence.

The things we express and don't express are equally as important.

As an artist I can only conjure up an illusion.

Even if I want to make a realistic landscape painting,i can only make an interpretation of a landscape.The better one can make the illusion, the more one can convince the audience that they are looking at the real thing.

It is my concern to lift a veil without spilling the essence.

"One walks around oneself in a circle and keep on meeting oneself in unexpected places"

___________________________________________

Here are some works which are currently showing at The museum in Taupo , also the works by jeweler Gillian Rainer she is an artist from Perth,

The series of works I have created on brass leaf and used the reflection through the paint to create the image.

"Boys hood Dream " oil paint on canvas

"God Head" oil paint on canvas

"Greed is transparent" oil paint on canvas

" Shaman Dreaming" oil paint on canvas

" Shaman dreaming" oil paint on canvas

"The Night " oil paint on canvas

"The cure and table to conjure up fake angles " oil paint on canvas

"The Introvert" oil paint on canvas

"The Red spot on the Mandible" oil paint on canvas

"Love makes most animal almost Human " oil paint on canvas

"The Sandman" oil paint on canvas

My studio at The Learning Connextion in preparations for my exhibition ,

where I am artist in residence

Jewelry By Australian artist Gillian Rainer

from Perth

" The Shadow cast their flowers"

"The Shadow cast their flowers"

"The Shadows cast their flowers"

"The Shadow cast their flowers"

"At night some black swans turn white" oil painting on canvas board

"Cleansing Bowl" glass engraving washing basin

" Cleansing Bowl" glass engraving washing basin

"The crow is a part of us" oil Paint on canvas

" The Trickster" oil paint on canvas

"Vessels for loved ones ( The Floating world)

"When Dreams visit dreams" oil paint on canvas

All works are for sale please inquire robertfranken@gmail.com

Gemeente Museum in The Hague The Netherlands September 2011 one rainy day

2011-09-07T06:40:00.000-07:00

Just sharing with you a little journey through the Gemeente Museum
rain is a good catalist to undertake such event.
I use to come here a lot when I was a students at the art school .

The museum has quite a few galleries and is well orgenised in their display . I hope you will enjoy wandering from room to room and it will leave a little impression , about the things I like .

Artist Francis bacon at the Gemeente Museum in The Hague 2011

2011-09-07T06:23:00.000-07:00

Artist Markus Lupertz at the Gemeente Museum 2011

2011-09-07T06:10:00.000-07:00

Such a good feeling to come across an artist which I know little about and be blown away by the size and also the power of it's work .

Some remind me of Baco and others of Boyd and yet they have their unique flavor .

It is good to see that he also works in series of works . and have tried to put in this block in such a way to follow it hrough .

Namaste Robert

Artist Markus Lupertz at the Gemeente Museum The Hague 2011

2011-09-07T05:59:00.000-07:00

Artist Markus Lupertz at the Gemeente museum 2011

2011-09-07T05:53:00.000-07:00

Artist Markus Lupertz at the Gemeente museum 2011

2011-09-07T05:49:00.000-07:00

Artist Markus Lupertz at the Gemeente Museum in The Hague 2011

2011-09-07T05:45:00.001-07:00

Towards a new world Naar een nieuwe wereld Exhibitons of fasion at the Gemeente museum 2011

2011-09-07T02:06:00.000-07:00

Here are series of photo's I took during my visit at the Gemeente Museum in The Hague ( The Netherlands)

I am always fascinated by the way we collectively are influenced by the times and thinking .

Also how artists have inspired one another . and yet as an artist I work in my own capsule creating a world of my own and yet there all those other treats that link with the world at large and the subconscious of mankind .

Working can take place at so many levels even not doing anything and also what I am undertaking at the moment by just wandering through the minds of others .

Just view the collection and enjoy

Robert

Towards a New World Fasion show at The Gemeente Museum 2011

2011-09-07T01:54:00.000-07:00

Towards a New world Fasion at The Gemeente Museum

2011-09-07T01:47:00.000-07:00

Fasion Show at the Gemeente Museum 2011

2011-09-07T01:42:00.000-07:00

Towards a new world Fasion at the Gemeente Museum 2011

2011-09-07T01:33:00.000-07:00

Just a detail of Mondrian Gemeente Museum 2011

2011-09-06T14:14:00.000-07:00

This was the last work Pieter Mondrian Made before he Died .

We are always under the impression especially when we see his works reproduced that they are sharp and hard and sterile

I made some details shots and i find them quite sumptuous and warm .

Jan Schoonhoven at the Gemeente museum Sept 2011

2011-09-06T09:19:00.000-07:00

This series of works by Jan Schoonhoven , might be helpfull to some Advance Diploma students .

Icon exhibition at Hermitage , Amsterdam sept 2011

2011-09-06T01:16:00.000-07:00

At the moment in Amsterdam is the Icon exhibition at the Hermitage .

In the preparation for the making of the icon , one uses Fish glue or Rabbit size and French chalk .

For the colours one used or uses . Egg yolk and dry pigment and add the same amount as the content of an egg of beer . This will keep the colours brilliant for a longer time .

One has to see the show a couple of times because there so many details .

As for me , I just like sniffing the atmosphere . I normally walk through a show quite quickly and return to the pictures that stand out to me .

These where the one that caught my eye the most .

Blowing like a leaf on the breath of the Gods

2011-09-05T02:04:00.000-07:00

I am Just sharing some reflections of my visits to the art galleries and hopefully hereby contributing to your daily routine .

At this moment in time . New Zealand is ten hours ahead while I am writing this .

In 10 min I will be on my bike and visiting the Gemeente Museum , where they have a large Pieter Mondriaan Exhibition .

I always feel at home visiting that show .

I have seen it quite a few times and never get sick of it .

I hope you enjoy the show , it will go on, after I have dropped .

Egyptian Painters pallets 2000 BC from the museum of Antiquaty in leiden . The Nethelands

2011-09-05T01:54:00.000-07:00

Escher Museum in The Hague 2011

2011-09-05T01:36:00.000-07:00

Just reflecting about my wanderings through The Hague and sharing a part of my journey . Escher has been part of a house hold name when I grew up as a kid and spend lots of time looking at his eternal puzzles . I hope you appriciate these graphic images as much as I do Cheers Robert

Alfred Harberpointer Sculptor .

2011-09-04T03:17:00.001-07:00

August 2011 .When visiting the Sculpture museum in Scheveningen

This a good example how to develope an idea in a lateral way.

Sculptor Sui Jianguo at Beelden Museum Schevening 2011 Holland

2011-09-04T03:17:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed the way Sculptor Sui Jianguo created this series of works from just a little Dutch platter gifted to him .

A good example how to approach a topic in a lateral way .

At Night time some black swans turn white

2011-06-07T03:14:00.000-07:00

Currently I am starting to work on a series called "When dreams visit dreams"

I will enter over the period of time the series of paintings which will complete the series .

The first little oil painting which I just completed is called " At Night time some black swans turn white"

"When Dreams visit dreams " series of paintings

2010-08-30T01:42:00.000-07:00

This painting is about the trickster the one that appears and disappears.
The shape sifter.
The shapes one can see in the corner of ones eye , but when one looks they have disappeared
These shots give an understanding how I have gone about the making of the painting.
I painted the canvas first burnt Amber, then I gilded over the top with Slagen Metal (Brass) and a little Aluminium Leaf.
The next stage I wiped burned amber over the top to Patinate the canvas and give it that feel of looking old.
When that was dry I wiped a thick layer of Burnt amber over the top and started with a soft cloth and brush to make the sketch in the wet paint and hereby shaped the undercoating of my painting .
As seen in the first image.
After I started to build the colours over the top.
Avoiding working in solid colours.
Other ways I would lose the image and than what is the point of using the gold underneath.
I worked the painting in Layers.

Studio ( Atelier)

2010-08-10T16:35:00.000-07:00

A studio is a state of being.

In life, one needs a place to rest ones head and the world is one’s living room.

The world is one’s mind and to express what is voiced, one needs a space where one can meet oneself in unexpected places.

In my case, it is my studio.

My think tank, where I can experience many states of being, and where I can conjure the creations that want to transcend into visual form.

There is a fine dance, of the painting being created and it dancing the artist.

For some art forms it might be more clinical.

But when one lives in the moment of creating, for an instant, the ego steps aside and allows the gates to open.

“Night occurs only when the sun sinks behind the fluid of the eye.”

Robert Franken

Robert Franken

"Just a little in common" pen drawing 1972

2010-08-09T02:29:00.001-07:00

During the early 1970 I made a series of pen drawings from which I made some prints . I gave one ,to some friends and their son asked me permission to have it tattoo on his back . To see some of these pen drawings go to my website www.robertfranken.co.nz

2010-05-24T04:45:00.000-07:00

As a student at the art school in The Hague , I felt myself being very inspired by art movements around the turn of last century and also the Dada movement , for the mere fact that they broke new ground which had a major influence in art movements to come during the 20 th century. This is just a little reflection from the Gemeente museum in The Hague . Just a mere entree to a large meal .

Paul Klee ( 1879-1940)

Oska Kokoschka (1886-1980)

Franz Marc (1880-1916)

Gabriele Munter 1877-1962

Works by Kandinsky

TheWorld of Czechoslovkian Glass

2010-05-24T03:30:00.000-07:00

In the garden of stillness Europe 2010

2010-04-23T22:22:00.000-07:00

These are some of the works by Pieter Mondriaan .
As a young person I visited the Gemeente Museum in The Hague at a regular times, and I was always facinated by the changes in his works .
Working from the more classical to the abstract .

One has always the impression of his works that the lines are hard and sharp , but in reality , he used tape and the lines are quite sensual . I made here also a close up of one of his works and a few shots of the trees in early spring .

Amsterdam - Tropen museum

2009-10-05T19:18:00.000-07:00

Visiting an gallery called the Tropen museum in Amsterdam ,it is anthropology museum

An artist Heri Dono has an exhibition , which runs to the end of October.

He is an Indonesian artist reflecting in a critical and humorous way the political and social conditions and problems in his country. It is a quite his own style and with some influence of Matisse and Picasso and streams of the Cobra artists. He uses ancestral sculpture interpretations, shadow puppets and images from Flash Gordon and Superman.

Donos' interpretations are although influenced by his own unique language .

The exhibition consists of large installations of wooden puppets and microphones, playing metallic voice recordings making the whole thing seem humanistic and weird in a funny way.Like an old recording studio.

This a good example that artist can be the connection between the seen and the unseen. Artists can be the voice box of society .

Mexican Monumental Sculptures The Hague The netherlands 2009

2009-10-02T08:57:00.000-07:00

These are a series of photos from an Mexican Artist called Javier Martin.

The sculptures were on display in the Hague August 2009.

Journeys and preparations and the stage we set.

2009-08-31T16:49:00.000-07:00

About the photos . Entrance to Exhibition Robert Franken (Gate way).Magic horn containing potions for healing(Attributes to conjure) , Sumatra.Vodou Altar for communicating with the ancestors
Haiti,Dance masker Dogon ( To speak on behalf of the ancestors Africa.Roman Perfume bottles ( 80 BC),Raven( Foreboding of the right of passage to the other side).Ancestor Figure( Representative of the for elder), Mummy Egypt ( In preparation for the journey)1500 BC,Coffin in shape of a fish ( Coffin of a Fisherman)South Ghana, Roman Battle mask (IN preparation for battle)found in Holland 150 AD,Tattoo in progress by Robert Franken( Right of passage),Divining Slab 1500 BC ( Foretelling the season sand what is to come)Egypt.Capping( Rite of passage).Landscapes for inspiration,Arabian daggers, Jambiya's( Status symbol), Offerings to communicate with the Gods.

I find that as an artist and it applies to most things , that the more one is aware of the stage we set .
The more we can step or project our self into the unknown .

Meaning- from moment to moment everything is new .

Most of the time we view the moment from the viewpoint of habit.
But, really, it is all happening for the first time .

When I start a series of paintings .

I deliberate clean my glass sheet for mixing paint , lay out the tubes .and prepare all my canvases , so they feel just right .

I even might buy some cheap brushes and shape them to make the required marks , producing a scene that lies there waiting for me to start .

It functions like a jumping board into the unknown .

The same for an altar , set before the ceremony.

The entrance to an exhibition , capping day is the entrance toward the next step , the make- up table ,for a preparing for the event, the way the writer lays out his or her pens.

The way we make a choice of dress to project oneself into the day , or try to belong to the human tribe.

These undertakings can make quite a difference, with our journey into the day , night , or the long journeys .

These moments of deliberate stages we set , gives us a moment to be still .

Becoming aware and gives one a launching pad into the about or next stage .

All things around us are a potential .

It is the intent we give it, that will be part of the journey .

A knife by itself is just an object , the intent will becomes its journey .

A brush is just an object , the intent gives it it's journey .

It is in setting the stage that one can observe possibilities.

As an artist I suffer from stage fright , which is a positive thing , because in that moment in time I haven't been there yet .

Setting the stage enables me to be neutral.

Also "the About" is very important , we have a habit to copy , but the more you question "the About" the more one in bed one thoughts or blow life into that what we are undertaking.

When we turn the light out at night one can see no colour . So painting is really playing with light .

One switches the light on , on the end of a stick.

Perhaps Pyramids are the corners of buried treasure chests ?

The completed work " When dreams visit dreams"

2009-08-31T01:34:00.000-07:00

Well at long last here is a photo of the completed work I started in China and finished in my studio ( Atelier ) in Taita .

The painting is called " When dreams visit dreams " It is a bit like that in real life .

Measuring 1690 high by 2890 long oil paint on linen .

Because reality and dream are running side by side .

The painting also include a Cicade .

In China in the olden days people were buried with a copy cut in stone ( Jade ) put on the tongue .
This gave the spirit a voice in the after life.

The painting will be on show from the 17th of September till the 4 of October at Pataka .

Together with some other large works .

You are all welcome to come and view it .

The exhibition consist out of five other artist called Owen Mapp, Doug Marsden . Steven Myhre . Alan Wehipeihana and David McGill.

For more information about my work go to www.robertfranken.co.nz

Completing the large painting I started in Xiamen

2009-07-04T14:53:00.000-07:00

Here are a series of photos of my completion of the painting I started in Xiamen .

It was on display during the group show , but only 1/3 completed and keep the viewer in touch ,with the process of the completion .

Hope to finish the painting by the end of this week .

Because of the nature of this painting I have to wait for the layers to dry .

The painting is on linen and is 3000mm x 1690 mm , oil paint on canvas.

In life we get visited by dreams all the time .

Other peoples dreams and wishes and ones own .

The paintings is based on that concept.

I am always staggered about the dimension of the mind .

I can't point out to the beginning nor the end , so everything is that huge possibility .

The painting is called " When dreams , visit dreams "

It is cold in the Capital .

Quite a shock to the system , so better keep the fingers warm painting .

Namaste Robert

Middle Kingdom (China)

2009-06-21T20:20:00.000-07:00

Back in Wellington and reflecting on a journey to the Middle Kingdom.

It all went pretty smoothly and the preconceived ideas one has about places were pleasantly altered . China is not a country , but a concept .

It is like their food,so many different kind of dishes.

Most of the flavours were fantastic , but most of the time I didn't know what I was eating . But had a wild guess.

The same as things work in relation to one another .

China is like an Onion with so many layers .

The population already is beyond our comprehension , Xiamen is a small town with the population of New Zealand.and progress is everywhere .

It grows in front of ones eyes.

I travelled a couple of hours to the North and to the South , but that doesn't mean anything over there , also the history , one deals with thousand of years .

Likewise the ethnic groups are very varied . All this makes for hopefully in the future of China a great soup with lots of different flavours .

Because it is quite a Han culture .

But on the TV there are now more programmes about their cultural difference.

About the Arts , the dealer Galleries as we know it , are still being developed. That was in Xiamen , Beijing of course is a different matter.

Their foundation to their art works is helped by their writing , people grow up with the brush , but if it comes to expressing ones thoughts to paper that part is undergoing a large metaphor and hopefully is getting more aligned .

I saw some amazing works by some independent Artists , but most of it was still steeped in the old culture . , or copies

Mind you most of our culture is copying itself to death in lots of cases as well .

Anyhow it was an amazing trip and it will give me lots of inspiration to carry on with my own works .

I have updated the full block with photographs to give an impression of my journey .

In the next block I will update you with the progress of my painting I started in Xiamen and hope to finish in the near future .

Also , I have twelve sets of eight cards left and sell these for 20 dollars per set for those who are interested .

They show earlyer on in this blog about China.

If you want to see more works of mine go to http://www.robertfranken.co.nz/

Adios Amigos Robert

Quanzhou Temple

2009-06-18T19:49:00.000-07:00

We made a long drive from Xiamen to this temple and went also to the Tao sculpture in the mountains .

Of course on the way we had a beautiful lunch . The meals keep on coming . Starting with a nine course breakfast , nine lunch and nine course dinner . The great part of the journey is the eating and finding out that there are endless combinations . here are some impressions of the day .

It was rather wet . that made the day with the Tao sculpture extra special .

Reflections

2009-06-17T17:13:00.000-07:00

This trip has taken me through an other corridor of my mind and woken up the China within me .

It is amazing how many versions there are of China .

Here are some reflections off the people I passed by on the road .

Just glimbses

China is not a country but a concept .

From this angle , I will make a series photographs to give some impression .

Thursday and we have a down pour here, but still quite warm.

2009-06-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

The burning of Money for the land lord

I went the other day to look at some buildings created in the Tang dynasty around 1200 AD.
They are round buildings and at the time some 200 people lived in them, but now a mere 30. They bought their coffins when they were about fifty for security and were stored on the top floor.

The United States saw them from Outer Space and accused China about creating rocket launchers. Not a bad guess but they were 800yrs too late.

Time is running out and hopefully the University is producing a catalogue of our works.
It is sort of expected that we gift a work. I will take the works I started on back to NZ and finish these ones off properly and gift the one I have taken to China.

I will be leaving Saturday for New Zealand and then I will be pasting some photos of the journey. So stay tuned.

The Chinese food is fantastic. Yesterday we met some officials from the council and had a dinner.

I had for dinner snake, sea cucumber, shark fin soup, quail, sea mermaid fish and lots of pickles and rice.

All things here are in transition and the officials in some era's play still a large role.

The Arts is not what it is like in NZ and so far we saw little or non to speak of art galleries which sold peoples works. But then again I just didn't see them.

The people here are very friendly and try their English on me, that is a bad thing, they will start to speak with a dutch accent.

Will get this up dated next week with the photos.

Namaste Robert

Computer number 99

2009-06-08T15:34:00.000-07:00

The opening of the exhibition was quite something. We were given corsage to wear with a red ribbon which said VIP in Chinese. Lots of speeches, my face is half the size from the wear of photographs and lots of Chines students wanted to be on the photo with me and then it it was all over.

Well we had a beautiful dinner party after, John got a bit let me say. Well won't be we have to pay for a towel at the hotel because we spilled borraca on it 150 yuan .

That was all on Friday, yesterday, Saturday, we visited 5 artists studios. Tang Nannan,Min Yiyao,Lin Zehong , Zhang Lipping , Zhao Juijie .

That was fantastic.

They were all lecturers at the Art School, two were working independent, but a bit like myself give some input to students.

At Zhang Lipping I saw a fantastic private collection of Calcified Jade objects dating back 6000 BC . Little is know about the culture and John Walsh is taking back a book to TE PAPA , perhaps we can have it as an exhibition here in Wellington .

We had a meal yesterday by the beach and I could have sworn that our conversation was being recorded, perhaps they want to have cheap English lessons from a Dutchman.

Next day just returned from a visit to the Xiamen Art school. Was interesting seeing the art students working on their pieces. The Chinese lacquer technique are the most I was blown away by. They were used in a modern way, but not for the faint hearted, they take ages to do.

Afterwards I hit a fantastic Xiamen fish restaurant and just staggered into this email place to let you know the latest.

I am off to bed and have a siesta. My talk at the University will be tonight. Will see what happens. It is hot, 32 degrees. Need a shower or a cold beer.

Namaste Robert

Thursday ashtray number 39

2009-06-03T19:23:00.000-07:00

Last night John and I got our paintings finished and had a little celebration.

This morning we got up at 6 am and took a taxi to the Art school to put the final layer on our paintings, they are big whoppers, but in a gallery like that you would hardly make a difference.

With my large wall hanging and the painting, I will take up 10 meters.

Working at the moment on some small paintings, they are for gifts to the art school.

I am not going to gift my large one .

I feel great!!!

This morning there was a downpour and got soaked . but it is hot and warm 28 at the moment, temps can go up here to 40 degrees.

I am having my talk tomorrow night and will promote the philosophy of TLC, who knows what I can achieve in a way that will change China. Or the other way round, or not at all.

Hope all is well there and things are ticking over.

This trip has given me the kick under the, you know what and will start my series of paintings when I get back.

A flying ant is circumnavigating my head, got to go and get things packed, have to move from my hotel room floor 4 to floor 6. It might be an improvement.

Will buy on the way to the hotel a bunch of fresh lichee's.

Namaste Robert

Xiamen - Computer 106

2009-06-02T20:31:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, forgot the day but have only today to finish my 3 paintings they have to be dry by Friday.

Apparently they have organised a large show. I mean a large show, the gallery is the same size as one and half bottom floors of TLC. Unbelievable the dimensions here. As I said the school complex is 20 square km.

The students are very inquisitive, and find myself being covered by them.

This Friday is also my floor talk, if I run out of things to say I will utter in Dutch (joking).

The scenery is beautiful and hope soon to be able to send some photos. But in the mean time I am sitting in a ash tray updating my blog . It feels here a bit like Singapore in the early seventies.

The people are very friendly and far more patient with each other. There is lots of pressure to succeed and during the school time there are no students walking about on the campus except meeeee!!

I am cool and will go to the studio and finish those paintings. I am working in the same studio as John Walsh.

I went to the Art School on Gulang Yu island.This is situated Just of the coast of Xiamen .

Here are some photos of the Students art work in natural lacquer . The panels are quite large and multi layered. One uses lichens for the basis of the lacquer.

Also visited several studio's with students working on lacquer paintings . Hereby some photo's of their works .
Adios my friends Robert

Another sunny day in Xiamen 30 and hot hot hot !!!

2009-06-01T21:30:00.000-07:00

Sitting on computer number 141 surrounded by the sounds of Chinese talking no sense, at least not to me. I found out why I can't put things on blog because I am in China and mysteriously things appear on blog via a reliable source at TLC.

I am about halfway through a painting which will go on show by the end of this week , so keep working Franken.
Decided not to do a large work, so what did I do, a large work: 3000x by 1800 mm . Oil of course, it dries slowly in this heat, but that makes things interesting .
Meeting up today with one of the lecturers of the Art school who will translate my floor talk on Friday.
At least talking comes easier than writing .

Most subjects thought here are coming from the Chinese tradition . I think the visit is quite an eye opener for them as it is mine .

About Chinese drivers , being over here , has given me also an understanding of why they drive the way they do .
One keeps an eye on one another , traffic comes from all directions and they just move out of each others way , without getting upset.

I visited the Art School in Xiamen , here are some works with synthetic lacquer .

Visiting the markets here is interesting and tasting all the fruits I haven't seen before makes this trip colourful.

Went to a large reclaimed island turned into gardens (JiaheGardens) and have expressions of the different part of China , like bonsai and houses from the different districts . Also there is a spot to represent NZ.
Hope to get to see a Chinese opera before I go.

Well I can hear my painting calling me from afar. Adios

And other day not far from the Ji mai university

2009-06-01T15:27:00.001-07:00

I am still trying to meet the Sage who can point me into the direction of down loading pictures unto the computer, so be patient with the traveler.

Even buying a piece of string goes with setting lots of people in motion.
I guess it good for the exercise walking from one store to another.

We in New Zealand are quite short tempered with the Chinese in traffic.

But now I understand why they drive the way they do.
They go all over the place against the traffic on the left or right.
They keep an eye out for one another and no one gets upset.

I am passing the smoke filled computer centre on my way to the studio . Am about to start tree paintings which have to be finished by Friday, so thank God for the last minute , it arrived again.

I will ask around and whisper in a million ear where I can find a place where I can download my pictures and open the blog.

First impressions of Xiamen and artist participating

2009-05-28T21:26:00.000-07:00

The artist participating in the exchange are , John Walsh , Janet Andrews, Peter Coates, Ping mabbit and Robert Franken . here a some photos of them .

Sitting in an email cafe surrounded by smoke and 50 other users who are doing games.

Am having an interesting time.

The art school here is a good standard and the students are quite focused. No other option. The school is 20 square km. I will send some photos soon.

Here are some photos of the art Department in Ji Mai .

This is a small place has only 4.5 million people. But really pleasant so far.

I met the Dean and professors and have just been given a studio to create some art works. They are most helpful.

Next week Friday , I have to give a talk in front of 200 people. Oeps!! thought it to be a small group.

Last Sunday I went to the Dragon boat races, quite interesting and colourful and tomorrow I meet up with about 20 Kiwi's who live here.

The food is great, but won't question what it is. It looks good and taste nice. That is the main thing.

Last Tuesday I went to a small art school on Gulang Yu island. They were teaching the old way of lacquer painting.

The cigarette smoke is surrounding me softly got to get out of this place. More soon.

Interview made by the TLC AV team before departure

2009-05-22T19:24:00.000-07:00

About to depart

2009-05-21T15:40:00.000-07:00

Just some last minutes before my departure

I only take hand luggage and the large tube with my pastel rolled up.

The diamond burs ear plugs and and face mask.

Traveling lightly is more my style .

Arrive with little and leave lots and disappear .

Art is about life,a way of thinking but also thrown into the cauldron of nothing, emptiness - . . . .

"I trust not to know" .

Cheers

About sending art works

2009-05-18T04:28:00.000-07:00

This coming Thursday I am off to the customs department to get some customs declarations to bring my work back into New Zealand.

On Air New Zealand one can only take 20 kg luggage , so just as well I trained in the army, loading tank barrels ( Never been in the Army,by the way) because all my clothes will be stuffed in the tube and take as hand luggage promotion materials and tools for doing Glass engravings .

Am planning to engrave a large bowl if I can get one , if not we just go back to the drawing board.

Cheers

About taking gifts

2009-05-17T18:09:00.000-07:00

It is important that with the exchange of greetings and introductios in China gifts are being exchanged .

I have 8 different cards made as gifts and also put these up for sale in a set of 8 for 24 dollars . not including freight .

If anyone is interested let me know or Katie or Adam at the Office and they will put your name down .

They will last as long as they last .
Am not in the habit of making reproductions .

Well they say .Thank God for the last minute " I guess it has arrived .

Running around like anything .

Wishing you all the best.

Reflections

2009-05-15T02:21:00.000-07:00

Strange as an artist I walk around myself in a circle and keep on meeting myself in unexpected places. This is one of those many meetings.

Sometime we have to launch our self in a situation which is not familiar but is attractive because it uncertain .

It is a good feeling to be in that situation because , all sorts of things might or might not happen .

Have no idea what I am walking into .

Reflecting back on my career as an artist it started with pen drawings , no really at the art school I had part of my training as a stone mason .

But start with a couple of photo's of pen drawings , then my manuscript series then my Styx series , worked with dyes on Textile ,Mosaics ,creating Paintings for kimono's, Pastels, Paintings and Glass engravings .

I share some of these images with you .

I wish you all a fantastic 2 Nd term and be taking a block course at the begin of next term , also during the term I am taking two weekend classes.

take care everyone . Cheers Robert

For more photos of my works go to www.robertfranken.co.nz

The work I will take with me

2009-05-12T04:07:00.000-07:00

I will take with me to China . The large pastel called " The burning of past Karma .

It consist of 4 panels 1200 x 3000 mm each .

This was originally a design to be woven , so might as well see of there is the opportunity in China to have it made over there.

2009-05-10T21:06:00.000-07:00

2009-05-10T04:09:00.000-07:00

Years ago my father Rob Franken made a pastel of a Chinese student .

He was dressed in his traditional attire and also over the years I have come across pottery in Indonesia . . Some from the Ming Dynasty . Photograph of A Celedon plate and reverse and a few stacket plates and a Quan Yin figure porceline with wooden hand .

I find it interesting the images one create in ones mind about a place about to visit .

Modus Operendi

I have a three prong approach for my time in Xiamen .

First I can go prepared and take paints with me .

Second I can take glass engraving tools and get myself some glass over
there.

Third . I take nothing with me and see what will happen to me and use local materials.

2009-05-05T02:06:00.000-07:00

Xiamen is the sister city of Wellington and situated north of Hong Kong on the coast .

The above painting I made some time ago and was inspired about my arrival in New Zealand as an immigrant from Holland.

The painting is called " Arriving in the sea of different views" oil painting on canvas , 5300 x 2900 mm

About the Symbolism

The crescent moon to me is like a ship in the sky , or scythe to harvest, a vessel or basket . etc

To me the eyes are like throwing a sense of consciousness into the objects .

About the shape of the eyes . to me the waves of the ocean are the eyelids of the ocean.

When one draws a positive line and a negative line one ends up with a eye , but it could also symbolise two fish meeting .

The mountains are symbolised as Pyramids , because they are mysterious , they hide things from view and also the summit is where the Gods dwell .

In the painting one can also find the presence of the Taniwha and Tuna the eel , but also can be a dragon .

About the symbolism in my works

When one looks on a sunny day on the surface of the water, one can see suggested characters .

I took the numbers 1 till 10 and threw them on that surface .

I don't want my works to be read , but yet the characters suggest a language.

The effect is that it can travel between the floor boards of cultures . it give also the works a sense of motion and timelessness

I have decided that I would like to gift this painting to the Xiamen Association as a gift to the city in China .

Ps this painting has now been kindly rejected on grounds that the air freight was to high .

Well at least I offered and it will stay around till the right moment will come to depart.

Before Xiamen

2009-05-04T19:45:00.000-07:00

In my studio.