Thursday ashtray number 39

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

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 !!!

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

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

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

About to depart

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