It is eucalypt forest buzzing with the sound of cicadas and heavy with the scent of gum leaves on hot summer days. I have been here for the past six months watching her from my window every morning and evening. I decided to do some portraits of her and started to move nearer and have an intimate contact with her finally. The highest point is at 830m above sea level, photos and drawings were made along the way; bushes and tree barks were the main topic. I observed and captured each subject matter in multiple angle views; this will result into layered of imagery appearing onto one plane to echo the picture in my mind and projecting “change” as phenomena in nature as well as life. “Life is constantly changing. Life is change. Only one thing is permanent, and that is change itself. To accept this changing exercise with all its seasons and moods, this constant flow, which never stops for a single moment, is to be blissful.” [1] I was fascinated by the formation of trees along the steep hill, patterns of the tree barks illuminated by the sun rays and the illusion of cross woven branches hinting a form of system in the chaotic world. “Chaos is what a handful of theorists steeped in math and computer know-how are calling their challengingly abstract new look at nature in terms of nonlinear dynamics.” [2] To me, “Chaos” is the rule and pattern of nature; to a certain extent there is logic in it that humans try to understand and define it so far, and yet there is so much unknown beyond our current knowledge. Back to the art studio, all the images done on site as well as the sense of engagement with nature has created strong references for my art creation in the second phase. Splashes of colors and marks created on papers were simply sentiment from the heart and pictures from the mind. They are not the realistic painting of the shape and forms, as far beyond that are fragments of memories and insights of the subject matter. These paintings and drawings were further merged with photo images in the digital space, and translated back as a printed material; cordially transformed pixels back to ink dots. An enormous experience while ones constantly move in and out between the physical and virtual canvas. This echoes “perception” & “change” in Buddhist terminology as mentioned in the earlier write up on my personal blog.
