Where the Wild Things Were

Friday, 17 March 2023

“Curiosity is the most powerful thing you own.” — Anonymous

I had gone off to find the Astro boy shop however it unfortunately appeared not to have survived covid. As I walked back to the train station, I realised I could swing past the Phillipe Starck Asahi Beer Hall (Flamme D'Or). While I was in a rush, I was lured to cross the brdige to get a closer look.

My curiosity was rewarded. Up close, the cool black became a warm gold in the sunlight, reflecting the river and the city in the process.

On my first visit to Mona, I had asked about this intriguing curtain, only to be invited into the Women's Lounge. The host said "At Mona we like to reward curiosity". This has stuck with me, and I have noticed in life, even without intention, curiosity IS usually rewarded.

My advice to you is to do the google search, oepn the door, walk that extra mile. There is a world out there that you have no idea about and things are rarely as they appear at first glance. You need to really look.

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” ― Marcel Proust

Linking with #WednesdayAroundtheWorld

You use a glass mirror to see your face; you use works of art to see your soul - George Bernard Shaw

For the latest outing of the Wednesday Club I decided we would go glass blowing. 8 people were keen so our group filled the introductary course we did through Class Bento. We did of course, pick the hottest day to have to don long sleeves and long pants but the heat didn't dampen anyone's enthusiasm.

My zeal for this activity waned briefly when I read this article. Apparently I chose glass blowing because I am old and that's what old people do....(Note also my horror on the birds. I am obsessed with taking photos of birds these days!!). However, I guess I am exactly how cliches become cliches. So be it.

We turned up and the class opens with a demonstation, predominately for the safety aspect and basic techniques. What I liked most about this workshop is we were left to do it on our own. There were two teachers to assist if you wanted help, but they really only intervened if you asked. Your ability and creativity are the only things driving the outcome.

I made hooks on both mine, so I can hang them from trees in the garden (because I really don't need more 'stuff' I can't use hanging around the house). First we did sculptures and then we did glass blowing. The blowing is much harder than it looks, but it was really rewarding to see the ball appear at the end of the straw. It's a really fascinating process and quite mesmerising.

What I took away from the expereicne, other than random glass pieces, is that glass is quite magical. It's elastic, soft and hard and brittle, and very easy to crack. I guess like people. We can treat them the right way and coax them through difficutlt times (heat) and they come out a thing of beauty and whole at the end, or they come out cracked and brittle with sharp spikes if we don't take care.

Mostly though, I just had a good time. There were laughs but there's something invigorating about trying something new...

So another thing added to and crossed off the list. (For new comers, more on the Torschlusspanik list here)

Torshlusspanik List:

1. Shooting (check)
2. Fencing (check)
3. Play croquet at Croquet Club
4. Laser skeet
5. Off road buggy driving
6. Play Assassins Creed
7. Jetpacking (check)
8. The Color Run (check)
9. Invent something
10. Cooking Masterclass (check)
11. Master a Masterclass (check)
12. Perform a rap song (check)
13. Trampoline adventure (check)
14. BMX Riding (check)
15. Do a cart wheel (check)
16. Ride an Electric Bike (check)
17. Astonish Myself
18. Write a book.
19. Participate in a distance event (check)
20. Climb Sydney Tower (check)
21. Dance in a dance class (check)
22. Trust a stranger

23. Get a truck for the Landmine Museum and Relief Centre in Siem Reap

24. Paint a picture

25. Go Rollerskating (check)

26. Do Chinese Square Dancing

27. Do some life drawing

28. Make something on a pottery wheel (check)

29. Try Axe Throwing (Check)

30. Get into a nightclub with 'a strict dress code'. (check)

31. Go to a gig that starts after midnight. (check)

32. Glass Blowing (Check)

Linking with #PictorialPotpouri #WordlessWednesday #YourMoment #InspireMeMonday

Tuesday, 14 March 2023

Chasing Kusama

As I mentioned, I was scouring the LV shops in Tokyo, not for an $8000 purse but to see the robot. Alas I was mistaken and it had been and gone. As had the pop up shop. Feeling disappointed, we were walking to dinner and this dazzling display beckoned me.

For #WeekendReflection

The infinity reflection was very Kusama.

While it was not exactly what I was after, but good enough.

I quit sulking and refound the spring in my step.

And just like everything else in life, it can take the smallest thing to shift your mood.

Here's to small things!

Linking with #WeekendCoffeeShare #WW&P #TravelTuesday #MCoW #WednesdayAroudntheWorld and #WordlessWednesday

The infinity reflection was very Kusama.

While it was not exactly what I was after, but good enough.

I quit sulking and refound the spring in my step.

And just like everything else in life, it can take the smallest thing to shift your mood.

Here's to small things!

Linking with #WWOAT #YourMoment #HappyTuesday

#WeekendCoffeeShare #KeithsRamblings and #BLueMonday and RubyTuesdayToo (for many of the shots but the infinity one in particular) #WordlessWednesday

Friday, 10 March 2023

Infinity

Not really back yet but a sneak peek of what's to come. We were lucky enough to make the last day of the Kusama Museum before it shut for the next exhibition.

Our place in the world is reflected in our space in our world.

This room is the perfect visual reflection of that. So when feeling lost or lacking direction, look around and think about what you see. A clear path will appear, one way or another. Instigate change.

And that change can stretch out in infinite possibilities.

Linking with #WWOT #FriendshipFriday #WordlessWednesday #YourMoment

Thursday, 9 March 2023

Sakura came early

I can only assume it's climate change but sakura came early so the parks were full of it and some of the streets were beginning to get their spring beauty.

I've come back with ahead cold and it's really messing me about. but PCR clear so I won't complain (too much).

Linking with #Allseasons

#RubyTuesdayToo and #BlueMonday #NaturesNotes #GardenAffair #FloralFridayFoto &#DND

Tuesday, 21 February 2023

Taking a break

I am off to Japan so this #Allseasons is open until the 8th of March.

I will be offline but on Insta if you want to follow along.

I will be chasing Kusama (and every Louis Vitton collab display I can).

Happy Mardi Gras. See you on the flipside.

It's time for #Allseasons for another week (but this time for 2 weeks).

All Seasons is open from Saturday through Wednesday 5pm, Sydney Time.
2. Please link one 'seasonal' post a week.

3. Make sure you link back to this #AllSeasons post.

4. Please comment on the post before yours. Don't dump and run

“Real museums are places where Time is transformed into Space.” ― Orhan Pamuk, The Museum of Innocence

Many years ago, I went and saw a Daniel Kitson show (66a church rd -that's it's name, you don't need to go there) and he talked about (bear with me butchering it) the word nostalgia coming from nosta meaning going home and algia meaning pain, and it's not the whimsical reminiscing that we often mean, but the aching pain of not being able to go home -in the sense that what was home no longer exists. It's a type of fear of never being able to go back...

The Do Ho Suh exhibition at the MCA made me think of that. He made paper rubbings of buildings, including his chilhood home which he then recontructed. It's astounding but he points out if captures his father, as well as himself.