Blog Archives - Lewie JPD

organic xistenz

30/7/2013

It's what we are. Organisms. Complex, evolving creatures. Pulsating, vibrating, muscle mass with skeletal structure. Electric impulses and high functioning organs.

Plonked out onto the earth of the planet from between our mother's legs, from dark to light, oozing and screaming - the journey begins. And it just keeps getting weirder....

I think it's true of most of us that you just can't think about it all too much for too long without getting over mesmerised. The colossal conundrum of the corporeal experience.

Using what you can pick up along the way, we fumble through, sometimes in glory with grace and precision, other times as mindless neanderthals, myopic goons. Most of the time as sensitive, sentient beings doing our best to cope with input overload and real world demands.

Wherever you are on the spectrum, at this moment, my fellow human, I feel for you. It's not easy. Not for any of us. It's a challenge. Existence. To exist is to struggle. Accept this and go from there. Along the way, find and share love, as much as you can, and you'll die happy, pass in peace. And that day is coming - so until then - keep squirming!

just like it

30/7/2013

poz pup

28/7/2013

It's not always easy to keep up your enthusiasm. But it is essential. Just like with marriage, kids and .... you have to commit to your art for it to work out well.

Along the way there will likely be grants denied, missed prizes, flubbed sales, lack of interest, failed exhibitions - this is starting to sound like my resume - and times of self doubt.

But cheer up, pup. Stick out that tongue and get back to leg humping (analogy for making art). It's what you do best. Actually, it's pretty much all you are good for.

As Henry Mitchell wisely noted: "All anybody needs to know about prizes is that Mozart never won one." (Neither did Henry - but that's another story.)

When things don't go according to your (lack of) plans, just shrug (metaphorically is fine) and go back to what it is you love most. Making pictures. It's what you were born for and it will likely be your salvation. Re-ignite your passion, pup!

magic pussy

27/7/2013

'Magic Pussy is Momentarily Uncertain'

Happens to the best of us. Meow.

Not a cat guy myself. Only ever had one once, briefly. Couldn't relate to it - though it was a cute little thing. Dogs, though, have made my life better. Baby and Rudolph, Goldy, Chiro - all legendary mutts.

One of the things about writing this blog is that when I go through the day and get a memory flashback I have somewhere to write it down. In a way this clear this path for other memories to come back. Like sorting through old files.

So the one that I had yesterday came when I heard someone on the net talking about babysitters. Bing! We had some interesting ones in our Tokyo childhood. All Japanese girls, probably 19, 20. I was between 10 and 14, my brothers were two and three and a half years younger.

Remembered how we used to play a kissing game with the babysitters. Taking turns kissing her. Then jumping up and down on the bed in glee, awaiting the next go. She was most compliant. I still remember how soft and lovely she was and how she smelt.

With another one, once, we burst in while she was having a shower. This was naughty and did cause embarrassment, problems. I think she resigned. One of the first full naked views back in the day.

If we ever got an unfriendly or mean one we would just tell our parents that they were nasty or hit us... never seen again.

Later, once I turned 14 and up to about 18, most of my girlfriends were Japanese girls. I lost my virginity to one, in fact. I was 14 and she was 19 - a surfer chick I met in a disco in Roppongi called Mobius. We drank Tequila Sunrises and danced to the Doobie Brothers. The first time we ever slept together - she was also a virgin - was at the Australian embassy. I had no idea what to do. The body took over. Ended well.

YogaDawg style

26/7/2013

Made friends with this dude through facebook. He posts his new paintings periodically and whenever there's a new one - like this - his latest - I get blown away. Can't quite put my finger on why I like them so much - but I do!

The artist's name is Mark Keilkucki and this painting is called 'Drifting'. His work is for sale and very reasonably priced I think. If I wasn't a povo artist and instead a wealthy collector, I'd be snapping them up with glee and relish.

Have a look at his site and witness his fine form and style. There's one in particular that fully blows me away. See if you can guess which one it is.

(Click on the image to link to Mark's site.)

reflective mode

26/7/2013

Ahh.. the grand illusion. We live it. It's a divine concoction, a gargantuan giggle just beyond grasp, an immense, epic narration that never lags or falters.

Spellbound!

Even in my most lucid moments, I feel like the miniscule fleck I am when I try to comprehend the nature of existence. So why bother?, one may ask. And the answer is - a lot of the time I don't. But it is in my nature as an artist, philosopher and poet - to do so. The eternal quest for meaning, answers, validation.

It's clear to see that it is a noble pursuit but one that will never end in any lasting resolution. Don Quixote springs to mind. Glorious madman of resounding sanity! And that's how it should be, damnit! An infinite mystery, that folds in on itself, over and over, forever. Again, so why bother? Because we can. Because we must. Because we like to. Perplexed by the complex puzzle we are addicted to mortal attempts to uncover clues that will get us closer to solving it. It's something to do. Something to enjoy. It makes you feel alive. And what is being alive if not deeply speculating on what it is to be alive?

Excuse me, I think I will have some breakfast now. Philosophy so makes thee peckish.

formulative trauma

25/7/2013

Lying in bed this morning I was contemplating past events and how along the way, stressful events and trauma spikes in the graph of daily existence can be collectively viewed to see the effect on life progression....

Some of mine came back to me:

Age 2: Kept in bed during the day with wooly jumper under thick blankets by controlling grandmother. Spent hours staring up at patterns in pressed tin ceiling, imagining and mildly hallucinating.
Age 9: Bitten by deadly funnel web spider while playing in dirt near the creek in Wahroonga. Told I could die at any time. Out of body experience. Survived because bite was on toe and it was a male arachnid.
Age 11: Surgery in Tokyo hospital far from family domicile. Left on my own. First put in very young children's ward then moved to old and dying people's area. Very spooky. Given too much drugs because I seemed big as a foreigner; near overdose. Major hallucinations, cold sweats, out of body experiences, isolation.
Ages 12 - 15: Repeated beatings by multiple school bullies. Often in groups of two or three, always older by at least a year.
Age 19: In open top mini moke jeep coming out of KX tunnel. Complete brake failure. Pull on hand brake causing front tyre to come off. Come to a screeching halt with axle sparking against road on William street at bottom of hill. Extremely lucky not to be injured.
Age 20: Decided to eat only raw nuts for one year. Weight dropped to 59kgs. Taken to psychiatrist. Diagnosed as anorexic.
Age 26: Fed magic mushrooms in Bali without knowledge. Complete freak out in hotel room lasting 8 hours, then massive anxiety attack on flight home.
Age 29: Wife has affair with Japanese Elvis impersonator while living in Tokyo after one year of marriage. Divorce.

Phew! That's enough for now. May finish list later...

My point is, that these kind of events, which we all experience in some form or other, are part of our formation and development. Over time, we subliminate/forget them but they remain as part of our psyche's textured, mottled terrain.

This is not meant as a 'poor me' confessional. I consider myself lucky. Many people suffer a lot more and a lot worse. I just was thinking about it this morning and thought it would be interesting to look back and squeeze out a list of some early events that still resonate on some level.

You know, blog as self therapy. It's trending.

alien link

24/7/2013

Uncovered one of my journals from 1987 today. I haven't seen it since then - so was fun to flick through. I have to be honest, I was hoping for/half expecting some gems of genius - but they weren't to be found. Perhaps they fell out or evaporated over time!

What was inside were a number of poems, some song lyrics, two short stories (one unfinished), and about a dozen 'snippet' single frame comics. It was vaguely interesting to catch a glimpse of the headspace of the 'me' from 26 years ago. I can objectively report that I have matured to a degree since then and that my work has improved in scope and delivery. Other than that - still doing pretty much the same thing - making art, writing fiction, creating comics....

get with it

24/7/2013

Did this one today. Got a lot of satisfaction from the outcome. I really like this image and look forward to re-interpreting it into a large canvas.

go@

22/7/2013

Ooohhh.... yes!
With goaty on your side, you can do anything.
Imagine having those horns! Pretty cool, eh!
And look how confidently he thrust that thumbs up.
I feel better already.
Sometimes all it takes is an imaginary mascot.
I like the jacket, too. Comfortable chic. He looks well travelled. Like he'd visit LA quite often. Maybe SF every second time. Good old California.

California

It's somewhere that I felt drawn to since I was a young teen in Tokyo in the 70's. The 70's were a good decade for CA. Lots happening. I used to read Time, Esquire, DC comics, even Popular Mechanics - all fueled my infatuation with the mythical state of free expression. And movies, of course. There was no English language TV is Japan back then and even video was not invented (betamax did come out around the mid 70's - but not feature rentals for a while - certainly no big new release DVD shelves or movie downloading - we got a black and green screen Commodore PET in '77 - all of 10MB!).

So, going to the theatre (were they showed films in the original English w Japanese subtitles) was an exciting, influential and heady experience for a fifteen year old skipping school and hanging out in Shibuya.

I didn't first visit California till I was 29. But since then I have been back over a dozen times. The last time, I was there, five years ago, for 6 months, I considered living there - in LA. There was plenty going for it but I ultimately realised that I am too connected to Australia, it's people, nature, way of life and beaches to swap for American style. My heart is here. If I was born there, I am sure I would have thrived and loved it. Of course, I look forward to my next LA visit - plenty to like about it - Venice, Melrose Ave, driving the freeways, the comedy clubs, Book Soup, Urth Caffe, the Santa Monica Public Library.... But I don't need a Green Card - I've got me parking pass for down Bondi Beach - she'll be right..!

something hanging there

21/7/2013

I was reading this article on a site about Art & Design entitled the most important artists of 2013. One of them is cool dude and street artist become fine artist Kenny Scharf. In the short blurb it talks about he was arrested once for graffiti and it struck me that writer's are really looking for a good hook when talking about artists. Something just like being arrested.

This is because art, in many ways, is a kind of if not passive, at least mellow, form of creative expression. It's usually one person in a space on their own in silence, wrestling with the great void armed only with some colours and a brush. It's certainly dynamic is an existential way but not ostensibly. And for a writer trying to drum up some zing about an artist - well, it's challenging.

So, I got thinking; what can I say or do, what event can I stage, what kind of plot could I cook up to create some hype for my next show/artistic enterprise?

Hmmm... 12 hours later ...and I haven't really come up with anything. Guess I'm never going to be in marketing. A few things I know I do want to do, though, but they aren't about hype or getting attention. They are just ideas for action involving my art.

1.) Do a TED like talk about being an artist. Two versions: one for adults and one for school kids.
2.) Hold a big 'Artistes' party in a warehouse where everyone comes as there favourite artist. Just think of some of the fun choices: Dali, Frida Kahlo (sure to be popular), Picasso in his striped shirts and high, baggy white summer pants, Basquiat, Warhol, of course, Rembrandt, etc.
3.) Hold some classes. Teach artistic mindset, free thinking, expression through the visual medium...
4.) Have a full time gallery of my work in a little shop somewhere.
5.) Publish a book of the top 100 of my recent images. With over 2,000 to choose from this should be fun and worthwhile. And once you have something fun that is deemed as worthwhile - well, it's totally sanctioned by whales and dolphins.
6.) Do more stickers. I have two varieties now. I love stickers and would love to do heaps more.
7.) An original deck of cards with my images. Don't have to be actual playing cards - more like tarots or collectibles.

that's enough for now

pixel pixie

19/7/2013

Lotsa little bits can make a lot
Sticky images is what we got
Piling up like lollies
Suck on 'em! ...they're sweet and slick
Art meets techno follies

Pixel Pixie he's the king
Watch him dance and do his thing
Tumblr, flickr, blogger too
He makes pretty pic for you

See it, store it, forget it now
Move along to the next big wow
Grab you mouse and squeeze it tight
At this rate we'll be up all night

Pixel Pixie he's a demon
Shows you things - gets you believin'
Tiny dots of rgb
Forming new realities
Your mind so full you'll be crying jpegs

raining inside

18/7/2013

How much control do we have over who we are and what we do? On some levels, it feels like we are in command and make choices from free will. But there are so many factors that influence our decision making... our past, our social conditioning, our parents, our physical needs, our mental predispositions and body chemistry. Most of the time, I think, we are just reacting - to circumstance, urges, outside demands and expectations, emotion...

For our own sanity, peace of mind, we build a suitable story around our existence, past and present, and fit decisions, experiences, interactions and outcomes into a prefabbed mould that we are comfortable with. It is a survival mechanism. A way to cope. In truth, we are fictionalising events. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with this but I am extemporaneously contemplating possible alternatives.

Nobody likes to be trapped. But the worst trap is to be trapped by yourself. By yourself and beyond your control. Addictions, depression, OCD... to some degree we all experience these. How to gain control - or non-control - liberation?

I don't believe it is something you do - like a step by step guide. I think it something that you strive for little by little, each day, quietly and within yourself. Questioning, meditating, practicing healthy behaviour, struggling with humility and grace. You never 'get there' but your journey is elevated through discipline and application, focus. What does this mean in real terms?

I think it means to strive to see, express and experience truth and purity. To be humble and grateful, to see the miracle all around us - beyond it's raggedy, common form, to connect with 'the great awesome' - what Indian and Aboriginal tribes did for so many centuries - connect with nature - human nature and gaia with a mindfulness, respect and importantly an all embracing joy.

Ahah! One thing to say all this. But how? I don't know exactly. I'm certainly not mr guru. I'm a guy down in the trenches. But for me doing art helps. And having warm, honest connections with people. Going to the ocean and immersing my body after a walk and a stretch each day. Eating fruit and veges. Reading. Noticing the beauty around me...

Oh, and playing poker.

massive talent

17/7/2013

I always liked Licht's work but after watching the doco ' Whaam!' this afternoon - I realise the true extent of his genius and talent and how much I really, really dig his work. The early comicbook imagery stuff is great but his later work - the interiors, the Chinese paintings, the massive brush strokes.... wow!

It's always great when you rediscover something and realise that it is more wonderful than you thought.

diggin da tunes

16/7/2013

When I was a teen growing up in Tokyo in the 70's, the Walkman was invented and released by Sony. It was a revolution. It was our very own prehistoric iPod. Me and my friends would walk around with it attached to our belts, extra cassettes clanking in our bulging pockets.

My parents had a pretty extensive record collection - from Elton John and Cat Stevens to Average White Band and Linda Ronstadt. Once I had transfered all my favourites of their several hundred, I began to borrow from friends. I remember when I went to Frank's house - he was from Texas - and he had his very own collection. It's the first time I saw an Eagles album.

Sometimes kid's would swap - but records are a bit fragile and cumbersome and it was an hour's subway/train ride to and from school - so it wasn't that common.

I made a lot of tapes by recording songs off the radio - FEN - Far East Network - invariably missing out on the beginning and end of songs due to the DJs voice chiming in or his choice to fade out before the end of a tune.

A little later on a new enterprise became popular: record rental shops. For about 10% of the cost of buying a record you could rent it over night. Officially, it was for listening pleasure - but everyone would tape it, of course. A predecessor to downloading torrents. They also, let you listen to stuff in a booth in store - so it was a good way to discover new stuff. I discovered and became a fan of artists like: Genesis, Rush, yes, Stanley Clarke, Alan Parsons Project, Boz Scaggs and Herbie Hancock. Of course, I was a big fan of album cover artwork and would study the covers while the records were taping. It was a simpler time.