he made a tremendous joke – of the humans who want to fix the world – all the unhappiness caused by the imperfectness of the universe – instead of just enjoying life as we go along – … well just read it again, it’s fun!

I just sorted out all my brain & I’m rebooting – going through piles of paper: sketches, snippets, notes of thoughts & ideas (chucking out as many as possible)
with the aim to leave context & text & conclusion & illustration behind – drawing – drawing – drawing

kultura Ausstellung “Weibliche Positionen”

Galerie – REGIONEUM.
Grottenhof 1
8430 Kaindorf an der Sulm

12.-14. august – presentation of work -

http://www.hotelpupik.org/index.html

& all the best wishes to all of you

now this is looking into the studio… slowly recovering from being overwhelmed & just painting…

this is my view from the studio & I can hear the cow bell & the birds & the bees – sunshine & all

well, with all that beauty – it is hard to start painting & not just sitting there & enjoying – which is part of the job – taking in … still breathing in … and…? o.k. now let’s get to work & in a few days time let’s see again – maybe I have nothing to say… funny that there is always the slight panic of the artist hiding out in nature – as nature is so perfect, what could I possibly …

so, I’m breathing out … looking into the studio!

SHARED SPACE

imagine the street as shared space – equal use – during the festival of LENDWIRBEL, graz our first temporary change of view on urban street

it was great to see how many people understood the concept without us explaining & it was great fun!

new concept of zebra crossing

& a recommendation:
http://youtu.be/iAtE5mhliDA
I was touched by the timid, yet so heartly approach!

Große Emotionen sind zu erwarten, wenn am Sonntag, dem 13. Februar der aktuelle Preisträger bzw. die Preisträgerin des Kunstpreises der Bernd und Gisela Rosenheim-Stiftung 2010 bekanntgeben wird. Doch auch die anderen 18 Teilnehmer der Gruppenausstellung „Orient – Okzident“ brauchen nicht enttäuscht sein, denn sie haben sich in zwei Jurysitzungen gegen mehr als 500 andere Künstler durchgesetzt. Das Ergebnis kann sich sehen lassen: Farbenfrohe, kontroverse, geheimnisvolle und faszinierende Arbeiten werden im Rosenheim-Museum gezeigt – jedes für sich preisverdächtigt.

Auch das Konzert im Februar passt zum Thema: „Soundsphere“ entführt mit ihrem harmonischen A-capella-Gesang in unterschiedliche musikalische Welten und Kulturen.

Sonntag, 13. Februar 2010, 13:00 Uhr – Eröffnung der Ausstellung „Orient-Okzident“ und Verleihung des Kunstpreises 2010 durch Bernd Rosenheim. Viele der Künstler werden anwesend sein.

Die Begegnung von Abendland und Morgenland ist lediglich zu einem kleinen Teil von einem vermeintlichen “Kampf der Kulturen” geprägt. Sie ist vielmehr gekennzeichnet von Jahrtausende währenden wirtschaftlichen Kontakten beispielsweise über die Seidenstraße, dem ein fruchtbarer wissenschaftlicher und kultureller Austausch folgte. Heute sind orientalische Kulturen in Europa angekommen.

Dieses hochaktuelle Thema der Beziehung von Orient und Okzident war Vorgabe für den international ausgeschriebenen Kunstpreis der Bernd und Gisela Rosenheim-Stiftung 2010. Von über 1600 eingereichten Werken werden in der Ausstellung 19 Künstler der engeren Wahl mit insgesamt 35 Gemälden gezeigt. Mal farbenfroh oder heiter, mal nachdenklich oder detailversessen setzten sich die Künstler mit der Aufgabe auseinander. Auf vielen Bildern wird die Frage nach der eigenen Position gestellt, einige Künstler verweisen auf geschichtliche und philosophische Verbindungen, gemeinsame Konsumgewohnheiten oder Reiseerinnerungen. Als Ergebnis ist eine facettenreiche Ausstellung entstanden, die durch vielfältige Positionen und Stile besticht.

well such thinking crosses your mind, when preparing to shift wheights around… – wishing I would be more clever to either sell more paintings – so there is less to transfer at once – or have a more light way of producing art…

………

- on the way to the next….

& new perspective of things….

& musste denken an die malerei – die sich schicht fuer schicht aufbaut aus gedanken – obwohl sie das sichtbare abbildet – meidet sie das abbilden – sie sucht nach der substanz obwohl sie nur 2-dimensional ist. in ihrer form packt sie zeit & inhalt in den fiktiven raum der leinwand… & will vorallem durch das abgebildete hindurch sehend machen …

Valery

&

The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible.

Oscar Wilde

sometimes words describe very well what painting is about – strange though, that is easier to understand painting through the ears, than through the eyes!

F.Pessoa found words for the the artist…

this diptochon was choosen to participae in a competition”ORIENT OKZIDENT” in offenbach – this is what I wrote about them:

John Berger said:
… But the essential way of seeing women, the essential use to which their images are put, has not changed. Women are depicted in a quite different way from men – not only because the feminine is different from the masculine – but because the ‘ideal’ spectator is always assumed to be male and the image of the woman
is designed to flatter him. If you have any doubt about that this is so, make the following experiment. Choose an image of a traditional nude. Transform the woman into a man. Either in your mind’s eye or by drawing on the reproduction. Then notice the violence which that transformation does. Not to the image, but to the assumptions of a likely viewer.

I had just read that, as I started to think about Orient & Occident, the history of  iconography, the respect concerning taboos & painting images.

I thought about hair & how every plain area in my neighborhood is visually possessed by  derobing & depilation mania – our poor senses!
is that freedom?
& on the other side women – covered up under huge amounts of textile – trying to cope with the kids in the swimmingpool or just on the playground

strange ideas cross my mind (fashionvictims???)

the strangeness of solutions that we manage to talk ourselves into beeing total logic
who is protected? she from him? he from her sight? now, is he incapacitated & she looses her identity?

all the thoughts that find words, after they found pictures? or how to describe what your heart already knows?

another version of the performance ZENTRIFUGE – in this film we managed to put space & gravity in question.

I hear the students like to follow it & try to figure out how it works …

and again – shoes! awesome – there was something about them, but she didn’t want to tell… so there they are covering the mistery…

lade ich ein zur
XIX. Servicestelle
zum
WEISS WASCHEN

Dunkelschwarz

Ein Projekt, kuratiert und konzipiert von Sabine Maier [Machfeld]

Produktion & Realisation Offenes Haus Oberwart

Installationen/Interventionen im öffentlichen Raum
17. September ab 15 uhr
Eröffnung:  20:00 h
Ausstellungsdauer: 18. September – 15 November

Teilnehmende KünstlerInnen u.a.: Cynthia Schwertsik (A), Cheikh Niass (SN), Eva Ursprung (A), elffriede i.a (D), Leo Schatzl (A), Machfeld (A), Norman White (CA), Wolfgang Horwarth (A), Tapfuma Gutsa (Zim)

Artist in Residence (angefragt): Aston (BN), Didier Ruecekli (RWA), Singamo Botto (Zim)

ich freue mich wenn die eine oder der andere sich gerade in Oberwart befinden & mir etwas zum WEISS WASCHEN bringen…

cynthia

to be totally happy – that is an ecstatic feeling you forget about everything & there is this moment… maybe even a long moment – the world is perfect, all is right…

I am looking for that experience again – I see it with kids quite often -

so share with me

1_kultura

if you cant read it :

A BUNCH OF HOOLIGANS VS ONE BRAVE MAID ???

MY COLOURS VS YOUR PURE HATE !!!

so i think my guess was right – my son say’s maybe they where upset because she over-sprayed some of their stuff – well – it’s just bad – i was so happy to see a girl out there …

I like that – there is great stuff – & frequently changing

yesterday – on the way to the studio I watched a girl spraying & it looked quite promising – on may way back home she was almost done & it was awesome  (in the 2 years of frequenting this route I have only seen one other girl spraying – so that also made me extra curious!)

then this morning – I was disappionted    – I saw this:

some guy – obviously – had destroyed it – just for the heck of it – usually there is respect for the work & somebody will take care to get himself a nice underground & then start working & trying to top the work… – but this was different & it made me wonder – from what I could see the work of destrucktion was writing his name – it was like pissing on the girls work

well I am not familiar with the content & context of graffiti – so probably I am missing out on some things here, but what it looks like to me – is that in this scene girls have a hard time!

KULTURa
5 Generationen der Steirische Künstlerinnenszene

Eröffnung: 9. Juni, 18 Uhr
mit LR Bettina Vollath

9. 6. bis 9. 7., galerie kon-temporär, griesplatz 10, 8020 graz.

I hope the rain will stop & some of you will come & join me

… But the essential way of seeing women, the essential use to which their images are put, has not changed. Women are depicted in a quite different way from men – not only because the feminine is different from the masculine – but because the ‘ideal’ spectator is always assumed to be male and the image of the woman is designed to flatter him. If you have any doubt about that this is so, make the following experiment. Choose an image of a traditional nude. Transform the woman into a man. Either in your mind’s eye or by drawing on the reproduction. Then notice the violence which that transformation does. Not to the image, but to the assumptions of a likely viewer.

the next painting slowly emerging – I want to get an even closerlook – so let’s make it bigger – which isn’t really what I can make visible through the internet – where everything fits into the screen no matter how big or small it is !

this time you can take a small glimse of the studio – in the back there is still the last painting – which I just sold – fresh from the eazle so to say!

http://panoramas.cgtechniques.com/masc-osei/2009-05-21%20Masc/index.html?src=Raum1.mov

quit amazing view of the space – …you almost miss the paintings whirling round …

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

there is still way to go…

you are welcome to propose – if you have an idea!

life – all the material involved – got in conflict with ideas & ideals again!

it is like in the game:  3 steps ahead…  back to start

…..

like this painting I’m working on – I want him to look at me & hold on to a glass – really holding on – but I ‘m just staggering around with my brush & he is simply looking flat

I think he is getting there now – …

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

I got stuck with the book about the painters aids – by hockney – how all painters used technical aid as soon as it was invented like: camera obscura & mirrors & fotos & so on – hockney shows the traces that the technical devices leave in the work of the artist – & I fell for one detail – in many paintings the subject turns out left handed – mirrored probably – so I went to propose a change – & while I was there – feeling quite bold indeed (I don’t feel like competing with caravaggio really)  – I also made up some changes in the perspective – cheers!

here is the caravaggio that lead the way

so without much comment here we go:

he held a phantastic workshop there:

http://www.paintforlife.at/DE/Marketplace/BLOG/blognew.aspx

while we are still getting used to our life in vienna – looking through virtual reality into the SKY

I heard a quote – a piano player – she said she is not happy with her reputation as “perfekt” – she relates more to something charlie chaplin said: life is so short, we never get the chance to be anything but amateurs… – I wanted to find this quote – sure – internet… so I found many more…

this one is what I am trying to live up to  – - -  this is what I wish my art to become…

well so I better get over that blues & start working

………..

still – here are images of the people & place at & around the school, all written in our heart

ITHUBA-which means oppertunity

returning the car we rented, then 30 hours of train ride out of rainy jo’burg

through endless countryside & finally quite empty not even animals…

then 3 days: bright & brilliant cape town, great viewpoints & amazing colours in th muslim quarters!

- but freezing cold sea – so we went to visit the penguins

& then back to jo’burg by bus – to catch the plane… we loved it!

it has been such a great time

my 2 helpers at work – discussing the matter – & the signation…

it was great to have Prophet JD at my side – he added so many thoughts – & people came to participate & bring their stories & interpretations. we talked about the black and the white as being outside of the rainbow – as non-colors, & as big symbols. we talked about the drama of a finishing coating, and the difference to the daily work of women, the never ending circular movement of housekeeping – and this final cut – the white wash – as we perform it, we talked about the cleansing act that might happen, but we also got critic – because white is a symbol of purety & has such high value, it shouldn’t be used in this context – & the concept was questioned, because there is no way to white wash memory / wrongs, or the past – … it is wrong to keep the memory in things – to freeze them in objects -

… true, sure – as in zen – but it isn’t so easy to live it – to really free yourself from being attached to material things… most of us connect memory to objects, places & smell!

A tub with white paint – the esteemed audience is invited to bring something along for white washing
. The diary like new
. The shirt spotless
. A clean slate guaranteed
An everyday thing will be transformed into an artwork in front of the beholder.
Action art in monochrom white by Cynthia Schwertsik (helped by Prophet JD)
WHEN: January 16, 11 am – 15 pm
WHERE: in Right in the Rim in Arts on Main
(Main Street 243 / Berea Road)

Have a nice day & hope to meet you soon

cynthia

but also to see how the people next to the fancy hotel live, the one’s that do the cleaning & cooking & such

in this wonderful landscape they walk for 5 to 10 kilometers & cross 1 or 2 rivers… here a woman carrying 10 kilos of rice home – this shopping-tripp takes her about 6 hours!the good news is – the crocodiles got removed from the rivers…

well see you soon with news from the paintings

 

what a crowded place – I only got to take some photographs in the rather open spaces… & from the -top of Africa- in the carltoncentre – the highest house in africa – like the view- though the wind really howls around it

we walked around, in all the noise – everybody is beeping their horns constantly, police cars howl & there is no respect for pedestrians – we did’nt see a white person in the open – our host, from europe, she uses the public space, but all others told us in what kind of danger we are, but we met quite friendly & the usual – urban stressed people – most of them loved our littleones dragontail – (his basic accessoire – in one of the fotos)

then we went to see the suburbs – the american dream – or who’s dream is it – house with a garden, like Adelaide? The only difference is there is serious fencing around, and guards sitting on the street, what a strange feeling that is to drive through that street, imagining all the people in their little protected wellfare home – what are they doing in there, what do they have to go through to go out? & what does the poor guy (black of course) think, he who is stitting outside to defend the tranquility? It seems scary to me to sit in a cage and shut the world out, so we went back to downtown, locked in the car & through a couple of security codes out of the city to our town-ship – suburb (that is what we could call this school) we live next to the town-ship in a fenced of property.

So back to painting the sky & such – ignoring the fences for a while…

steps out of the sky…

fromthe taylor workshop

a birthdayparty at primary

& loads to carry in the middle of the day

as it is in life – all at the same time

next time i will post paintings… thank you all for the visit – it is a very challenging snail-mail here, so be patient with my replies…

yours cynthia

I started to paint & some of the kids saw it – they wanted me to teach them how to do that – I really have to think hard, because to me it is clear – you learn by doing, doing, doing, and then there is a little moment of support a teacher can give by asking the right question, or showing something, and then you continue – and you find out – not much can be teached really – you must incorporate – you want to know – you are craving to find out – what ever it is you are aiming for it needs all your attention and energy to satisfy – to make you feel like you are getting some where – you are understanding, changing, transforming – well – pathetic, but to me it seems like if I haven’t put myself into it, then the outcome will not surprise me – but that is what I want!

now I got myself into a real challenge – I observed, that the sewing-class doesn’t work out, the teacher is just putting the kids off by talking about patterns – that is a shame, because this is a skill that might come in really handy to these kids – from my point of view – some of them might love to make some clothes, one or the other might dream of getting into the world of fashion-design. just to be able to mend your clothes is helpful. this school is meant to support the kids from the surrounding townships teach them skills that will make them survive and find a way to move on & out of the total poverty so I will get my sewing-skills out of the back of my head & then let’s go – we will see what that does to my paintings -

I am starting on the african colors – I was so surprised to hear, that the architects, that are setting up the buildings on the school site said: africa has no color I see the opposite – amazing greens, because of the rain, red earth, blooming trees, occre hills in the back – and all changing in the very different light – today gray & damp – yesterday dry & bright – enormous sunsets & birds, bright yellow & another one red the next black & white with a splendid tail & no place without people – walking, sitting, squatting – carrying loads, searching & living in almost anything … anywhere…..

we get picked up & the journey in africa begins -staring out the window trying to explain to little one, why he shouldn’t wind down that window “it’s really hot mami” (I find it hard to find sensible words for that -) people everywhere; walking; sitting; working ; living on the street and then we chase through a supermarket – well garded – grab what ever I can think of, get a mobilephone connection – (we can only sell it to you, but we can’t register it – we are offline now – internet ??? – conditions taking me 10 years back 

well, the on to “magagula hights” – more & more shabby housing along the roads, then only countryside, and finally – through a couple of fences we arrive at the ithuba skills college – caspar gets out of the car and into the group of playing kids from primary – he draws a lot of attention… I walk around and take in this fast growing, incredible place & I see people from Africa stranded in this poor surrounding getting introduced to europeans who love to share, to present & teach their ways, many ways, skills – that hopefully will give a chance to survive. I am very impressed – by the intelligent & caring headmaster – he deserves his name – myheart – & at the same time I recognise the few europeans that are around, including me, having the critical eye – seeing all the details that are not working – always knowing better – “that is africa” – I don’t know – I think it is the european mind straining for perfection, which can never be reached if you take in account that there is more than your idea – here some ideas have become real & then you see the difference between theory & life, and I guess it is a very good combination, the ideas have a space to be tried – and people who are thankful to try it, and just make it come alive.

 

the house we are staying in - all new – cute- still covered in a coat of dust – I manage to find some space in between the architecture where I can install the family – it turns out fine – now I still have to get some basic items for survival – there is a pot, a pan, 2 plates & some cups – that’s a start, it is a bit of a coordination with the timing to get to the fridge next door – ‘cos doors tend to be locked frequently… a teapot would be great & well…. I spare you the details, it’s just – it is about atleast 20 k’s to the next shop – so if you don’t have a car, you can’t just pop out to get the milk. (a specially if you are not sure about the local costumes of the “nogo’s for whities”…) I have to get used to being white….

here I am – sorting out my paintings before I leave them for 3 months – they will have to survive the winter alone!

I am off to johannesburg – as an artist in residence – I am looking forward to all the new things

I’ll be back…

so I am going to visit this place – and we will paint and work together – I am much looking forward to it

but now I am packing – trying to adjust the amount of what I want to take – comparing it with what I am aloud to take, and then sorting out what I am able to carry, or just keep under controll – as I am traveling with my 5 year old son – this defines a certan amount of  toys and tools for him a load ful of books and his clothes.

after that I pack the materials and the painting equipment

then comes the computer and camera – sunscreen and toothbrush & the things you can’t transport in hand luggage – and here we go – stop -overload…

not to forget the shoes

I am still wondering if there is going to be a slight possibility for me to take at least a change of clothes alsong…

well – I guess this blogg is not going to contain any fotos of me…

I start to put down in words how I am slowly taking off…

Packing – all that is needed for painting – heavy – this will have to be reduced…

and painting with the kids – I want to take things there – it will take to long to find art supplys out nowhere

and the I need to find a mosquitonet & dont forget …

and then some interesting stuff for caspar – he wants to be entertained – well we just hope to find enough there

how much can I carry?

no clothes then! – well …

Vernissage: Donnerstag, 15. Oktober 2009, 19 Uhr
ega-Lounge
1060 Wien, Windmühlgasse 26

Frauen im öffentlichen Raum
Frauen ohne Raum im öffentlichen Raum
Öffentlicher Raum ohne Frauen
Frauen in der kollektiven Erinnerung
Kollektive Erinnerung und weibliche Geschichten

Dauer der Ausstellung: 16. 10.–13. 11. 2009
Mo bis Fr 17–24 Uhr

Last Name

i just started theese 2 – i like feet & hands – but it all looks so small here – in real the paintings are more than 1 meter high…

25.9

22.9.

14.9.

 so I started to paint – lets see during the next week what happens to this canvas