Penang Experience

Well experiences come and go and the recent collaboration in Penang at Hotel Penaga has left me much richer for the experience.
Helen Bodycomb(Aust), George Fishman(USA), Glenn Romanis(Aust) and myself got together for a month to work on a collaborative piece called "The shyness of trees" for patrons Angela and Hijjas Kasturi.
The shyness phenomena relates to the space that intersects adjacent trees in a rainforest canopy. The defined growth that is the edge of one tree allowing light to filter below.
After a week of setting up studio, tooling and sorting materials and then defining our concept and 'look', we sought to construct the work with a clear sensibility to the buildings that house the work. We were looking for a graphic that was 'soft' and complimentary to the old world charm and asian aesthetic that is prevalent in Penang.
It is a interesting situation when you put 4 artists together and ask them to make one work. Perhaps I felt I was working in the United Nations in a way as we waded through the imagery, concepts, symbolisms and literal understandings, to make sure we were all clear on all points. There were many redefining moments which we took in our stride and pushed forward.
Hot, humid, dusty, noisy and sometimes wet conditions were present and we had a sense of urgency to complete as departure dates loomed near. This work was viewed with curiosity from the local audiences that saw it take shape. The story of the tree clearing is represented within the work referencing when Capt. Light shot coins from his cannon into the coastal forests centuries ago. We added a 'Portal' that mirrors a facing door as a consideration of another time or place, or even a macro look at detail within the canopy. Light is represented in prismatic lines that stream across the work and the Penaga leaf becomes part of the water course that is cut into the old granite ship ballasts that pave the floor. This sweeps and meanders to where it connects with the wallwork. The point where water meets air.
I look forward to seeing the finishing touches-lighting, painting and the like - to see the finished product.
Undoubtedly, this work was about the journey for me. The opportunity to experience wonderful Penang which is soon(I believe), to resume its popularity as a premier tourist destination due to its vast cultural diveristy and oh so AWESOME food. It is a work that I know has some of my blood sweat and tears - but plenty of laughter and Gin to boot. I will eagerly await the audience critique on the work to see how our attempts at a creative work of art are viewed.