(No)rwegian Wood Opening This Friday Jan 1st - 2010

(No)rwegian Wood

挪威沒有森林

Opening performance this coming Friday January 1st - 2010

8pm

at JCCAC (MRT: She Kip Mei) 

Black box theatre

Jan 1~3rd - 8pm

Jan 2nd, 3rd - 3pm

Tickets available at www.urbtix.hk

2734 9009

 http://www.norwegianwood.co.nr

Sneak Preview Dec 6th at Kubric Cafe

村上春樹さんの新作「1Q84」が広東語訳され香港で出版されるにあたって、私たちの次の作品、"(No)rwegian Wood" のプロモをさせてもらえることになった。香港のBroadway Cinematheque の隣にある個性的はカフェで、とても雰囲気のある書店喫茶。村上春樹さんの「1Q84」私のこの冬休み、読みたい本ナンバーワン。

同場加演《挪威沒有森林》選段
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=193287830932

挪威沒有森林 (No)rwegian Wood  

(NO)REGIAN WOOD

(NO) REGIAN WOOD is my next play which I will be playing the female lead Naoko.  It is a revival play from Burnt Mango's last year's production. So the script is very much familiar, yet still its a challenging role for me.  The play was based on, and hugely inspired by one of Murakami Haruki's  best selling novel "Norwegian Wood". Hong Kong emerging director Adrian Yeung strives to tackle this difficult and visually tasty play through the eyes of modern society in Hong Kong.  I will keep updating about the show until the performance :))  I am so excited to revisit Naoko's untouchable world.

挪威根本沒有森林。 

這不過是村上先生的誤譯，然後大家就約定俗成了一個幻想。但一想到會在這個沒有存在過的森林裹再遇到他，跟他一邊聽著披頭四一邊喝啤酒，總覺得不可思議。村上先生微笑不語，注視著啤酒的泡沫，把耳筒除低將ipod關上還給我，說：這好像缺少了一點什麼。之後把啤酒喝完，摸著杯邊冰凍的水珠說：謝謝了，很好喝的啤酒。而我的那杯還是原封不動。 

這是我想像中跟村上先生最坦誠的對話。 

以村上常用的二元平行敘事手法，渡邊遊走於直子和綠兩個虛構世界，火紅年代的日本對照著後六四的香港，訴說著一個挪威沒有森林的故事。 

導演 楊振業
文本 楊振業 甄拔濤
形體 周可凡
音樂 黄衍仁
佈景設計 徐碩朋
燈光設計 施駿興
錄像設計 張志佳
平面設計 kikiwong
演員 梁遠光 芦田悠 齊釨湮 李穎兒 黄衍仁
舞台監督 彭善紋
宣傳及票務 楊一葦
監製 梁曉端 

1-3.1.2010, 8pm
2-3.1.2010, 3pm
賽馬會創意藝術中心黑盒劇場 
票價：$120, $80*
*全日制學生、六十歲或以上高齡人士、殘疾人士及綜援受惠人 
門票現於各城市電腦售票處發售 
票務查詢及留座：2734 9009 
信用卡電話訂票：2111 5999
網上訂票：www.urbtix.hk
節目查詢：6133 0901
折扣優惠：凡購買門票6至10張可獲九折；11張或以上可獲八折

http://www.norwegianwood.co.nr

《關於村上，我們想說的其實是……》分享會
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?invites&eid=205008712352

由《聽風的歌》到《1Q84》，三十年來村上不停的寫，我們不停的讀。他的文字，與他有關的音樂，電影，劇場，要談的話可謂多不勝數。這不是一個嚴肅的座談會。歡迎大家拿著啤酒，在隨和的爵士樂曲下，說說所謂關於村上的一點什麼。
同場加映《挪威沒有森林》選段。

6.12.2009 3pm
油麻地kubrick (油麻地眾坊街三號駿發花園第二期地下)
嘉賓 朗天 許樹寧 甄拔濤
費用全免

5 more updates! from (Oct 3rd - 24/24)

-CHALLENGE: To paint twenty four facebook friends portraits in twenty four hours-

James stopped by around 8pm,  and brought us some coffee. So sweet.  I received some quick high energy from the coffee for the last stretch of the marathon.  I like hearing his traveling stories and see his photos on facebook. He goes everywhere.... I mean everywhere From North Korea, to a wild camp in Alaska, Israel to Cambodia, where next??? 

My friend from College Hon. I miss her so much. I still remember the conversation 

we had on Savannah River Street about our future and here we are now. So 

strange how time passes so quickly. I was not scared about the unknown in front of 

us, since she was always so "zen"and grounded me. She is an amazing artist.

I realized I still had to finish 7 portrait paintings in  2 hours! ! ! ! ! ! ! Now I speeded up my brush and pencil drawing.  20 mins to paint 

Kiriko san.  It was a quick gesture drawing and water color but I was happy with it.

Wesley was also painting his awesome hair die piece that day.  Always so interesting 

the things he does. And look, he just commented on my wall, so he was the next target for me to paint. :)  Cool tattoos on those digits!!  

I had an hour break to get some dinner for myself and other fellow artists including

our students who joined the challenge to make art for 12 hours straight.  They were a

very focused bunch. They were all around 12~15 yrs old.  They did an awesome job. 

Around 4 pm, at this point, I had been painting for more than 2o hours continuously. Hofan came to visit since she knew about my challenge and since she is sweet like that.  It was very surprising because I was out of friends to paint since I made a strict rule to myself to paint only friends who I interacted with during the 24 hours.  But Hofan was the first person who I started to paint against this "rule" that I created. Then all of sudden, she called and said I will come to visit you now! Whaaaa???? It was a magical moment. :)

5 more updates!

-CHALLENGE: To paint twenty four facebook friends portraits in twenty four hours-

This challenge was initially provoked by my husband artist Gabe Ostley, who finished his 24 hour comic book on the same day.    At 10 am, after  12 hours of my painting marathon, some fellow young artists also joined the club! ( Some students from Yew Chung International School. They also wanted to challenge themselves with a 12 hour art jam.  There were no more time for me to be sleepy. My friends Wesley and Emily also joined to make some art. 

Ashley... she was a hard one to paint. Well, Wesley already warned me that she is going to be a hard one to capture the essence.  I guess, once again, what makes it hard is to fight against the time and watercolor.... cannot really erase or change. But I think over all, this medium allowed me to be bold with my painting. Quick, and no going back !  SUP !! Ashley!  Loved your wedding photos. 

Nikkie made my day!  She responded to my facebook comments while I was updating the status through out the challenge.  Sweet comments added some sugar energy to my work. So awesome that she scuba dives ! 

After having a lunch break, I painted Nell: my super photographer friend who lives in the Philippines.   She took many crazy photos from the recent flood that happened in the Philippines.  Cannot wait for her to visit Hong Kong again soon !

Hiroki kun was my first baby who I visited in the hospital when they were just born. He was born in Hong Kong and he was such a sweet baby.  　Tamieさん、貴重な経験をありがとうございました。すっかりひろき君も歩き始めているそうで。会いたいです。また遊びにいかせてください。How come babies grow so fast! Quite amazing to see my friends baby photos on facebook. They grow extremely fast! or am I not feeling the time passing? but their moms don't seem to age at all. 

This was one of my favorite paintings.  The moment I saw her photo, I knew how I wanted to paint her. Natalie, I hope you are doing well :))) When I was in college, it was only Myspace that was becoming very popular... You know, now that I think about it, it would have been so different experience if I could connected with my high school friends and family while I went to U.S. alone.  Probably less home sick. But so cool how now I have more contact with many friends who I don't  see in person my everyday life. 

Five more updates from my 24 hours challengeFive more updates from my 24 hours challenge!

-CHALLENGE: To paint twenty four facebook friends portraits in twenty four hours-

10th hour, 7:55 am... I like "Like this" click on facebook. It takes only a second but the simple click can make me happy. :)

Speir !!!! Yes, hopefully we can see you next year! So much to catch up. Are you back in east coast?  You inspired me to do monochromatic painting... sort of... I wanted to try... sometimes it was so hard to draw free hand and painting with water color, fighting with heavy eye lids...

I was so sleepy at this point, but your facebook photo gave me such a warm feeling. And thank you for sending me "Of course!!!! :) good luck!! message. You kept me awake and helped me keep going during my peek time  :)) 

It was so awesome chatting with you. So wired I used all my energy talking with you! as usual... hahah so inspiring and fun catching up with you my princess! we gotta go back to NY and order our usual Doncacino!! wait a second... I saw a comment on the facebook, "Are you back in NY?"

4 am-  talking to Gabriela was my amazing moment. So much we shared in NY as a roommate. How could I know that you were in Israel!!   I really treasure those days and many memories we shared.  It was so nice to see your photos.  Saudades de ti !  bjs

Three more updates from my 24 hours challenge!

-CHALLENGE: To paint twenty four facebook friends portraits in twenty four hours-

 

3:09 am- The fifth hour of this challenge, my target was Jiekai ! I had a part in his feature film, which he directed few months ago. It was a wonderful experience working in Singapore and meeting many great people there.  Wait a second.... I chatted with him online, and he was working on the post production. He was editing the end credits part.  It was so strange typing to him while he was editing.  Wow... I thought nobody would be awake from my time zone. 3am...

Zining chan!, 2 am I have so much to catch up with her!! Haven't seen her since I was 17?  You were still pregnant that night! And now, you delivered a beautiful baby! Wow, so strange to keep finding out my high school friends are now having babies!  So fast status change in facebook. 

Cliff.. I haven't seen him for so long since my college graduation? , but so nice to see the updates of his current projects. I chat with him online for a little bit, and I asked him if I can paint him for this project. And he said "absolutely.."  A story teller - photographer Cliff always has many inspirational works going.  http://www.cliftonhenri.com/artiststatement.htm     

Facebook 24 hours portrait challenge first 3 hours!

Wendy Lai! She also came online while I was chatting with Aki chan. I didn't notice for a while and she went offline. I felt bad not responding to her. I hate when that happens.... ! I saw her yesterday and realized, nothing better than seeing your friend in person!

Aki chan is my friend from my childhood.  I lost contact with her for a while and it was so wonderful to chat with her online while I was painting. 

My friend Xuan Ming was the last one who wrote a message on my facebook.  I met her in Singapore through a film shooting. Its even more impossible to keep in touch with people who you met for few times. Such a common phrase nowadays to ask " Do you have Facebook?"  across the nation! I heard its banned in China though... 

3 out of 24 

Adam and Eve for the Tangled Hair Art Exhibition

Adam and Eve

color pencil and graphite on canvas

 14" x 20"  and  12"x18" 

Adam and Eve celebrates the beauty of hair, differences and togetherness of  man and woman. I used the most simple materials, yet felt so satisfying in the end. 

 

Tangled- from on going Art Exhibition at Hair Salon La Belle in Central, HK

Harukita - Self Portrait

(oil on canvas- 36" x16" )

I have been painting one self portrait every year ever since... high school?   Anyways, Emily invited us to collaborate on this Art Exhibition at La Belle salon in Central with several other fellow artists friend (Gabe Ostley, Wesley Terpstra, Ashley Blakely Terpstra and Rico Tsui).   The theme was "Hair", I decided to have fun with this topic. 

With my self portrait, I enjoyed painting the essence of my multi cultural back ground (born in Japan, raised in Spain, Brazil, Mexico, went to a college in U.S.A and now living in Hong Kong) , my fantasy for sweets, my passion for visual and performing art and my admiration for classic and traditional techniques. Took a long time to "braid" her hair!

Living in Hong Kong makes me think about my identity. Where do I belong? Well, ... anywhere... everywhere...  I encountered many people who feel this way. 

my next piece,

 memories… since 19 years old

(graphite and conté crayon on canvas- 36" x48")

Bad photo of it, but I had a strong connection with this piece.  I was recalling tangled experiences from my past... ups and downs.  Relationships with hair, people, and loved ones. So much energy and full of passion.   Sometimes it may include the ones you might want to cut them off or brush them away, but when you think about it, every bits of the tangled you made makes the whole you. No regrets. 

Two more works to share, but for today, 

Thank you so much for friends who came and hope you will have a chance to stop by :)! 

Tangled - The Art of Hair

La Belle Salon

G/F, Shop No. 1 Glenealy Tower,

No. 1 Glenealy, Central, Hong Kong 

(Opposite St. Paul's Church)

Featuring Work by :

Emily Eldridge

Gabe Ostley

Haruka Ashida Ostley

Wesley Terpstra

Ashley Blakely Terpstra

Rico Tsui

24/24

-CHALLENGE: To paint twenty four facebook friends portraits in twenty four hours- 

 

facebook 

My best friend from college changed her profile photo and posted on her status,  “ Just took this 2 min's ago. I'm in labor right now, literally!! Here comes my little girl! “  I congratulated her on the phone when she told me the news about her second baby.  However, I was not ready to receive this news. It went by so quickly and I didn’t have much chance to share the process and ask her how things are going before this day has come…  The most shocking fact was, I found out her big day online, on facebook!!!

No matter how much you care about your friend, the communication between friends become less and less possible when you have so much things going on in your present life. Since moving to Hong Kong, all my friends are not only living so far away, but they are living in different time zones and in different culture. I realized how occupied I was with my own world.

I do not use all the functions in facebook. Half of the time, I have no ideas what to do when I receive things from other people. There are pokes, flowers, wishes, quizes…etc. The list will go on.  But because of this instance, I became so curious and wondered what facebook is to me, and what facebook is becoming in our modern life. 

 

So, here comes 24 hours / 24 portraits challenge! I decided to challenge myself with painting 24 portraits of my facebook friends to reconnect with them in different level than usual beyond our time difference. I wanted to take some time to visit them and “facepaint” them through “facebook”. It was just like a marathon… challenge to accomplish, for whatever reasons and towards undefined goal if there is any.

Starting from Oct 2nd 10:00 pm to Oct 3rd 10:00 pm, the time I spent on painting and while I was communicating with friends through facebook, became something very unforgettable.

 

 

The first portrait was my friend who left her last comment on my wall. Then the selection of my friends came rather natural. I chose friends who I chat with on facebook chat line during the 24 hours of my challenge. Then I chose some friends who left the comments on my wall during that period. I wanted to respond naturally to my action through facebook.  Why do people run marathon? Why do I paint? I don’t know. But my friends were all very supportive with the idea.

 

Being up all day all night, and the next day… the challenge was also how to stay awake and finish each portrait in good one hour each… However, since I was talking with some of them online while I was working on these painting, I felt some strange energy and high excitement from talking with friends which I haven’t seen for a long time or I would never see during my normal hours. These were my selected photo portrait from their profiles, but they were definitely something more. I received their support while I was painting them. Which was very unexplainable… warm feeling. I explained this to one of my friend, and he said, “Its just like a fasting. Bring people together for doing what is challenging to ones ability.” Many of these friends were my long time friend from high school or college...even my childhood. 

I wanted to reconnect with friends that you only see on little square on the corner of your friends list on facebook. I wanted to feel their presence a little bit more.  As much as I was against and hesitated to join the facebook in the beginning, I felt that facebook is becoming a part of my communication tool with my friends.   Constantly getting new information, adding more friends, uploading some photos, I have no idea where this is going to go in the future.  However, I felt little homey feeling, having a few minutes of my day opening my facebook page dropping a line to my long lost friends.

 

 

Hopefully I can find some space in Hong Kong and/or have facebook gallery opening to share all my 24 paintings!!