Hawaii and Leis

In 2012 I traveled to Hawaii to participate at the HICE conference (Hawaiian International Conference for Education) where I presented a paper on the everyday work of art. It had been the first time to talk about this topic in public, which is very close to my heart. My dear friend Roy Tamashiro whom I had met the year before in Barcelona on a conference for Museums for Peace and who is an unstoppable peace activist (in the kindest way) had invited me to join his panel. The stay became an unforgettable experience.

Roy being Hawaiian of Japanese origin became my guide for the few weeks in early January, during which I could discover many special places of the paradise islands Oahu, Big Island and Kawaii. I was also fortunate to meet the extraordinary Japanese painter and activist Mayumi Oda. Next to this tiny woman I felt even miniscule. She is a true woman in the powerful, earthly and sensitive sense. Needless to say, my life changed after this travel. Back in Brussels I organized an exhibition “Bowls for Peace” with three ceramic artists and created “Leis for Peace”, inspired by the Flower garlands, which are offered in Hawaii to honor people and events.

These Leis became a mindful practice for me, inscribing each paper circle with intentional words, cutting one by one with small nail scissors and crafting them into a paper Lei.

I am still making paper Leis for special occasions - marriage, special birthdays and life endings - or beginnings. It is a “practice” and almost a legacy for which I feel deep gratitude.

Lei noir 2012

White Lei 2012

White Lei 2012

Peace Lei 2012

Rainbow Lei 2016

Rainbow Lei 2017

Rebecca Horn – Impressions from an exhibition (Centre Pompidou Metz, December 2019)

Thick red hair cut simultaneously with

2 rough scissors by the artist herself.

I am shivering inside, i feel it in my teeth, i have to close my eyes half.

Sharp or not sharp,

the pointed blades are passing in front of her eyes.

A strange creature is walking through a field

What is it? An animal? Human being escaped from the hospital?

Some kind of hybrid of both? It comes closer and reveals a woman naked,

Strapped into a corset, which makes me feel anxious inside.

It would be lovely to change into a unicorn in a way;

but this costume looks uncomfortable in its clinical bondage fashion,

balancing a uniqu-horn on her head.

Still I can feel the warmth of the summer day and the freedom,

walking through a field – naked.

Long extended fingers reaching towards the floor

What is she trying to do, trying to reach ?

It looks inefficient – or maybe not.

At least she does not have to bend down on her knees.

I am trying to imagine how it must feel in my fingers

When touching a thing so far away and through inanimate sticks.

Fascinating that some kind of sensory transmition is possible that way.

If I’d put it on,

a soft, white, feathery mask would be hiding my head.

I want to have it – it feels good

inside of its protective soothing, smoothing qualities,

like the sweetest stroke of motherly hands

or the belly of my cat, in which I nestle my face.

A grand piano hanging upside down from the ceiling

with a huge, dangerous mouth and teeth coming out

to attack, who comes too close.

Big beast ready to devour or to clash down

to bury my body under its massive resonating noise.

This is an art fragile strong courageous

and very ingenious.  It comes from lived pain and a poetic mind

not holding back to go deep and forward.

There is much humor in the craziness of life.