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2/3/2018

............. As you can guess, I'm not sure what to say. I spent most of yesterday blissfully doing nothing as I was celebrating my wedding anniversary with my wife. I came back to the block today to find amazing Karens post. I'm not sure what to say. How to react. How to fathom what has happened. However, I need to say that, the profound affect of the power of two has been mutual. Throughout the project I have also been exploring my own practice and in particular the the use of digital. The honesty of Karen's practice has got me to consider why I use digital and brought me closer to a way of understanding myself.

Karen refers to a poem that I wrote that sits on my blog (https://ambushedonroute.wordpress.com/2017/05/17/seeds/). Something that was in plain sight and I could not see until I was shown the way by my collaborator. The poem refers to finding new places and making your own place. In essence this is what I was referring to in an earlier post. Rather than a David and Goliath dissent, we need to consider the way we dissent without even knowing it. As Karen highlights, artists dissent by simply existing. This collaboration has been very open and honest, has drawn us together to consider how dissent sits naturally in our practice and has given me a real friend. I have dedicated the poem to Karen. It feels as thought it was written for her to find for this collaboration.

Throw me far
Far farther than I could ever imagine
As far as learning will take me
As a seed ready to
To meander through unseen vernaculars of unfolding idles
To skip an long and over borders painted in colours with meaning that has long washed out
Beyond cities and states
Below is a connected poem, I used to create an artwork for an exhibition in Taiwan (below). It was translated into Chinese for the exhibition, but here is the english version also.

....and from here
they scattered far
across seas unseen
filled with the fizz of success
they made new homes
forged new families
and gave life to new culture

7 Comments

Karen

2/3/2018 11:07:47 pm

my comment was too long Ash
so I cut it instead
and will paste it
as a post
in secret
so no one will see
the hidden me

i am humbled in advance
for your dedication rings true

across the nations
I send heartfelt thanks
back to you

K

Ashokkumar Mistry

2/4/2018 01:16:57 pm

Hi. One thing I’ve learned recently is not to apologise for being myself. Karen, just post what you want don’t worry that it’s too long. I love reading what you write. It reminds me of walking. When your mind is free to wander and think as it pleases. There is no one to listen and criticise. Please post and we’ll savour your thought like a sent of a stew bubble away on an open fire.

2/4/2018 03:01:10 pm

Hi Ash I did post it as a post rather than a comment. It started as a comment but turned into an essay which I edited to become a poem of sorts - my sort anyway as I don't know much about how it should be - just the words flow as they want - see what you think the post follows this one.......
I think I have managed to do just that - post away as if there is no tomorrow.... or until the words run dry.... which I hope they don't
K

2/4/2018 03:04:28 pm

I see what you mean now after re-reading what I wrote late last night i.e.
as a post
in secret
so no one will see
the hidden me
.
that was only words
tongue in cheek
and a reference t
o your old hidden books of words
.
I have not held back
at all over the last two weeks......

Sarah Misselbrook

2/4/2018 09:53:26 am

Hi Karen and Ash, your words back and forth are resonating with me, the very idea that as artists, one is 'dissenting by being'. That is what I am exploring, being... 'outside the system', 'off the grid' (no mains electricity - rainwater collection - compost toilets - burning olive wood for heating), 'outside the norm' 'perverse' - in the margins, that is my dissent. My making of work is part of the exploration but the 'being dissents'. I've really enjoyed following your journey. With dissent, foggy mountains of Catalunya.

2/4/2018 01:38:37 pm

Thanks for your comments. Block chain has been very cathartic and at the same time liberating. It’s great to work with Karen who is receptive and open to share thought ideas and creativity.

2/4/2018 03:12:45 pm

Finally home again

I wrote a message to Ash on WhatsApp and will share with all here - it may even start off another post or at least a set of drawings:

WhatsApp 12:46 Sunday 4 Feb

Hi Ash
I loved your last image
the Chinese characters they are brilliant
and the ones escaping flying free!!!!
I use to write the characters a bit
when living in Beijing
but did not learn the speaking bit so well

20 years on and I don't remember the basics
but still love the formations
probably even more now

if the drawing responses workout
I will send a message

K

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