six from 2012

Six images Orphan enjoyed in 2012.

Two monks at a wat and The Tree of Life, Luang Prabang, Laos.

On the street - boys and wedding Siem Reap, Cambodia.

 

Music man plays for an audience of 1, Trabzon, Turkey. Red balloons.

 

awareness

There are  absolutely no metaphors, just observations. 

The artist maps reality.

That's the cat-and-mouse game between the artist and the world. And it's just not the artist who plays it. Each of us is in the cat-and-mouse game with our perceptual life. Do we really see ourselves?

Or do we see only what obtrudes in daylight?

Do we crash through our nightlife, scattering subtle things that abide there?

Or do we simply watch without judgment, in the expectation of learning something? - John Cage

 

wise girl

Explanations are a well dressed mistake, said a bright eyed connected Cambodian girl.

Her confidence, self-esteem and integrity looked at an optical tool. A shutter whirled.

She smiled. Thank you, you had one chance. Yes, said Orphan freezing Time.

What you don't see is fascinating.

You don't say.

Yes, I have nothing to say and I'm saying it.

a short story

Once upon a time there was a king.

The king wanted a painting. He'd heard about a famous painter in a distant village. "I don't care how much it costs," said the king. He sent a messenger to the painter.

"My king wants a painting," said the messenger. "Ok," said the painter, "give me two million gold coins and come back later." The messenger paid.

The messanger came back a year later. "It's not finished yet," said the painter. "Come back later."

Ten years passed.

The messenger returned. "Where is the painting for the king?"

The painter grabbed a canvas and painted a painting. "Here, give this to the king."

"What, you just made it!" said the messenger.

"Yes," said the painter, "but I've been thinking about it for ten years."

clean water for xmas

Christmas is coming, Orphan said to Elf.

Tell me about it. I'm getting crazy wish lists from kids around the globe.

Give me an example of some serious needs.

Sure, here's one from a girl in Cambodia.

"Please give me clean drinking water. I have a cell phone. It's great for entertainment but useless when it comes to meeting my real needs. Call me and tell me where I can get the water. And, if it's not too much to ask, could you please give me some medicine? My grandmother is dying of a broken heart."

Whew, that's a tough one, said Orphan. What are you going to do?

Damn the Mekong River and divert a stream of life to her village. 

Sounds perfect. What about the medicine? 

Will a placebo heal a broken heart?

Take two and call me tomorrow. Tomorrow knows the answer.