Sura Medura Blog1 Arriving

 Arriving

පැමිණීමට

On the 4th June 2016, I was offered a six week International Artist Residency in Sura Medura Sri Lanka, in association wtih UZ Arts, Scotland.

On the 13th Februay I arrive at the hotel in Hikkaduwa at 22:30, after around 19 hours of travel.

The beginning of a journey.

My first thought "run to the sea!"And so I did...

The sea, the stars and the beach. Beauty, simplicity and sublime.

Being in between three of the four elements, the long trip I had just done slalomed in fast forward between my thoughts and Ι bumped on Charlie Chaplin. On the plane, I had watched a movie based on his autobiography and at that moment one of Chaplin's quotes emerged:

Simplicity is not a simple thing.

Simplicity is not a simple thing Chaplin said and it was exactly how I felt there. How simple but extremely comlicated that moment was. The sea, the wind, the sand; they surrounded me and made me feel too little but ... alive. All my senses stretched out. I could feel every grain of sand moving under my feet, the waves splashing on my ankles wobbling me about and the wind caressing my cheeks. I looked up, millions of starts were looking down on me. Immense, stunning, beautiful. At that very moment, I felt a little unsettled, as if tomorrow would be my first day to school.

What will I make during this residency? Am I good enough to be here? Will I make something good enough?, I thought. I felt anxious and impatient. My eyes starred at the sea again.

Pause, as if the world decided to go on mute.

Pause.

My thoughts danced around like crazy for a less than a minute and then, astouned by the view, suddenly stopped. A tiny smile rose my cheeks and my worries decided to sail away. "We no longer need to fear arguments, confrontations or any kind of problems with ourselves or others." says Chaplin again. "Even stars collide, and out of their crashing new worlds are born. Today I know “THAT IS LIFE”". That IS life I guess. There is no life without confrontation and confrontation suggests movement, therefore life.

Six weeks of exploring, learning new things, creating, living. Challenge accepted!