I am sitting in my Chai Wan studio with my new 24' imac computer. The air conditioner is turned off and my eyes are dry. My body is stiff and tired, and my neck is tense from the day. I taught my last photography class. It was hand-in for them. I came back to the studio and my friend Vasum was busy helping me set up my space for today's sale and event. Now, nearing 3am, I have just finalized which art will sold. Tomorrow, I price the work. I think i have done this over 30 or more times. I've lost count, but it is always with a sense of anticipation for a good turnout and hopefully a few sales here and there. An art exhibition/sale is not like a concert, it is not a movie and it is not a charitable event. I have seen Hong Kong take the art scene into it's hands and seen it forced into people's minds with gimmicks and performances and what not. But there is something in me that reminds me of who the artist is and what the art is all about. Being raised in a small town in Canada, I was brought into the art scene at a very young age. I was drawing nudes at the age of 18, or maybe it was 19. I attended art exhibitions at the university and elsewhere. There was red and white wine. There was some food, but nothing extravagant. There was rarely an admission charge, but if so, it was very little. Art was in a sense, free for you enjoy and see. There was no gimmick. The art had to stand on it's own. Usually, the artist was present to discuss and answer questions. Light music played in the background. The people that attended art openings were friends and sometimes, buyers. The gallery was not a place for partying; it was a place for the gathering of people that really believed and enjoyed art, and a place for artists to meet other artists. I think back to those days and I feel a part of me has copped out for a few years, devoting too much time and effort into a more commercial realm, fearing that the soul of my work has been parted with. I opened up some old graphite work that has been in storage for over 5 or 6 years. There were symbolic pieces of art that was drawn during the time of my father's and brother's death. Highly abstract, yet powerful and disturbing. I felt my face wrinkle and retract; it still moved me inside. I thought, 'I can't let this one go'.  is it strange to be so attached to a piece of artwork that you can't share it with others? I price work very high, when it's personal, not by how technically inclined it is. 3:19am. I best be getting home. It's going to be a long day tomorrow. 

The past few days I have been in a transition between the chaotic pace of getting the studio ready for the art sale and opening this weekend, as well as writing the announcements for my newsletter fanbase. I decided to install a hanging system in the studio area, as well as finalized the makeup station. Tomorrow, I pick up a curtain for the changing area. Yeah, it was left to the end. The studios is now equipped with 2 macs, with one more on it's way, a projector and 3 studio flashes and 3 continuous lights. Everything seemed fine, except the studio floor started to crack in 3 different areas. Unsightly huge patches. I called in the contractor and he looked at it with complete awe. He said they had done numerous other jobs very similar to my condition and never had he seen anything like it. I could tell he was mystified by what went wrong, and was probably thinking that I would request for him to redo the entire studio floor. He said he'd bring in the main contractor to take a look. Regardless, the show must go and the studio will have it's official opening this coming Sunday. Artwork from my exhibition days at Meli-Melo and my previous Studio 8 in Sheung Wan will be on display, as well as artwork from my friend Neung in Thailand. A new friend and photographer will be some stuning photographs Chan Sai Ho, nature photographer extrordinaire. Seriously, his images are beautiful. I will have the opportunity to showcase some of his work on Sunday. I have attached one of his images to this blog. Landscape photography has never really been one of my strongest, so I'm very please to introduce his work at my studio. I hope you like Ho's image as shown here below. Maybe one day, I can get him to join up here on alivenotdead.com and be a featured artist.
 

For your information, please check out my event this weekend:

Arrival Sale Mini-Exhibiton of Mr. Chan' Landscapes/Nature images...
Sunday, 10 August, 1-7pm
Studio 8, Room 802, Block B, 8/F Hong Kong (Chai Wan) Industrial Building, 26 Lee Chung Street, Chai Wan, HK (A short 2 minute walk from Chai Wan Station, Exit C)
Tel 25406267 or 68388948

Following the Sale, I'll be having the official Studio 8 Grand Opening, where I'll have some light snacks and a wee bit of wine to warm the blood. Anyway, do feel free to come along. Just let me know via alivenotdead.com or email me at info@studio8hongkong.com.

Incidentally, if you have a chance, please check out my new company website at www.studio8hongkong.com. Very minimalist in the colors of white, red and grey/blue.

I'm teaching a portrait photography class at Open University (LiPACE) and I need a few models to pose for my 13 students. If you're interested, just send me a message. You don't have to be a Naomi, Wahlberg or Crawford, but be enthusiastic and able to take directions from a group of keen young future photographers. No specific age. Male or female. The class is held on Saturday afternoon from about 4-6pm in either Fortress Hill or Chai Wan. Here's your chance to be photographed in a professional studio environment. 

After nearly 2 and a half months of packing, coordinating, moving, unpacking and sweating, my studio in Chai Wan is taking shape to looking pretty good. I think I aged about 5 years in the process, so I gotta hit the gym and spa or something to get myself looking decent again. Moving is hellish, but renovating is fun and exciting. So here we go with some pics of the space...












In time, I'll start planning a sale of my art work and....erm... opening party. Yes, another reason to throw a party. My friends are all asking for a date...but give me some time la. The official name? STUDIO 8. Hope you like it.

Here are a few pics of my future studio. Nothing in it now. Bare. Minimal. So cool. I only wish the ceiling was a about a foot higher, but I'll deal with it. My friend Gavin Tu, interior designer, sculpture, and painter, will be helping me out with the design of the space. He always comes up with very creative ideas. Here they are...