An update from Gail

First seeds of a new work

With a storyline agreed upon the artists begin exploring images of their characters.

 

 

 

 

A little bit of fun...

Bad luck, spirits and future fortunes!

In a quest to research themes for Read My Lips' new work, the team headed out to sample some local ceremony and fortune telling. 

Wat Jed Yod (Seven Spires Temple) is home to a ceremony to chase away bad luck and bad spirits. We'd all supplied our birth dates and day of the week on which we were born, which translated into an elaborate 'cake-like' construction of flags, paper figures, offerings, and candles. After connecting us all to the alter with a trail of white string, a monk clutched the ends of the threads and chanted, with our names emerging every now and then from the flow. A final prayer to bless our offered clothing, a white string tied around the wrist, and a bag of holy water to bathe in once we got home and we were set to once again face the world, free of any bad spirits lurking in our paths. 

We then sought the readings of a fortune teller, housed in a small laneway behind a wat. Here we shuffled and selected cards ("choose only with the left hand") and listened attentively as our futures were revealed. Apparently I'm always juggling money - "Yes" responded Tip from behind me, "to keep our project going!"

Read My Lips artists take to the streets of Chiang Mai - Fiona Carter

Two days ago I flew into Chiang Mai to join the Read My Lips artists for their final 2 weeks of collaboration. I arrived just in time to see Tip, Parn, Bow, Nicky and Gail take to the streets to perform at the weekly night market. This was a chance for the group to contribute to the local arts scene and air some of their newly shared mask skills. The performance was a short piece by Nicky - a bit of fun about a ukelele lost...and found. The audience loved it!

 

 

 

 

 

This week the collaboration moves into a new phase - from sharing skills and exchanging artistic practice to creating the first seeds of a new work. Stay tuned to see what emerges from the studio!

Read My Lips Week 2 - Chiang Dao