Art - Talkingthailand

A Day Out in Blackpool

When you think of Blackpool, it might conjure up images of a busy seaside resort with plenty of people enjoying their time there. Whether that’s at the Pleasure Beach or having fun in the amusement arcades – it’s a busy place.

But, on a chilly May day last year, I found a more serene town with a whole heap of photographic subjects.

There were gulls in the sea water pools chilling..

Or flying down to take a seat..

Or pondering its next move..

There were people walking, going about their day..

There were empty beaches..

And piers..

Blackpool’s iconic tower..

And, finally, the Comedy Carpet – one of the largest pieces of art in the UK..

I hope you enjoyed these images of a very serene Blackpool town 🙂

A Photo Walk Around Rotterdam

On a second trip to Rotterdam in August last year, here is what I got up to with Chris – in photos.

How to travel to the Netherlands — London St Pancras

Things to do on the Eurostar — Lens thru a lens

Things to do in Rotterdam — An unexpected guest

I hope you enjoyed our shenanigans 🙂

Art & Sculptures in Rotterdam

My first impression of Rotterdam was that it was a dreary, industrial city with not a lot to see and nowhere near as pretty as Amsterdam.

Having been there a second time, I have since changed my mind and it’s growing on me, but when I went to visit Chris in March last year, I was in two minds.

Having said that, I still managed to find lots of art and sculptures around the city.

Things to see in Rotterdam — Street Art, Rotterdam

Have you been to Rotterdam? What did you think of it?

Street Art in El Carmen, Valencia

I love street art! Wherever I go, I always make a bee line for it if there is any about.

When I was in Valencia in January 2019, the streets of El Carmen are full of street art. I spent a good couple of hours wandering along the small alleys and streets in search of these colourful creations.

I’ll leave you to follow in my footsteps…

Hope you enjoyed the walk around El Carmen. Do you have a favourite piece of street art?

The Changing Seasons – January 2019

The Changing Seasons post, inspired by the lovely Sarah at Secret Art Expeditio n and hosted by Su at Zimmerbitch.

Happy New Year! Let’s hope 2019 will bring joy, happiness, and new adventures!

I arrived back in the UK in time for New Year and saw the beginning of 2019 at my brother and sister-in-law’s party with a family and a few of their friends. It was fun, although I was in bed not long after the clock struck midnight – those damn whisky shots!

After a few more nights in my hometown, I arrived in Valencia full of hope and excitement. This was to be my new home!

I have never been to Valencia before, but the more I read about it – it seemed to be right up my alley. Lots of art and culture and plenty more to explore!

I had given myself a week – thinking back, that was a little overambitious – but a week it was and I wanted to find a place in that time, so I could start my new life.

I found a place, a lovely triplex in Malvarrosa – close to the beach – and it was with excitement I told the guy I’d take it. However, his agent told him to ask me for 11 months rent (7,150 EUR) upfront because I didn’t have income in Spain. That was the end of that!

Then, I found another agent who took me to look at more apartments, but, again, one wanted 6 months deposit, plus his fee, plus 1 month’s (bail) payment – making a grand total of 6,000 EUR. I told him I didn’t have that much money, so forgot about that!

I found out that it is illegal to ask for any more than 2/3 months as a deposit, but there has been an influx of people renting apartments in Valencia and not paying their rent, so many of the landlords are asking for these ridiculous amounts up front. I get it – they are only trying to protect their properties etc., but who has that kind of money to pay up front!? I don’t!

I was only in Valencia for 2 weeks, and for most of that I was stressed, upset, and very frustrated. There were tears, on several occasions. I was sleeping for 12 hours a day, comfort eating, and not doing any exercise!

So, I made the decision to go back to my hometown to reassess and get more money behind me. If I’d stayed in Spain, I would be penniless, not to mention, fat!

My bottom line was “what the hell have I just done – why did I leave Bangkok?”

Even the language was a problem – not many people speak English in Valencia. I was glad that my friend was there because I found it all very intimidating – believe it or not, more people speak English in Bangkok! I’m not shying away from learning Spanish, far from it, and that’s another thing on my list of things to do back home!

I spent the last few days in Valencia getting to know the city. My friend and I went to the City of Arts and Sciences. A stunning complex with several futuristic-type buildings, dedicated to the arts and sciences. (I will write about this at some point)

I took a stroll around El Carmen, whose small lanes and alleyways are adorned with street art. It was great to just wander and see what I came across.

On the way to meet my friend, I came across Torres de Serranos – one of Valencia’s old gateways. I climbed the steps for some awesome views.

I really enjoyed Valencia, apart from all the stress, and it’s a place I can see myself living. I’ve simply taken a sideways step to get me back on track.

I’ve given myself 6 months to get back to where I was! And, if my motto is correct I shouldn’t have any problems!

Everything works out OK in the end! 🙂

About The Changing Seasons

The Changing Seasons is a monthly challenge where bloggers around the world share what’s been happening in their month.

If you would like to join me and the others in this challenge, here are the guidelines:

The Changing Seasons Version One (photographic)

Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery that you feel represent your month
Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.
Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them

The Changing Seasons Version Two (you choose the format):

Each month, post a photo, recipe, painting, drawing, video, whatever that you feel says something about your month
Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!
Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so others can find them.

4 Heritage Homes in Bangkok You Should Visit

Most people come to Bangkok for its food, its temples, its vibrant nightlife, and its general laid back attitude to life. And why not? It’s a fabulous place for first-time visitors to be introduced to Thailand. But, before long, the chaos, the traffic, and the constant battering of your senses starts to get to you and it’s time to move on.

If you dare to stay a little longer, you realise there’s a whole lot more to the capital than meets the eye. You really have just scratched the surface of what there is to see here. If you’re interested in more sedate activities and getting off the beaten track, delve a little deeper and go in search of these 4 heritage homes in Bangkok.

M.R Kukrit’s Heritage Home

Hidden in the back streets of Sathorn is the former home of M.R Kukrit, or Mom Rajawongse Kukrit (1911-1995), Thailand’s 13^th Prime Minister. Not only was he involved with politics, but he was also a prolific writer and artist and his home pays tribute to his passions. You can still see many of his personal artefacts, including books and paintings. The Department of Fine Arts decided this house should give the impression that it’s still lived in, with everything laid out as it was when Mr Kukrit was alive. As well as 5 beautiful teak buildings, which are of traditional Thai design, there’s a lily pond, a garden with lots of green shrubs and colourful flowers, a lawn and pavilion at the back. It’s a little slice of peaceful heaven.

Things to do in Bangkok — M.R Kukrit’s House, Bangkok

Address: 19 Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra 7 Alley, Sathorn, Bangkok, 10120
Hours: Daily, 10.00am to 6.00pm

Bangkok Folk Museum

The Bangkok Folk or Bangkokian Museum is another little gem, concealed from view in Bang Rak. It was the home of the Suravadees, a middle-class family, who lived there in the early twentieth century. The house was inherited by Varaporn Suravadee who, before she died, intervened with building work that was planned next door and raised money to stop it in the hope that she could preserve her museum for people to continue to learn about her family’s past. The folk museum is full of relics – old photographs, medical equipment, magazines, even a couple of things that date back to King Rama V’s time. It really is a treasure trove of wonders.

Address: 273 Charoen Krung Road, Soi 43, Bangrak, Bangkok,10500
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10.00am to 4.00pm

Kamthieng House Museum

This museum was built in 1848 in Chiang Mai by Mae Saed, great-granddaughter of one of the rulers of the Lanna Kingdom. The structure was taken to Bangkok and reassembled and it’s now located in the gardens of the Siam Society. It was opened in 1966 by HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Kamthieng House is a traditional Lanna house – raised on stilts and made of wood – with tools and items that were used in the Lanna way of life. There are also videos throughout the house telling the story of how day-to-day life played out in a Lanna village. Be warned though! It’s believed that the ghosts of the past still roam the house.

Address: 131 Asoke Montrii Road, Bangkok, 10110
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9.00am to 5.00pm

Jim Thompson’s House

More centrally located, is Jim Thompson’s house, a series of beautiful wooden structures which are full of his possessions. Jim Thompson was an American businessman and architect who came to Bangkok in the 1940s. He established the Thai Silk Company and, as a keen art enthusiast, he made many trips around South East Asia to collect an abundance of art pieces. He travelled far and wide, and in 1959 he built this house to live in and to show off his collection. Unfortunately, Jim Thompson mysteriously disappeared in 1967. His body has never been found, but with all the wall hangings, statues, and antiques inside, you can get a feel for what kind of man he was.

Address: 6 Soi Kaseman 2, Rama I Road, Bangkok, 10330
Hours: Daily, 9.00am to 6.00pm

It really is fun to explore Bangkok! There are so many fascinating things to see, but it’s the less well-known attractions that are really worth hunting out. If you would like help finding them let me know 🙂

Imaginarium – By Oleg Shuplyak

Art Galleries in Bangkok — Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre

Salvador Dali is one of my favourite painters, not only for his surrealism and imagination, but it’s so much fun to look at his paintings. Talk about tricking your mind – he definitely succeeds in doing that. Swans Reflecting Elephants is a classic optical illusion.

You’re looking at 3 swans on a lake, but their reflections turn into elephants – the clue is in the name! Look at it some more and you’ll suddenly realise that the tree trunks behind the swans are reflected as the elephants legs. Move your eyes away from the central focal point and see what else you can find. Can you see the man? The first time I saw this painting, I was blown away. The creativity and vision to be able to produce a piece like this is more than a little impressive.

I love Dali’s work, so imagine my excitement when I went to see an art exhibition at the Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre a couple of weeks ago.

Let me introduce – Oleg Shuplyak – a very talented artist from Ukraine and his Bangkok exhibition – Imaginarium (great title, don’t you think?)

Since 1991, Shuplyak has been showing his work at exhibitions across the world and he is a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine. I’d never heard of this artist before, but he’s definitely on my radar now.

The reason I compare Shuplyak to Dali is because he (Shuplyak) is best known for his optical illusions – an element that Dali used in his paintings. His paintings are portraits of famous people with hidden images – the hidden elements are very Daliesque!

Every piece of work is very bright and colourful with so much detail and, of course, his trademark “painting within a painting.” Like with Dali’s paintings, the first time you look up close, you can see certain elements, but the more you look and widen your focus across the whole canvas, more things become apparent. People see things differently, and I couldn’t see the faces at first, but after stepping back they immediately popped out of the painting. Once your mind focuses on one thing, it’s difficult “not” to see it. That’s the beauty of this kind of art.

I found myself smiling more than once at this guy’s sheer brilliance. I scrutinised the faces and what was a mouth or an eye, turned out to be a bird or a house.

I kept chuckling to myself too because as I was looking at the fine details and the paint strokes, I’d move my eyes to the right and I could suddenly see…. well what can you see? It’s really fascinating.

It really was fun to see his creations and to challenge myself in trying to find everything that was hidden. Just like Dali was, Oleg Shuplyak is a brilliant artist. Their work has been, and is, such an inspiration for other artists that follow. It was so pleasing just to be able to see this work and to appreciate the talent that has gone into creating such wonderful pieces.

It’s not only portraits he succeeds in hiding. This is one of my favourites!

For more Oleg Shuplyak paintings go to www.morrisophotography.co.uk

5 Ways to Get Creative When You Live Abroad

Since I left the UK in 2007, I have become more creative and I have travelling to thank for that. I once read that people become more creative if they travel and see the world, but just how true is it?

I can’t speak for others, but I believe it is. The first time I went travelling, I became more interested in the world around me. I saw some beautiful, and not so beautiful, things. I experienced amazing things, I visited intriguing places, and I learned to open my eyes and appreciate the small things – to see wonder in them. Trees, birds, heck, even buildings. I was never interested in these things at home, but travel awakened a sense in me that I was barely aware of before. It gave me a new lease in life and I was more inclined to try different things and be more creative.

Now I live in Thailand and my creativity hasn’t gone – it’s only been enhanced. I love to write and take photographs, and I manage my two websites where I document life through my words and photography. I draw and paint (although not as much as I’d like), I’ve made my own Christmas decoration (still dangling), I’ve made presents for my family, and a vision board.

Ways to be creative when you live abroad — Handmade Christmas decoration

Living abroad has its challenges, one of which is you might not have the network of people that you have at home and you might need something to occupy your time – to stop yourself going a bit crazy. That’s certainly true for me and that’s where creativity comes in. It’s not just that, I find pleasure in creating things – whether that’s writing an article, or adding my photography to my website, or making something. It’s relaxing and you can’t beat the feeling of accomplishment when you sit back and look at your completed creation.

For naturally artistic types, living abroad doesn’t mean you can’t be creative. There are plenty of art shops to buy supplies (probably at a much cheaper price) and no end of inspiration, so here are a few ideas to get those creative juices flowing.

Photography

These days, everyone takes photographs of just about anything, but try and think of ways to make your photography more exciting.

Walk around, open your eyes and really take in your surroundings – by doing this I have learnt to look past the obvious things and hone in on the not-so obvious elements.

Instead of photographing everything, which I tend to do, think of ways to limit the amount of photographs you take by setting yourself daily challenges – pick a colour for the day or small details of buildings.

Find an art gallery or bar that holds photo exhibitions and talk to them about displaying your work – a great way to work on your creativity skills as well as other skills, like organisation and communication and, more importantly, you’ll have fun at the same time.

Make presents for family or friends by getting your photographs printed onto canvas – it’s not that expensive and it makes for a more thoughtful gift for your loved ones.

Draw or Paint

This is a fun and alternative idea to taking photographs and it will really stretch your creative skills.

I can draw better than I can paint, but only if I create something from a picture. There are no end of images you can use from the internet or you could use your own photographs to recreate into a drawing or painting – just choose your favourite images and paint them onto canvas or on paper which you can frame.

They look really fabulous displayed on your wall.

Take a sketch pad out with you and draw or paint your subject instead. I did this on a beach on Koh Tao in Thailand. I sat down with my sketch pad and pencils in hand and started to create what I saw. I had a couple of people approach me to see what I was doing and since I’m not the greatest artist in the world, I felt like I wanted to stop and run away! But, don’t mind about others or if you think that you can’t do it, everything you produce is your own creation and you should be proud of the finished article.

Start a Blog

Start a blog about your travels. I started my blog in 2013 after I had been travelling and was back in the UK for a couple of years. I kept a journal while I was away, so I had loads of material from my travels that I created into blog posts. Since then I haven’t stopped – I write about places I have been to and things I have done as well as thoughts that creep into my head now and again – like poems and a memorial for a friend who sadly passed away.

There is loads of inspiration all around you. Write about the things you see and do. Write about the people you meet. Write about the restaurants you visit and what you ate. Write about the places you visited and the feeling you had when you were there. Write about anything, the subjects are endless and it will serve as a digital record of your life and experiences. You could even use your photographs for story ideas or look in your books and find inspiration from their table of contents.

Start a Scrapbook

I did this when I went travelling. The day I left work, my team gave me a journal so I could record my travels. I wrote in it most days along with plane, train and bus tickets, photos, temple tickets, receipts, and museum pamphlets. It’s up to you what goes in your scrapbook, it’s your memento of where you went, what you saw, and what you did. Things are easily forgotten, so this is an ideal way to bring those memories flooding back.

Another idea is to buy a scrapbook, it doesn’t have to be big, and fill it with whatever inspires you – for me that was photography. I went through some old magazines and found pictures of art designs, fireworks, lanterns, beach and city scenes – things that I find interesting and ideas for my photography.

Make a Travel Vision Board

Vision boards are a great way to keep you focused on achieving your goals. All you need to do is to think about what inspires or motivates you and pin or glue pictures or words onto a board. Once your board is complete, place it somewhere where you’ll see it every day and your wishes will be implanted into your mind and hopefully come true.

I made a travel vision board. I used coloured card to cut out the letters of the countries I want to go to, then glued them onto a separate sheet and put it in a frame. I did another one of countries I have been to and used my photographs to cut out the letters. They now sit side-by-side next to my bed, so I can see them every day.

Who knows if the power of visualisation actually works – all I know is that Italy was one of the countries I wanted to go to and I went to Rome earlier this year! Regardless of whether it works, and I really hope it does, it’s a lot of fun putting a vision board together!

What creative things do you do?

Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere. ~Albert Einstein

Art in the City

These days, one of my favourite pastimes is to visit any of the hundreds of art galleries, here in Bangkok. I mean there are literally hundreds and I have not even begun to scrape the surface because I always end up at my favourite; The Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre or BACC as we like to call it.

I first went to the BACC back in 2014 and it never fails to amaze me. There are always interesting exhibitions on and, every time I go there, it feels like it’s the first time, even though I know every square inch of the place. The first five floors circle around the central atrium with displays of photographs, drawings, or paintings on the walls. It’s such a lovely environment to stroll around and simply enjoy the artist’s creations. The light is perfect too – there are big windows which allow the natural light to stream in, but there’s also recessed lighting inside which helps to show the art off in the best possible way.

I’ve been to three art exhibitions over the past few months, each one different, each one just as fascinating and inspiring as the other.

Opera Omnia

Opera Omnia was held at the BACC and it featured 40 masterpieces by Caravaggio. Unfortunately, they weren’t the originals, they are all currently housed in museums around the world, but this exhibition was the next best thing! The paintings had been digitally reproduced in HD and, I’m happy to say, they did not take away the sheer brilliance of this master painter.

Caravaggio was active in Italy between 1590 and 1610 and he painted from life rather than drawings, much to the chagrin of his fellow painters. He was one of the great painters of the Baroque period and his use of Chiaroscuro, strong contrasts of light and dark, gave his paintings an almost life-life appearance. Much of his work depicts crucial moments, struggles, torture and death, transfixing his subjects in bright shafts of light. The intense realism of his paintings are what he became famous for and he greatly influenced many painters that came after him. Bernard Berenson, an American art historian, had this to say about Caravaggio: “With the exception of Michelangelo, no other Italian painter exercised so great an influence.” See if you can spot Caravaggio, he was known to include himself in some of his paintings!

Abandonia

I ventured to a new gallery called Jam, but it doesn’t really compare to the BACC, if only for the fact that when I asked where the gallery was, the guy asked me, “Gallery, what gallery?” with an air of disinterest in his voice. So much for promoting your place in a positive light! Luckily, another guy directed me upstairs, so I could find out what Abandonia was all about.

Bangkok is changing and it’s happening very quickly. There are many places that have been razed to the ground (don’t get me started on Hemingways!) to make way for shiny new hotels or condos! (like we need any more!) Unfortunately, no one cares about beautiful buildings or residents that have been in their homes for years or workers that are put out of jobs, it’s all about money. If the authorities are not careful, there will be nothing of interest left to see in the city. And, once it’s gone, people tend to forget.

Fortunately, there are people who want to remind people of what was, and Abandonia was an exhibition by Bangkok-based photographer Dax Ward who has made it his mission to go out and capture those abandoned places that no one cares about anymore. The exhibition showcases places in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand too. In his words, “Every derelict has its own history….they are reminders of what once was… the allure for urban explorers and photographers lies in identifying and capturing the remaining beauty in these forgotten locations…” Check out Dan’s website for more Abandonia photography.

Beyond The Air We Breathe – Addressing Climate Change

I wonder if we will ever realise how climate change can seriously affect the world we live in. This exhibition featured over 100 images by 80 world-renowned photographers, including one of my favourites – Steve McCurry, who have tried to depict the effects of a changing climate. Some of the photos are more than a little distressing, but all of them are stunning. Some are obvious in their message, some are not and it takes a while before you realise what the photographers are trying to convey. The capturing of these images is a powerful way to get the message across!

For photographs of the art galleries, check out morrisophotography 🙂

Caravaggio

Abandonia

Beyond The Air We Breathe

What art do you have in your city? 🙂

Piazza Navona

We found ourselves in Piazza Navona, a lovely little square full of life with street artists, selling their paintings, imposing churches and palaces, and inviting cafes and restaurants all around. It didn’t take us long to choose a restaurant with a ring-side view of everything that was going on.

Piazza Navona is an oval-shaped square which was once the site of the Stadium of Domitian, a popular venue where games and competitions were held in the 1st century AD.

The Italian architects loved a good fountain, and in the middle and at either end of Piazza Navona, there are three. The one in the middle is my favourite, just because it’s so elaborate and there’s always a good story behind it. It’s the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers) by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The four rivers are the Nile, the Ganges, the Danube, and the Rio de la Plata.

If you look at the statue of the Rio de la Plata, it appears that he is shielding this eyes from something. The story goes that he can’t bear to look at the church of St Agnese, built by Francesco Borromini, for fear that it will come tumbling down on him. Borromini was a rival of Bernini’s, but rivalry aside, Bernini built this fountain way before the church, so make what you will of the legend. The fountain is topped off with a towering Egyptian obelisk. There is a lot more to this fountain, lots of smaller sculptures and figurines, and if you look on the internet it’s fascinating the way Bernini (and others) told stories through their work. When I go anywhere I usually have my guidebook to hand, to give me information about what I’m looking at, but I enjoyed just being in the here and now with my parents.

At either end of the piazza is the Fontana del Moro (Moor Fountain) and Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune) both by Giancomo della Porta.

We ordered a selection of meats, cheese, olives and bread, all washed down by a glass of wine or two. It was just perfect sitting there watching the world go by, in the shadows of the grandiose Baroque architecture. Such a small place but big on atmosphere and architectural creations.

After our delicious lunch, we took a slow walk through the square to find a taxi, only to be approached by a man selling handmade wooden fruit bowls. He complimented my dad, saying how lucky he was to have two beautiful women on his arms, we laughed along as my dad put him right by saying yes, this is my wife and my daughter! Unperturbed, he proceeded to shake hands with us and in our palms he deposited a bracelet, how nice! But, realising that he wasn’t going to get a sale from us, snatched the bracelets back and walked off to find his next victim. Honestly, his attitude changed very quickly from being all smiles and friendly banter, to surly and almost aggressive. I can imagine how he must have felt with people constantly saying no! I’ve been in sales before, so I know how he feels 🙂 but I was always gracious.

We made it back to our digs, had our first evening out (this was still only our first day in Rome) and an early night because we were up early again for our visit to the Colosseum.