The River Flows

My exhibit, “The River” ends today. As always, having an exhibit gave me a chance to see many friends I haven’t seen for so long. And this time, my parents were able to come from Japan to attend the opening. It was very special. My mother brought a kimono from there and she helped putting the kimono on me. (Otherwise, I don’t know how to put them on by myself.) They had a great time meeting many of my friends and hanging out in the gallery as the artist’s parents. 

The exhibit looked great, thanks to Andrew Mroczek, the Director of the VanDernoot Gallery and Anna Farrow, the Assistant to the Director. I always love seeing my drawing, “Blue” since it’s a 10 feet long drawing and it’s usually stored as rolled up in my studio. And all the works were hung sparsely, giving enough breathing space between them. 

My most recent work, “The River” (4”x 167”  mineral pigment on found paper) was hang with both sides rolled up, showing just some sections of the work. I think it still suggest that the river continues even though you’re not seeing the entire image. 

"The River"  4"x 167"  Mineral pigment on found paper.  2013

For the opening reception, I made a playlist comprised of many songs with “river” as a theme. One of my favorite songs I found on iTune store is “River” by Emeli Sandé, an English-born Scottish recording artist and songwriter. Her voice is just amazing, and the lyrics really resonated within me. I especially love these sections in her lyrics. 

…..

See maybe I’m too quiet for you
You’ve probably never noticed me
But if you’re too big to follow rivers
How you ever gonna find the sea?

So follow me, I’ll be your river, river
I’ll do the running for you
Follow me, I’ll be your river, river
I’ll move the mountains for you
Follow me, I’ll be your river, river
I’m here to keep you floating
Follow me, I’ll be your river, river
River, river 

…….

You can find the rest of the lyrics on her website, and you can also listen to “River” and her other songs on spotify. 

Another music I fell in love is “River Flows in You” by Yiruma, a pianist and composer from South Korea. Incredibly beautiful, romantic, yet I feel a bit of melancholic. You can also listen to “River Flows in You” on spotify.

I love what river suggests—flowing, running, journey, continuation, stream, and also as a vein, vessel, and pathway. Maybe I’m lucky to be able to make these positive connotations about river. 

“Two Rivers” and “Purple is the New Blue” were created after reading an article in the New York Times about the contaminated canal in Savar, Bangladesh. This is the city where the factory building collapsed earlier in April this year. Pollution and contamination of the water in this area are the result of heavy industry factories that ignore the environmental regulation and its’ consequences to make more profit. The water in the river is so contaminated that people can tell what color of dye is being used at a nearby dying plant by looking at the color of the river. Some days, it’s purple, and other days, it’s red or grey. Students at a nearby elementary school cannot concentrate, they feel dizzy and lightheaded, and they feel nausea from the polluted water and air. 

"Two Rivers"  42"x 60"  Mineral pigment, micro pigment pen and tea on paper. 2013

"Two Rivers" detail

I wonder what kind of images these children have about river. 

They may not associate the title “River Flows in You” with Yiruma’s beautiful music. Maybe river makes them think of something dirty, sickening, polluted and dangerous. 

I don’t know where it’s taking me, but my river continues to flow.