Santa Fe Projects

I started visiting Santa Fe, NM since the beginning of this year.  I am quite taken by my experiences there. The vast land is at ease, un-contentious, yet full of magic if you pay attention. The bare essentials of life is on full display in an unabashed and unadulterated way. It has a compelling feeling of mystery, of a benevolent spirituality that commands certain reverence. Indeed, when respectful attention is present, some of the otherwise unassuming details start to inspire a mystical experience. More often than not, what the land unravels alludes to a larger force and higher wisdom at play.  This virtual exhibit presents those magical encounters.

My activities in Santa Fe mostly involve paying attention, seeing what’s there and beyond what’s there, and responding to them.  My responses are characterized by a kind of ‘micro-intervention’ that is benign, respectful, un-intrusive and unassuming in its gesture, and in tune with nature.  They attempt to acknowledge and align with the larger force. 

The works in this exhibit start with the most common and typical elements in Santa Fe, i.e., the fierce sun, the crisp shadows that it casts, the dry air, the ubiquitous arroyos, the trees, the roots in different degrees of being exposed, etc.  The moments that are captured share a sense of serendipity, which paradoxically points to the higher order of the universe.  It is in receiving these serendipitous juxtapositions of the higher order that we might be able to get outside of our conditioning and feel the larger wisdom at work.  As such, to benefit from this virtual exhibit, it’s best to forego the expectation of an ‘art show’.   Instead, ‘chill out’ and be open to receive what the nature has to offer and inspire.

Since a big part of my activities in New Mexico involves noticing things, the first section is devoted to the works with the theme “Seeing Things”. 

Witnessing these inspired respect and awe in me, prompting me to develop personal rituals to relate to the land and its spirits.  These acts are documented and shown in the second section with the theme “Doing Things”.

These encounters also inspired me to make studio-based works, which are displayed in the third section with the theme “Making Things”.   

Seeing things

I see signs of plants and ‘weeds’ speaking to each other. I see little sprouts surviving and thriving in the fierce sun and it behooves me to learn their languages. I see life’s mystery unfolding in front my eyes. I see the larger force behind what they’re showing me.

Doing things - Personal Rituals

The vast land of Santa Fe has a compelling feeling of mystery, of a benevolent spirituality. It commands a certain reverence. I find myself spontaneously asking for permission from the tree spirit when I need to relieve myself in the wild.

These impulses result in a series of micro-interventions that I undertake in the open spaces in Santa Fe. They are benign and attempt to develop a ritualistic relationship with the local spirits by acknowledging their manifestations.