Posted by naomi lethbridge on Monday, May 20, 2013,
In :
travel
After surviving two months without serious physical harm I feared I would not live through the taxi ride to the airport. The roads may have been quieter, but this allowed the driver ample opportunity to practice his Rally Cross skills, combined with drinking tea, smoking and arguing on the phone. I was unable to appreciate the misty early morning city due to maintaining the brace position to facilitate easier identification if we met with a cement truck.
It has been a fantastic experience, I...
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Posted by naomi lethbridge on Friday, May 17, 2013,
Since my show has opened, and my official duties are done, I had been looking forward to doing some sightseeing. Typically, my body decided this was the appropriate time to stage a protest, and the last few days have involved more vomiting than is ideal, somewhat curtailing my planned itinerary. And I felt unable to take full advantage of a sumptuous feast after a gallery opening. All manner of delicious pork, beef, duck, fish, tofu (though I don't really approve of it), vegetables, pickle...
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Posted by naomi lethbridge on Monday, May 13, 2013,
I am feeling much relief as my show opened on Saturday, and seemed to go well. The posters had the wrong exhibition title, but I wasn't credited as Naomi Campbell which happened on a previous occasion, so that's something. There was no translator so I have no idea what was said in the opening speeches, but the tone sounded complimentary.
A few nights ago I was again surprised by the photographer, this time in my pyjamas (acceptable at 11pm I think), but after some negotiating he allowed me t...
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Posted by naomi lethbridge on Wednesday, May 8, 2013,
In :
drawings
I have begun installing my exhibition - opens Saturday at 7 if anyone is in the area - and am making a wall drawing. Last time I was engaged in such an undertaking (assisting a friend, tis is my first time) I ended up spending a fortnight as Al Jolson. Obviously people come into the gallery to have a look at what's happening during times I'm lying on the floor struggling to create a uniform field of lines. I'm guessing I'll look particularly stunning in the photos taken by a local photogra...
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Posted by naomi lethbridge on Saturday, May 4, 2013,
Thankfully recent days have been without natural disasters/acts of God, which is always a bonus. The heat has persisted, though this has dried out my laundry quickly so I shan't complain. Last night the adjoining studio hosted a piano recital. It was very enjoyable, the young chap treated us to Beethoven's Pathetique, and was not annoyed when a phone rang. As it was his own phone I suppose he couldn't really throw a diva strop. He had spent the afternoon rehearsing, and at one point came...
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Posted by naomi lethbridge on Monday, April 29, 2013,
Last night staged a thunderstorm of Biblical ferocity. The thunder was so loud it seemed that the windows were vibrating, and you could feel the static in the air. Since the tectonic activity my faith in the stability of the building has grown, though it was severely tested last night. Within minutes the streets had become raging torrents, and the rain was so heavy it could have left bruises, and in such quantities that you wonder how it is possible that so much water can be up in the sky ...
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Posted by naomi lethbridge on Thursday, April 25, 2013,
In :
drawings
This morning began with with some spectacular Sherlock Holmes style fog. Walking up the road at 6:30 this morning I was on the lookout for any rogue Andaman Islanders or cyclists sporting fake beards. I've begun to grow accustomed to being saluted by uniformed car park attendants - who wouldn't be out of place in an episode of Mission Impossible or a central American coup d'etat - but I worry I'll not get the same treatment from the NCP. I was out at the University giving a talk and doing ...
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Posted by naomi lethbridge on Tuesday, April 23, 2013,
If further proof of my reverse Midas touch were necessary, my earlier mention of earthquake shelters came back to haunt me. I was awake at the time, and the feeling was unmistakeable (I recall from the simulator at the Science Museum) and far more distressing than my previous seismic experience. Leaping out of bed, by the time I had decided which of the concrete beams looked least likely to tumble, it had finished. I am devoid of window sills, so could not follow the Jodie Foster shelter ...
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Posted by naomi lethbridge on Saturday, April 20, 2013,
The last few days have seen the arrival of the summer, after what I'm told was an unusually long spring. Temperatures, humidity and smog has increased, as have the local aromas which I had been adapting to. There have also been some spectacular thunderstorms, although my traditional enjoyment at watching them was lessened a little by the strength of the wind and the wafer thin walls. But it was nice that something could drown out the constant chorus of car horns, and I can understand that...
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Posted by naomi lethbridge on Tuesday, April 16, 2013,
In :
drawings
After spending some time at the University, working with students (who attend lectures at 8:30am) and exploring the fabulous purpose built ruins and amphitheatre type structure that has been constructed, I have noticed that there seems to be a universal language of academics being unable to correctly operate a powerpoint presentation. There also seemed to be some form of biblical plague. Thousands of miniscule toads were hopping along the campus roads, all in the same direction, in what was...
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Posted by naomi lethbridge on Monday, April 15, 2013,
In :
travel
Just returned to Chongqing from a couple of days in Nanchong, a city about three hours away. Kind of like Perth to Chongqing's Dundee. After the gridlock of Chongqing it was surreal to be on a motorway which was virtually deserted in both directions, save for the occassional pedestrian or military truck. I was quite glad of this as the driver conducted conversations on two different phones throughout the journey. It was nice to be travelling through a rural area, I was in need of a terrac...
Posted by naomi lethbridge on Wednesday, April 10, 2013,
In :
drawings
I must begin by describing a harrowing incident which took place on Sunday evening. Whilst talking with a local sculptor and his wife in a poorly lit area of a gallery, I nonchalantly popped what I assumed was a grape into my mouth. Imagine my horror when it revealed itself to be an inappropriately shaped cherry tomato. Unable to spit it out, I had to bravely power through it, before beginning a frantic search for some 'Great Wall' Merlot to take the taste away.
In another gastronomic adven...
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Posted by naomi lethbridge on Monday, April 8, 2013,
This week has been the annual tomb sweeping day, a national holiday when people return to their home towns and families to tend the graves of their forebears, place offerings and burn Hell Money. It is apparently unlucky and offensive to gift Hell Money to a living person, so that sorts out Chinese souvenirs for my enemies. I chose to mark the day by remembering the time my Grandma nearly came to blows with father over the ownership of a Welsh tapestry glasses case (in which he keeps his mo...
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Posted by naomi lethbridge on Wednesday, April 3, 2013,
The last few days has seen the belated arrival of my traditional tonsilitis style illness whenever I travel by plane. As I think I'm the only (non rodent) person in the studios overnight, the associated snoring/teeth grinding/night sweats don't seem to be affecting any others, and I obviously travel with a fully stocked pharmacy. Whilst travelling about I was shown my local earthquake shelter, which was something I hadn't thought to worry about; I'm not sure how much warning earthquakes tra... Continue reading ...
Posted by naomi lethbridge on Friday, March 29, 2013,
Was awoken during the night by what sounded like my living/working quarters being swept. Thoughtful though this would have been for an intruder (although I'm a little perturbed by having a burglar criticize my housekeeping standards) I was relieved to discover it was merely some rats. I was also pleased to learn that the many hundreds of tanks which were driving up the street yesterday were part of a regular training exercise on the Yangtze as opposed to a major deployment, or a parade of m...
Posted by naomi lethbridge on Monday, March 25, 2013,
In :
drawings
I have been aclimatising over the last few days and have thus far managed to avoid accidentally causing any diplomatic incidents, although a tank did drive down the street this evening but I'm sure it's nothing to do with me. The city is vast, unending concrete towers seemingly sprouting from any available ground. During my wanderings I've encountered the sock, vegetable and hardware night market, and it seems that I'm resident in the art materials and flip flop district of the city, which...
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Posted by naomi lethbridge on Thursday, March 21, 2013,
In :
travel
The
epic journey has been sucessfully navigated. There was an initial
delay at Manchester airport when the elderly lady in front of me at the
frisking station was asked to remove fluids from her colostomy bag due
to the clear plastic/100ml regulations (she was directed to the
facilities). I felt this was a bit extreme but I suppose they must be
alive to all possible
plots. My
belief in the enlightened nature of Scandinavians was deeply shaken by
the in-flight snack involving mayo...
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Posted by naomi lethbridge on Monday, March 18, 2013,
All packed, the Angels are ready to fly. Fly, my pretties, fly...
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