I love these postboxes on the Jeju Olle Trail No. 7 for more reasons than one. In today's world of iphone/ipad and a plethora of gadgets for instant gratification and communication, whoever remembers the joy of waiting, of anticipation, of imagination, of surprise, of receiving a physical postcard in the letterbox, with a stamp implanted from lands faraway and wondering how far this little item has travelled to be delivered.. And with a preciously thought and penned message.
Most of all, I love that it stops time. That it rekindles the romance of travelling, of being away from it all, and just enjoying the little joys of wandering, of discovering, of appreciating, of savouring the moments, of remembering a distant friend, and of being at peace :)
Title: Postcard from Jeju 信的告白 (O100)
Description: Whimsical painting inspired by the joy of discovering a cluster of postboxes on the Jeju Olle Trail No. 7, a reminder of the romance of travelling and of sending a postcard home. Jeju Notes 2014.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 76 x 76cm.
Madness yet a genius. This was what crossed my mind when I came across this unusual shack on a cliff edge, literally, while hiking the Jeju Olle Trail No. 7. Mind you, it was quite a drop down that precarious ledge into treacherous terrain, wee..
Yet I was at once wildly amused by the madness of the author, and terribly intrigued by the brilliance of it all, the more I studied it.
Wooden planks to layout the spot, check. Weather extremely hot, not much shade on this stretch of trail, tie shelter to tree branches, check. Blow-away super strong winds characteristic of Jeju, use lots of strong ropes tied like a maze to secure the all-important showcase chair.. not to mention the almighty drop to heaven if it weren't, check. And lastly a fantastic view point of the ocean, the rugged rocky coast, the distant islets, check. Now all there's left was to sit..
Except I didn't quite have the courage of the mad one. The chair seemed sturdy enough when I sat my backpack on it. Stood behind was all I dared endeavour then in the bellowing winds. But the longing and regret endured way after. So being an artist which is a good skill to have when you can't live something, I painted the scene instead ;p Yes, the surreal dream of what it would be like to sit on that ledge - to rest, contemplate and admire with trepidation perhaps - the mad one's gateway to heaven, literally and metaphorically.
Title: Wanderer's Paradise 游子的天堂 (O98)
Description: Colourful surreal landscape painting inspired by a shack on a cliff edge the artist encountered while hiking the coast of Jeju Olle Trail No. 7. The scene depicts her dream sitting beholding the ocean, on a chair tied by a litany of ropes, the concoction of a mad genius perhaps, and a gateway to heaven, literally and metaphorically. Jeju Notes 2014.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 61 x 61cm.
Purchase at: yen.artfire.com
