HOTLOG

I stay up till I solve the remaining issues with the installation. My solution involves the most simple of technologies: paper and pencils. In the morning I make a trip to the Art Supply stores by the Academy. Back at Platform I run into Natalie. She tells me the cleaning lady is upset about my attitude. I am upset too, and end up in tears. It is not easy to work in a country where you don't speak the language, don't know the way of thinking and working and where the jobs are carried out so poorly. I am used to the West where you go to school for years to learn to weld, sew, work on the computer etc. Here, to survive in the city, farmers who cannot read or write are doing any job without the proper tools, knowledge or understanding. I am depressed and exhausted and sorry to have hurt anybody's feelings. We have lunch and a constructive talk about the future of Platform and end up in a very good mood. I go upstairs to unwrap the photographs and put the paper down in the middle of the tent and in the four sections of the think tank. I paint the monitor box in the yellow color used to symbolize the empire - it looks good. Rain helps me write in Mandarin encouragements to construct thoughts about water and to alternately imagine a black, green, red and white earth. It is 6:50 pm and I run downstairs to take a shower. The drain is still plugged. One of the staff helps me, and I have just put on some clean clothes when I hear Rigmor calling my name. She has arrived with Vickie and they have brought wine, juice, grapes and glasses - what great friends! More people arrive, Kathinka and Tie Qiao come with watermelons and music - hey we are having an opening!

This entry was posted on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 5:21 PM. You can skip to the end and leave a response.