FEAST OR FAMINE

Dagny or A Love Feast (2011) is a dualistic compilation of fantasy and mythologized love, of the facts that are known entwined with conjecture and speculation: part history and part fiction. A hundred and ten years ago in June 1901 after holidaying in Tbilisi for three weeks, a beautiful aristocratic Norwegian woman, Dagny Juel Przybyszewska, dies in her hotel room. It was just after lunch; she was fully clothed; a bullet entered the back of her head; she was 33 years old. That we know. We know little about the true events of that day, or indeed of Dagny herself. Her fellow Norwegian and artist, Edward Munch, who painted Scream, said of Dagny, “You had to experience her to be able to describe her.” Those that did describe her called her “the Queen of Berlin bohemia” in the 1890s. Tbilisi, a hundred years ago, was in Russia (now Georgia), a cosmopolitan place – “a sort of small, modest Tower of Babel.” Dagny arrives by train from Berlin with her five-year-old so...

Spain toppled China to attain the number three spot in world tourism. In 2012, the top three places were France, America, and China. In 2013, France topped the list of most international tourists to the country with 83 million international visitors. The United States of America was second with 67 million international tourists, and Spain received a record 60.6 million international tourists. Spain’s foreign visitors increased in numbers by 5.6% on 2012’s figures. Income from the tourism sector in Spain also reached record levels. In the first 11 months of 2013 tourist spending increased by 8.7% over the same period in 2012. The increase in numbers and revenue – and over 11% of all jobs – was a great boost to the economy in which unemployment numbers had reached 26% in 2012. After two years of negative growth, Spain’s GDP increased by 0.1% in the third quarter of 2013 and by 0.3% in the final quarter. It is estimated that Spain’s growth in international tourists wa...

The Lunar New Year on 31 January is an auspicious time. At this time, many will visit temples to ask for protection and good luck for the coming year. From February 1 the Year of the Wooden Horse commences. On 31 January it is customary to wear red or bright colours, and to talk only of positive things during the whole day. Food is an important part of the day, with Chinese believing that noodles signify longevity, chicken signifies dignity, and duck signifies nobility.   People celebrating the Lunar New Year visit family members, presenting oranges to the elderly or same-age relatives and money to the younger members who have no income and are not married. It is considered bad luck to use sharp objects on 31 January, such as scissors and razors for cutting hair and nails and trimming beards. Clothes have great significance on the day of the New Year. It is believed that the clothes to wear during Lunar New Year celebrations include: (1) bright shiny or satiny c...

Every parent tells their children to eat their vegetables. Easy to do in Thailand – every road-side stall and food court has an abundance of cheap and delicious fresh fruit and vegetables. The varieties are staggeringly diverse. Known as the “Kingdom of a Hundred Fruits” Thailand has a tropical climate with good rainfalls. In addition, the soil is fertile. But the main reason for the diversity is the country’s geography – its length runs from the tropical zone into the sub-tropical zone that give rise to several distinct regions. In the north the country is mountainous in which high altitude fruits are grown. The highest point is 2,565 metres (8,415 feet) above sea level. The northeast (Isan) has a plateau and borders the Mekong River to the east. The centre is mainly flat river valley land. The south is a long strip of land that eventually widens to become the Malay Peninsula. The rivers and rainfall provide natural waters, making the land verdant and fertile. ...

New York artist, Justin Love, presents 18 paintings from January 17-31 at the Dream Hotel in Bangkok – with an assorted collection of unframed works. The series showcases works from previous studio locations – New York, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Vietnam, as well as new pieces painted in Bangkok. On natural textual paper, or with a backdrop of Thai wallpaper and other texts, Love depicts portraits in pop art form – in vibrant colour and brush-strokes. Bangkok explores themes of the orient, flowers, the ocean, butterflies, women, royalty and the colour red. “Asiatique” – “Queen in Green” – “Blue in the Garden of Flowers” – “Splash (the mermaid)” – “Spiritual” – “Colorful” – “Red Dream” – “Hipodelic” – and “Butterflies Lobby Dream 1” are titles from the framed collection. Striking in pink and black is the piece, “Beatles with Guitars.” Justin Love spends months in a location to absorb the images and atmosphere of the country he paints. For the Bangkok pieces, many are pain...

The Bangkok Post reports that more people will be more cautious about spending for the festivities for the Chinese Lunar New Year on 31 January, and the week leading up to the New Year (January 24, 2013). Consumer spending in Thailand is expected to increase slightly on last year’s figures, but many say that they will be cautious about spending due to present political uncertainties. A University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) survey – a poll of 1,200 people nationwide from January 16-21 - estimates that spending over the festive season will increase by 5.9%, but this is low compared with the 12.3% in 2013 (from 2012 figures). Spending for the 2013 festivities were the highest since 2006 due to higher wages, tourism, and better overall economic growth. The survey also indicated that most people said they were likely to stay home for the celebrations, rather than travel. This was because most people were concerned about political disruptions, especially in ...