“I am an Artist, I talk Art”

“I am an Artist, I talk Art”

19th July 2020

Being interview, videoing and sitting in-front of a few cameras made me nervous and not able to talk properly. MY GOSH!!!! It took me a long while to accept the way I look and how I speak .

I would prefer to be at the back stage actually, but I also understand that I must learn to talk and share more about what I am doing as an artist and my involvement with the charity art project Colors of Cambodia ~ “art will safe the world”! My heartfelt thanks to April Chin , Andy Chow, Yuen James, Irene Wan, and Rekha Menon , for their dedication in the collaborationist “I am Artist, I talk Art”.

And, and and.... thousands times of thank you for the precious time, efforts, guidance and patience given to me throughout the whole interview sessions. I am grateful for the platform and promoting via this wonderful ways. So, here I am, presenting you a short video of me, interview by Andy Chow from Malaysia Advance Photographer Group (MAPG).

Enjoy .... and then oh.....Please LIKE, SHARE, SUBCRIBE the YouTube to help spreading the good word and love of arts.

Party for Colors of Cambodia Students

Laura Louise

 brought the advance class and teachers ( including me and Bill of-course ) to The Hideout on Thursdaynight before she and Sarah go back to Australia on Friday evening.

Everyone had great fun and enjoyed the food very much!Many students have not had the experienceof eating in a restaurant with aircon and Western food.

We thanks Laura for her kindness and generosity...she not just giving donation to Colors of Cambodia, sponsoring students to study English but came all the way from Australia yearly, which has been continuing 3 years to help in schooling items distribution.

A special drawing from students presented to Laura, that our love to her. We are so lucky to have Laura!

16th Years Celebration for Colors of Cambodia

Younger students wasn’t allow to stay back late to attend the party with Laura on Thursday. So, we have second party after the announcement of Colors of Cambodia Art Competition. Yay!! Celebrations

Students who won the competition pool some money to buy drinks and I bought food for them. Hmmm...burgers finished very quickly.

It’s a celebration of Colors of Cambodia still alive after 16 years and we hope it will continue for more years, it’s also a celebration of the Charity Status that we received last year after many years of application.

Colors of Cambodia appreciate all the kind supports, helps and assistance from people around the world. Each of you who walked into the gallery to buy the paintings create by the students, it really means a lot for them. It’s love and encouragement they received.

Students thanks all volunteer teachers for spending their time guiding and teaching them...and here we have Ms Iaroslava Tereshkova who has volunteer teaching twice a week since June. I have tears in eyes listening to Narak Art speaks English thanking Teacher Phany Phanin Futago. Thank you Slava for your patience and encouragement to all the students.

Lot of loves to Bill Gentry for keeping this art project alive....open the door of practicing loving kindness in action. This is a very touching moment, seeing all students here working hard to earn for living, study hard to gain knowledge and still come to gallery to draw and paint ~ Art Will Save The World .

Being Kind is A Choice

Thank you Bill for the acknowledgment! Appreciate a lot!

The truth is without him keeping this project alive, non of us will be here today.

This is the most beautiful and meaningful things I am doing for so many year ~ Art Will Save The World!

It was because of my curiosity how Art Will Save The World that connected me to this noble cause. Blessings!!! When I teach, I also learn. In this past 12 years, we have grown together and Colors of Cambodia is a big part of my life, just like my family.

There are great and unconditional love in this beautiful and unique art school and gallery and people who connected to this beautiful project. It is impossible for me to mention everyone who are giving great support in many different ways to Colors of Cambodia over the years!!!! You know who your are lah.

Love you from the bottom of my heart...

Appreciation From The Founder of Colors of Cambodia

Presenting this awards to you all, because it's not belongs to me aone, its for all of you!!! I can't express enough of my gratitude to the people who have helped and support me in the Colors of Cambodia project ~ fund raising event, exhibition, sponsorship program, contribution in art materials and etc etc... all these will not work out without you.

In 2007, In Siem Reap, I saw "Art Will Save The World" at street 11. I stepped into Colors of Cambodia art gallery, fascinated by how the Cambodian children create their art and wondered about how art can save the world.

I send an email to the founder Bill Gentry, met him in Singapore, inspired by him! I then revisited Siem Reap. Since then I started to make many life decisions, explored and learned different life lessons. All these have played a big part to get to where I am right now.

My heartfelt thank goes to people who has inspired, motivated and challenged me in my life along this journey. 

I am looking at this plaque given by the founder of Colors of Cambodia again and again....I smile and read the wording, I still can't believe it!

I have no words to express my gratitude to

Bill Gentry

for given me the great opportunity to be part of Colors of Cambodia! Bill is the man who inspired me in many ways, especially Art will save the world!

Loves form my Cambodian teachers

Phany Phanin Futago

,

Sophanin Sor

,

Oun Sok

,

Soben Hour

,

Ponleu Art

and students that working together for nine years often touches my heart! They work very hard, learn and grow...Because of them and many of my Cambodian friends I am able to see the real poverty life in Cambodia, they have teachers me to be a better person! ️️️

I am grateful to my family for allowing me to contribute my times and skills, and to my dear friends for their continuing support in Colors of Cambodia.... I can't do much without your all! Love and kindness always make a difference....Not forgetting my Dharma teachers, brothers and Sisters who are guiding me to the right path.

Thank you for everything! Life is so beautiful to have all of you walking along This is the real happiness... it stays... for long...

Angkor Hospital for Children - The Mural

This is what happiness meant to me ~ Imagine the smile on the little face when the child looking at the painting....Their smile stay in my heart, i feel the joy...for years! That's the reason why I am back to Colors of Cambodia again and again.

I wish this mural will distract children uncomforted feeling. My blessing to all, may this mural radiate love, joy and peace to everyone.

I am very grateful to have this opportunity to share my skills and knowledge with students in Siem Reap, and at the same time, all of us share our joys and happiness with the children and parents, nurses and doctors...and staffs in the hospital through ART!

Once again, Thank you you all for all the kind supports in art materials, time and efforts for Colors of Cambodia! Cheers!!! 

Angkor Children's Hospital Mural

Video of Painting in Angkor Hospital

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=JOwxlCF4E3Y

简单快乐

http://www.nanyang.com/node/598337?tid=493

当Didi Ang问我你快乐吗？ 我想也不想就回答，很快乐！ 但在Didi离开了之后，我思考了这问题好几天。 然后，很肯定的回答自己，我真的很快乐！ 但是，为什么我会这么快乐呢？ 我想到孩子的爸爸， 从我俩相恋到相处不来的日子，到离婚时对大家的怨恨， 至今天可以心平气和的交谈。 这一路走来，我们慢慢的学会了宽恕和放下。当把过去逐步的放下时，开始发现因为怨恨，我们忽略了就在身边的幸福和快乐。

想想这么多的快乐就在举手之间，哪里可以让人生只是充满悲伤呢？

因为孩子的 ～ 爸，我上了一堂曾经以为很幸苦和难过的课。但九年后的今天，再次的想起这些往事，心底怨恨不在了，只有感恩。很感谢他和我一起修这一生的功课。 孩子的爸！深深的祝福 ～ 愿你快乐！

果醒法师说：“要追求真正的快乐，首先要分析———快乐是什么？”

快乐其实是一门深奥的课题，每个人都在追求快乐，但每个人快乐的标准都不同；一些人的快乐建立在富裕的物质上，觉得花了钱买来实物方值得快乐，有人却追求精神层面的快乐，但究竟什么是“真正的快乐”，谁也说不准。

但若问你：“你快乐吗？”……这道很简单却能让人深思良久的问题，你会怎么回答？

老实说，她是我碰过“最爱笑”的一个女人。

她那种“连旁人也能感染到她的快乐”的笑声，非常迷人，这样的她，难免让人怀疑她是个没经历过低潮的幸运儿吗？事实正好相反，她的“幸运”反而是在于：在她那不算走得很平坦的人生道路中，她遇到了很多教会她“快乐”的贵人。

从小就很爱绘画的她，17岁就跟着绘画老师在学校教画；虽然是很短暂的经验，但许棐杳不只学会了绘画的技巧，她还从老师身上学会了人生道理，所以她说：“这位老师算是我人生中，影响我很大的贵人之一”，她之后也延用了老师的教学方式，灌输学生正确的人生观念和道理，不局限于教导硬知识。

一直都从事教育工作、也不愿放弃绘画的她，在机缘巧合之下，还找到机会往柬埔寨义务教育当地小孩绘画；听起来很完美不是吗，何来不平坦的人生路？“既然已经结婚生子，你就别再出去画画了、留在家当全职妈妈吧，你那些画又不卖钱”，这是许棐杳永生难忘的一句话，而说这句话的不是别人……正是许棐杳孩子———爸。

绘画抒发情绪

她说：“我不能说他的观念是错，但对我来说，绘画是一种心灵的治疗。那时候我常跟孩子他爸吵架，心情很难受又不敢告诉家人，唯有透过绘画来抒发心情；当你花几个小时专注绘画时，不一定要注重技巧，想怎么画就怎么画，不失是一种释放压力的方式；所以我觉得，绘画对成人或小孩都好，是得到快乐的一条途径。”

而许棐杳与孩子他爸，最后也没有长相厮守，许棐杳说：“那段时期真的很黑暗，每天晚上回到家就哭，哭累了就睡，睡醒就继续强颜欢笑，生活再难过还是要过。”

佛法重寻快乐

差不多有半年的时间，她都忘了快乐是什么。直到朋友介绍她到佛堂教课，她才从佛法中重新找回快乐，她说：“佛法教我放下，只要你一天还学不会放下，心中就会一直带着‘恨’，恨别人的生活总过得比自己的好，到底是哪里出问题了呢？慢慢地，我才领悟到不是自己生活出问题，而是自己的心态根本没调整好啊！

所以要得到快乐，你就要学会‘放下’、并丢掉心中的‘恨’，就能学会不抱怨；虽然听起来很抽象很难办到，但当你真正去做了就会觉得，其实没有想象中难。用金钱买快乐很容易，但物质于我的快乐很短暂，只有心灵的快乐才能恒久。”而透过绘画，她终也找到了另一个快乐泉源，那就是她生命中的“Mr.Right”。

贫困并不苦

一趟柬埔寨之旅，许棐杳就领悟到了更简单，却更有深度的快乐。

她说：“其实教小孩绘画，本来就是一件很快乐的事情，你能从中感受到他们的纯真。柬埔寨的小孩让我领悟更深的是，现在很多小孩都被物质和科技化了，但他们不管生活或思想都更纯朴，从他们的画就能轻易看出来；房子是小朋友绘画的基本功，看惯了本地小孩画得花俏的房子，第一次看到柬埔寨小孩画的房子，有点不习惯。

画是一面镜子

“你会看到清一色‘方格屋身+三角屋顶’的极简线条房子，装饰就是两面方格窗户和一道长方门，我就在想他们的画怎会如此的空洞呢？而且几乎所有小孩都一样，当我深入去了解他们的思想和生活后，我才领悟到小朋友的画就是一面镜子，反映出来的正是他们平日的生活环境，他们居住的房子就真的长这个样子啊！

“我曾经是一个很爱抱怨的人，但亲眼看到柬埔寨人的生活，可谓贫困的他们也能活得很快乐，为什么我们反而就不行？是不是生活水准越高，要求就会越高？当我们追求的东西越多时，烦恼也会跟着增加，你就很难静下心来想，到底你所追求的东西，是不是你真正需要的？抑或只是盲目的追求？

常抱怨变渺小

“当然也不是说‘追求’就是不好的事，如果它已经对你造成某程度的困扰，而你又找不到正确的心态去面对它时，你就不会快乐……那又是何苦呢？

以前没机会出国，所以只能看到小圈子的小人小事，当时觉得自己是悲惨的人，但当我把柬埔寨的生活投映在自己的身上，才发现自己一直在抱怨的事，突然变得很渺小。

“这不是‘把自己的快乐，建筑在别人的痛苦上’的心态，只是透过他们的经历学会了感恩自己所拥有的一切，而不是什么大小事都要抱怨一番。少了抱怨，大家自然就能活得快乐一点，你说是吗？”

Internal Dialogue

Siem Reap town,

still a beauty,

but not so innocent or simple. 

Women dressed to kill,

High heels, 

lipstick, 

eye shadow.

Sense of  materialism,

stronger.

Young ladies

girls,

seeking better life.

Life 

not as simple as it was.

Small kids, 

bare foot,

running

singing.

Education or family,

can they choose?

live the lives as their parents.

Can they dreams

hope?

I wish.

my internal dialog,

Teaches me about loving

sharing,

in many differenct ways.

Art will save the world,

connected my inner self.

Colors of Cambodia,

touched my heart.

Kind hearted individuals,

bring art materials.

Generous sponsors,

spontaneous giving.

Loving kindness radiating

Love and joy surrounding

We learn.

Each of us plant a seed,

In ourselves,

In others.

It will,

It should,

Blossom!

A Cambodian Dairy

Siem Reap, Cambodia, has been developed so much. Lots of tourists are now in the town. Pubs and 
bistros Have mulitplied. Many houses along the riverside have been demolished, I have no chance to be close to Cambodian daily life, in town, any more. Tourism helps the country to development but it also brings materialism.

In Colors of Cambodia Gallery, advance class students spend their time learning art in their free time. Tourists walking pass, some drop by, look and go. Some stay, chat and support. The most wonderful thing about being a volunteer teacher for CoC (since 2007) is that I am not only sharing with the people here, but they have inspired me too ~ how to live simplely but happily. Traveling back to Siem Reap is a great reminder for me to be grateful all the time. Students and parents who have joined me and helped in teaching in Thai Zo school miss the Cambodian children. Some of them have started keeping clothes and stationary for me to take at this year's end. This is the beauty of planting "seeds of loving kindness" in children. 

Many copies of "a story of Colors of Cambodia" have been sold, and a significant amount of money transfered to Mr. William Gentry on 30th March, 2013. There remains a balance of books needed to be sold. Each little step, each little support for this art project will help to bring joy for the children in the Siem Reap school and gallery. It allows them to have the opportunity to play with colours, and to have fun in drawing and painting...and to have dreams too.

A Cambodian dairy was our first workshop in Colors of Cambodia. We had the writer MrPaul GnanaSelvam to share his writing and reading, and my husband Mr Martin Bradley to share art history and read some of his latest poetry and myself, of cause sharing about my art and helping the students to create. We also have Om Poh Poh and her two boys joining us to local school and orphanage, but they are just too tired to join the workshop at night after exploring.

I am sad to know there are sponsored students who have to stop studying, I wish that I could help more but.... their families need their help to earn a living. Home visiting to sponsored students, riding across paddy fields, on small motorcycles was really remarkable. There was a sense of resignation from the poorer families and mild shock from us when we saw the simplicity of some of the lives of these families.

These workshops bring together local Cambodians and those willing to share with them. The next workshop will be from 1st to 5th Dec, if you are interested to share, please contact me.

My reflection of loving kindness to you all, may all be blessed with blossom of happiness, wealth and peace.

Charity Has No Boundaries

Visiting orphanages, playing with children, giving donations and spending time with the elderly is what we can share and give in Malaysia. 

In Cambodia the protracted civil war brought people there so much pain, hurt and genocide (1970 - 1975) with 200,000–300,000 ordinary people dead. Many were artists, writers, dancers, teachers etc etc....this has left a huge hole in the Cambodian infrastructure, and the country is only now - so many years later, trying to recover.

Some ask me - why Cambodia. The above is a good enough reason to try to help a war ravaged country, much poorer than Malaysia, having fewer resources than Malaysia. Cambodia cannot exist without outside help - can the same be said for Malaysia. 

So please ask again - why Cambodia, then learn a little more about that country and answer your own question. 

Gratitude is the only word I can think of since my first day there in Cambodia. It is with thanks to those children who live in poverty, that I have been taught what real appreciation is and because of them I have learnt to be appreciative for where i am living and what i am having.

  

Our Book ~ "a story of Colors of Cambodia"

Charity..... What is that really? I never had thought that I could become a volunteer teacher. Once, when I was a child, I read an article about Malaysia volunteer teachers - in Siem Reap. That article must have stayed in my heart somewhere. It blossomed slowly, unexpected. Was that my karma? I am not sure. It was 5 years ago, in Siem Reap, at a very dramatic moment, that I turned my head and noticed a sign - "ART WILL SAVE THE WORLD". That sign changed my entire life. It changed me, and brought a huge new learning curve. Throughout my years of involvement as a volunteer art teacher, I have learned so much, not only regarding teaching skills but also about humanity. Our world can be so much better and peaceful if there are more people who are willing to share their love and caring.

So many times I have been asked “Why Cambodia?” My answer - Why not? Sharing our love and care, giving our help to the needy you do not need to know what race and what religion they are. Looking in poverty stricken innocent children’s eyes has reminded me to live simply and happily. When I teach in schools, laughter surrounds me. When I cycle along the river, joys and happiness float in the air. When I visit orphanages, there are hugs and kisses with the children of Siem Reap jumping on me. They have taught and given me much more than I offer them. I have learned to be grateful of the life I am living, and to appreciate what I have, ever since I first stepped in Siem Reap. Even though I enjoy teaching - both in Siem Reap and Kuala Lumpur, I can’t help missing Cambodian students. I sincerely wish our Malaysian children could learn to be grateful by looking at others and learning to live their lives with lots of love - love within family and others.

It is because of these wonderful experiences, that I made an aspiration to write a book, and to share the story about how I became a volunteer teacher. I wanted to bring an awareness of my gratitude to my lovely Malaysia children and their families who are having better lives and education when compared to others. I wanted to raise funds for that charity - Colors of Cambodia, to help bring education and art to the children in Cambodia. That idea was wonderful, but where was I to find a writer to write that story for me? Could I find someone willing to write for charity, for free? I thought that it would not be at all easy.

At that time, I could not believe that my aspiration could come true, or should I say - dream come true. Martin Bradley married me while we were journey in Siem Reap. It was while we are walking together on the journey, sharing the experience of “Colors of Cambodia”. He was not only agreed to write the story, but to take the effort to design entire whole book from scratch. Ideas and creativity flowed everyday in that creation as we worked together. We talked about the idea, the story, the people, the gallery, the art and the children. My thoughts were like watching a film, scene after scene. By the process of creating this book, I have rejoiced so many times about the happiness and love that I continue receiving. It was because of those Cambodia children that I had the opportunity to look into my inner-self, and start searching for that person who really is me. I was extremely happy each time I travelled back to Seam Reap, and spent a few days with those children - bringing art materials, walking along the streets and sketching with them, singing and playing with the children in the school. I love to see the smiles from the children when they receive a small party pack filled with just a few sweets, a packet of biscuits, or a lollypop. Their beautiful smiles stay in my heart for years.....

The book ~ “A Story of Colors of Cambodia” was born after 9 months of hard work. It was printed with lots of mental, spiritual and financial support - help from lovely friends, known and unknown, as well as my wonderful cousin brother and sister. My days are full of love and joy since this project started. I realise that I am having so many wonderful people walking along with me on this life journey. I am so touched by meeting so many kind people. I can’t say enough thank-yous to all of them.

A smile is always on my face, and in my heart now that I am aware of “A Story of Colors of Cambodia” is bringing awareness to children who read it, and I know that I have planted a seed of loving kindness in a small heart. Hopefully, with care from parents, this seed will slowly mature, glow and blossom.

I wish that I may have more opportunities to learn, and to be a better person. I do believe that by giving, we are also receiving.

By the way, all proceeds from the book are 100% go to  Colors of Cambodia for student's stationary, art materials and education fund. Hope to have your kind support by purchasing this book...@ USD20/ RM50 / S$26.

For further information please contact cocthebook@gmail.com.

My Gratitude

 My gratitude to all of you for supporting.

 In the life journey of sharing and caring...

nothing can be done without you all!!

Here's the orphanages that i wanted to visit for long.

 Finally, i make it this time!!! CDO Orphanage ( Children Development Organization ) 

and COFCO ( Cambodian Orphan Family Center Organization ). 

i can't stop but capturing their faces. 

A home with sky blue is CDO Orphanage.

 Located 5 minutes from Siem Reap town,

 near to the river side.

The moment i entered the home, 

all the kids came to me for hug.

Those smiling faces told you how happy they are to have a visitor.

 and i am feeling the joys that they were having with the volunteer teachers.

How much they appreciated on the party pack they received.

Their warmth hugs and kisses touch my heart. 

Tears drop for no reason...
So much of laughter i had here.

 A home were floated are COFCO.

floated their bed rooms,

but still surrounding by their laughter,

still playing happily with the water.                                           

 where the girls and boys perform traditional Khmer dance to raise funds 

               and get awareness form public.

Same things happened here
lots of hugs
and
lots of  happiness....

Time to said good bye,

girls and boys run to me for the hugs again, 

and asked to see them tomorrow....

What should i answer? 

                                                                  

 May the love and joys 

that we shared 

bring 

you and your family blossom of happiness.

May all the good deeds bring you all wisdom and happiness.