Episode 8 ～ Creating Colors of Cambodia

http://www.artmalaysiagroup.com/arttalk/detail/40/episode-8-creating-colors-of-cambodia

It was another bright, dry, day - racing against all pressing time, in Siem Reap Cambodia. Honey Khor and I had mini-baguettes (containing something vaguely meaty) under our respective belts, and quickly hailed another battered Cambodian auto-rickshaw.

It was a long dusty road, made longer by the auto-rickshaw driver’s uncertainly of our destination – a school donated by a Japanese business man. Accompanying us on the journey was one large box and two middle sizes bags. The mysterious box and weighty baggage contained yellow school bags, clothes, colouring books, colouring pencils, pencil boxes, and stationary for forty schoolchildren to use. The yellow bags replaced tattered plastic bags, and the clothes replaced the over-washed yet still stained clothes, representing the children’s everyday wear.

The children’s smiles sparkled at Honey as she sparkled back. It was a radiance of sheer joy. Those forty children were the lucky ones - sponsored by the loving kindness of people and families back in Malaysia. Honey would soon have to start all over again – raising awareness and sponsorship, as those things can only last so long. With her enthusiastic wave Honey was off again in a cloud of dust. She headed back for yet another important meeting.

Episode 9 ～ Creating Colors of Cambodia

http://www.artmalaysiagroup.com/arttalk/detail/50/episode-9-creating-colors-of-cambodia

 Honey has little respite in her very busy schedule. Off she goes to teach at yet another school, accompanied by American Bill. Together with Kiri (a Cambodian artist/teacher), the three of them take two day classes of young children at two schools, and teach them art. In turns Honey and Bill draw on the blackboard, encouraging the children in their hand/eye coordination.
  

But it is not Bill Apsaras, nor Honey’s smiling people that the children want to draw – but Angry Birds. Yes, even in Cambodia, the Angry Birds phenomenon has invaded local culture. But never mind, at least the children use the materials given by Colors of Cambodia, American Bill, Kiri and Honey.

Honey still sketches as she goes. In between fraught business meetings, interviewing and teaching at two schools and the Colors of Cambodia art gallery, Honey finds time to wet her brush and, with a flourish or two, knock out some dazzling watercolours.

 

The more advanced students from the Colors of Cambodia gallery follow Honey to Angkor Wat. There they sketch all day, in the shade of those great standing stones - amusing and amazing tourists who had flown from around the world to see those Khmer temples.

Episode 10 ~ Creating Colors of Cambodia

http://www.artmalaysiagroup.com/arttalk/detail/59/episode-10-creating-colors-of-cambodia-

No sooner had the industrious Honey Khor begun her teacher and pupil interviews and nosed about fact finding in the town of Siem reap, Cambodia, the Colors of Cambodia gallery, the needy schools and the orphanages, than it was over. That week seemed to race like a well deserved break from the manic hustle-bustle which had become Honey’s life in suburbia. Though truth to tell she was just as hard working in Cambodia as she ever was in Kuala Lumpur - but her smiles seemed bigger, brighter and more expansive somehow.

The last minute interviews for the impending book were completed. Last minute purchasing of small items to carry home were undertaken and, with a tear or three in her small brown eyes, Honey had to bid farewell to the team and children at the Colors of Cambodia gallery.

Now the work was to begin in earnest. There were thousands of carefully taken photographs to collate, taped interviews to listen to and the momentous task ahead of bringing the physical book to fruition.
Honey waited at the airport. Sadness and diligence chased around her head as she checked her boarding pass, her passport and readjusted her mind set to suburbia.

Episode 11 ~ Creating Colors of Cambodia

http://www.artmalaysiagroup.com/arttalk/detail/63/episode-11-creating-colors-of-cambodia

There was a problem. No sooner had our intrepid Honey Khor arrived from her fact finding mission to Cambodia, and off of her smooth Malaysian Airways flight, than she learned that some of the Cambodian school children’s Malaysian sponsors had dropped out. It was a blow. For a few days the book, the interviews and writing were brushed aside to enable Honey to seek fresh sponsors for those Cambodia school children. Without sponsorship those children would not be able to return to school later in the year.

Then there was an even bigger flurry of Honey activity. Emails were written, facebook messages were passed and word of mouth spread as quickly as a free hi-tea at a five star hotel. One after another, friends volunteered to sponsor children, sometimes three children being sponsored by the same family. It was done. The day, and the children’s education, was saved.

Quickly Honey buried herself back into the frenzied business of getting that book together. There was a meeting with the designer, another meeting with the printer and yet more sponsorship – this time for the book’s printing, to be sorted out. Money was coming in, but drip by Malaysian Ringgit drip – agonisingly slowly.

Episode 12 ~ Creating Colors of Cambodia

http://www.artmalaysiagroup.com/arttalk/detail/66/episode-12-creating-colors-of-cambodia

After yet another trip to Singapore – to gain final approval for the book The Story of Colors of Cambodia, Honey Khor found herself negotiating for a fresh, larger, and ultimately more impressive venue for the book launch. It is with thanks to all her friends, and supporters that the new venue was found, and turned out to be even larger, and more impressive, than that most imaginative lady could have envisioned. 

The stage was literally set for the Malaysian book launch of the century. Guests and VIPs were being contacted by the quietly efficient super business-woman Honey.  

Donations and sponsorship – providing money to print the book, were flooding in. Within a very short space of time – and much quicker than the estimated deadline – Honey had secured all the money to print 1,000 copies of the book. Much to all our reliefs.

The writing and designing of the book was slowly taking place, and well on target to get the book to the printers on time. The book, Honey and her sleek SUV were all on a roll, with all systems seeming set at go. This was the crucial time. All had to come together in time for the grand launch. 

Episode 13 ~ Creating Colors of Cambodia

http://www.artmalaysiagroup.com/arttalk/detail/69/episode-13-creating-colors-of-cambodia

Lunching with designers, printers, gallery managers and event personnel had become second nature to Honey. Like Wonder Woman, Honey discarded her kittenish dark sunglasses and donned her business specs in the mere twinkling of an eye, ready to get down to serious business – without even smudging her Stila lip-glaze.

It was simply amazing! People seemed to fall over themselves to help Honey Khor - perhaps it was her innate magnetism, her captivating charm, or perhaps her genuinely warm-hearted altruism which drew like minds to her and her project. Whatever the reason, people simply flocked to ensure that the charity book project was going to be successful.

As well as fleeting hither and thither around Kuala Lumpur, and her excursions abroad to ensure the success of her charity book project, Honey was beavering away at myriad illustrations for the book itself. Honey had parked the well used SUV, picked up her Winsor & Newton brush, and set to work on water-colour paper. Let us not forget – Honey Khor is an artist too, and not just a business woman. The new ink and water-colour illustrations reveal the humorous side to her nature, and give a friendly face to the charity book itself.

Episode 14 ~ Creating Colors of Cambodia

http://www.artmalaysiagroup.com/arttalk/detail/74/episode-14-creating-colors-of-cambodia

There was a definite spring in the well-toned step of Ms Honey Khor, as she bounced into the room and announced – ‘I’ve done it. Yippee. I’ve done it - well, we’ve done it really’. And what had Ms Honey Khor done? She had managed to raise the entire amount of cash needed to print the book – A Story of Colors of Cambodia.

It had been a seven month haul of pleading and cajoling, urging people to part with their hard-earned money, to support the crazy endeavour of a book about a children’s charity aimed at Cambodia. Nevertheless it was congratulations all round – she had done it, and it was slap on the back time and a small, very small, celebratory dinner – consisting of a bowl of watery noodles shared by two.

Time waits for no woman and Honey is no laggard letting moss grow between her toes. So, no sooner had Honey lightened our lives with her news than she was off again. That, now rapidly aging, black SUV sped around Malaysian suburbia taking our heroine to yet more meetings – this time to finalise both the book itself, and the launch of the book – due on 14^th October this year.

Episode 15 ~ Creating Colors of Cambodia

Things were going at the fullest tilt possible. Impatient fingers thrummed tables, hasty phone-calls were made enquiring what had happened, then, as if a lifetime later - the long awaited parcel – containing a print-out of our book manuscript, arrived from the US of A.

After a moment of nervous anticipation, our American editor’s crucial red alterations, critical comments, and superior suggestions were eagerly pored over. Every minute change was noted and sometimes included within the book – A Story of Colors of Cambodia. Pretty soon the manuscript was updated, sections re-arranged, and one or two visual elements tweaked. Then the final keyboard key had clattered. The final amendment was added. The last section of the Indesign file was finished, and so too was - the book, finally and at last.

There was no rapturous applause. No fanfare. No sounding of trumpets, just the faint whir of the computer fan as the final edit was performed, finishing the last section of the book. The document was saved in four places – just in case, and then it was handed over to San San to tidy the whole thing up, bless her. And there it was done – another success for Honey Khor et al.

Episode 16 ~ Creating Colors of Cambodia

http://www.artmalaysiagroup.com/arttalk/detail/84/episode-16-creating-colors-of-cambodia

Honey handed in the final version of the book to the printer. It was a heart stopping moment. Several days later Honey was contacted to say that she could pick up the colour proof of the book.

 

It was with much trepidation and anxiety that Honey travelled in her black SUV, sunglasses perched upon her dainty nose, to collect the colour proof. It was Sunday. Not a normal working day, so Honey had to collect the colour proof from the guard. Her face fairly beamed with pride and delight as she nursed that proof in her hands.


It had been a long day. Honey drove with a huge smile upon her designer-lipstick smeared lips. Honey was top of the world (Ma). It was Mission Impossible made possible by good teamwork. But when she reached home and started to thumb through the proofs, her magic smile faded and frown lines began to appear on her troubled brow.

OMG, it would take a month of Sundays to correct all the errors – but actually they were done within a week thanks to a concerted team effort. Teamwork saved the day. Back Honey trudged to the printer with the final book on her CD.

Episode 17 ~ Creating Colors of Cambodia

http://www.artmalaysiagroup.com/arttalk/detail/85/episode-17-creating-colors-of-cambodia

The book was safely at the printers. It was time Honey turned her attention back to promoting the event – the launching of the book on the 14^th October at Glenmarie, Shah Alam, Kuala Lumpur.

There were dinners to attend, slideshows to beam and people to smile nicely to. Honey reconnected with her old network of friends and business acquaintances, urging them assist in the sales of the Hi-Tea vouchers (RM50 each). It was a trying time.


Banners were to be printed; vouchers were to be printed as were posters and press releases to be sent out. The work seemed endless. Honey beavered away at her laptop, her hand phone and met person after person urging them to help sell the Hi-Tea vouchers.

Slowly the printing was done. The press releases sent, it was just those few remaining Hi-Tea vouchers that remained. It was time for Honey to put herself into top gear. Like the professional she is, Honey depressed her clutch and rammed herself into fifth gear. She sped off like a red Lamborghini, practically all thrust and torc. Her determination was second to none; watch out Mr Business man Honey is on top form and is after your donations.  

Catalonia Summer

Learning about Art History in Malaysia Institute of Art ( 1992-1995) used to be the hardest subject for me. Being poor in English made it much more difficult, I could not understand much when lecturer explained. I even find that it was so tough to read art history book in the past. But, I know, learning is a life time process! I will get there eventually.

Slides presentation by Mr Lok How Yuan during Art History lesson wasn't really appreciate by me at that time in that dark, freezing classroom . So much to remember, so much to learn. But now, I must say: " Thank you, Mr Lok! It was you the one who connected me to this part of world. A world of infinity creation!" 

The Persistence of Memory by Salvodor Salvador Dalí, is the painting that stay with my memory since my study in MIA. Dali's style is like photo realism, it make me think. But, I can only "tried" to understand about his feeling, his way of expression and stories in his art. Until, I am there, in Figueres, Cadagues and Port Lligat. Physically stood right in his living room, bed room, balcony and his studio. Looked out from the window....I took a deep breath. I stood still, wide opened my mouth. I recognised the blue sky, the sea, the rock, the bay and the island have been represented in several of Dali's work ~ The Madonna of Port Lligat, Crucifixion (Corpus Hypercubus), and The Sacrament of the Last Supper. 

Sunlight came through the glass, shined into Dali's studio, on his brushes, mediums for oil colours just as he left them. I imagined he is here, seating in front of one of his last work, on the pulling system he used for working. It was 1930, dali bought simple shack. This shack has been created to a piece of magnificent art by Dali. Every single part in the house is amazing. Decades, Dali lived and worked until the death of his muse Gala in 1982.

Walked in Dali's home and museum twice in 2 years. It's just more than i can tell. I remember my first travelled to Figueres from Bacelona alone in 2012. Sat in the train, I started my "thinking". "The Thinking" have magically connected me to many beautiful people in Figueres. 

The miraculous night that I met Mr Luis Duran, who were so kind and devotion to my sketches; The corner of the street at Duran Hotel & Restaurant where Mr Duran waited for me on the breezing morning; The magical moment I sat in El Celler; A wonderful meeting with gentle and interesting man Joan Vehi, who was photographer and carpenter for Dali; The handsome and creative writer Martí Dacosta who also the owner of Dalícatessen......and the charming, beautiful young adults who enjoyed sketching Sant Pere church with me. I am beholden to the delicate people I met in Catalonia. For what they have done, shared and guided, they had shown me the path, lead me to Dali's footsteps. 

Learning Art History in lives was what I looking forward for years. Even though at that moment in time, I was excited, nervous and worry on my "little" adventure in Figueres. But then...deep is my heart, I know that's "The Way". I would never have imaging myself in where Dali painted. The "Catalonia Summer" was one of my dream came true.

I would like to rejoice this happiness to my dear family members, teachers and friends who have supporting me in this "art journey", their supports have determine my path.