Note Surfing – Spontaneous Piano Piece

Note Surfing

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. This is one of my favourites from my first recording session in December 2008. You can hear more tracks on the Music page.

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Switzerland – Therme Vals

Vals

A relatively quick visit to the beautiful hot springs spa in Vals Switzerland was certainly worth every penny!  A progressively challenging but scenic two hour drive from Zurich takes you up into the mountains where the beautiful spa designed by architect Peter Zumthor nestles amongst the grassy mountains.

Surrounded by scenery so picturesque it almost seems artificial, it would be impossible not to let the healing waters and the magical quartzite stone drain any tensions away.

The waters and the spa had a powerful effect on me energetically leading me through a detoxification and then a recharging process.

Happily, I now feel perfectly prepared for the North American journey which will complete the travels of this first phase of transition!

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the secret elastic tragedy

the secret elastic tragedy

so long I lived illusion
illusion bored with living me

years patrolled the manic lister
never knew I had his key

dashing fever, packing flu
commuting zero, office zoo

distilled at now in present tense
unnerved, belittled, enraged, intent

tragic elastic, here in peace
engorged, bejewelled, enlightened thief

and I for now, travel on time
being my poem of life, line by line

by Neil Seligman

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Japan

black-carp

When you walk into a bathroom cubicle in a department store and the toilet seat rises up in automatic salute you know that you are in a very special country, and without doubt, three weeks in Japan has transformed me.

Arriving with only the first and last 3 nights booked in hotels in Tokyo, our only other committment was to a Japan Rail Pass which gave us full access to the entire JR network and therefore the ability to travel up and down the country on the beautiful Schinkansen bullet trains (which are so fast and comfortable you wonder why anyone would fly domestically in Japan).

Having embraced the uncertainty that comes without any plan, I can look back over the last three weeks and be amazed by the perfection of our itinerary which arose day to day through the combination of ongoing research and intuition.

Our explorations took us first from Tokyo to Karuizawa and the Hoshinoya Onsen, an exquisite hotel nestling in a wooded valley where, at night, our suite overlooked floating lanterns glowing orange on the moonlit lake, and the rustling hurry of charging streams calmly settled the evening air.

It was in the onsen that I lay in the early sunlight and the ancient hot springs, observing the ecstacy of a dragon fly threesome, the bold landings of inquisitive butterflies and the magical dance of a solitary pond skater.

And then to Kyoto, the seat of Japanese tradition and religion where I saw and felt the power of the Buddhist and Shinto temples, showered naked in a mysterious waterfall hidden at the top of a secret mountain path and experienced the uncompromising perfection of my first Japanese garden, complete with majestic maple, ninja fishing cranes and the friendly pouting of multi-coloured coy carp.

When presented with a stadium of ramen restaurants, it takes a connoisseur to know which to choose, but its fair to say that if anywhere knows its ramen, its Fukuoka (the arrival point for visitors to the southern island of Japan – Kyushu).  With its multiple broths, toppings, and regional variations you could stay a week in Fukuoka without eating the same ramen twice!

Craving the energy of the sea we took a side trip from Fukuoka, to the small island of Nokonoshima where we pedalled and pushed tiny rental bikes to the top of the hill in the centre of the island, in order to free wheel for several kilometres down a scooby-doo-style, tree-enclosed track, occasionally glimpsing sailing boats and tankers through small clearings in the yuzu trees as we completed our circumnavigation.

And then by train, ferry and bus to Naoshima and the Bennesse Art Site and the Chichu Museum.  On reflection, perhaps this was the most sacred pilgrimage of all.  A space unlike any I have previously experienced, combining natural beauty, modern and contemporary art, architecture, design and infallible service. Here the chief exhibitor is the Japanese architect Tadao Ando, but such is the brilliance of his observance of line, land and object, that sculptures, prints, beaches and rocky outcrops alike, sit in unparallelled harmony with his masterly works.

And then again north to Osaka, which served as a base to reach back into the energy of a sprawling asian city but also to visit Koya san, the temple region in the mountains where lies the headquarters of the Shingon School of Esoteric Buddhism.

And then finally back to Tokyo for an extended period of 5 nights in order to connect further with new friends, sample the Tranny Trash Burger nightlife and delight in a myriad of culinary excellence from Sushi to Tepanyaki and Shabu Shabu to Abura Ramen (oilly noodles – very hard to find but well worth it!)

With such an exquisite backdrop it was almost inevitable that I would be called into further depths of presence and awareness and I find myself now feeling more connected than ever to my physicality, spirituality and emerging identity as an artist.

For all of this I am grateful to Japan and the friends and strangers I met along the way but even more to Stephen, with whom I continue to learn so much.

To be taken to a selection of my images from the trip please click here.

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Naoshima – Light Drawing

naoshima-ld-neil

Tonight I found a quiet beach in Naoshima where I shot these light drawings in front of the night skyline of mainland Honshu, Japan.

To be taken to the images please click here.

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Sunday Evening

A poem for Sunday Evening:

SUNDAY EVENING

seductive tension
miniature harpoons
fewer strikes to body rising
strands denying
adrenaline
junk
wounds forgive
for fleshy presence
now

by Neil Seligman

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Istanbul

istanbul-lady

The magic of Istanbul imbues the transformational 1980’s film ‘Hamam’, a tragically tender tale of a beautiful Italian husband who inherits a traditional bath house and allows the charms of the city to soften his temper and awaken his latent homosexuality, bringing him into a fuller sense of self and presence.

As I transition from a full time career as a barrister to the life of an artist, Istanbul created the perfect backdrop for my own transformation and the start of a new way of life.

From the deceptively futuristic minarets of the Aya Sofya to the quietening dank stillness of the Cistern, Istanbul draws you into its Ottoman mysteries.

The ferries that shuttle across the mighty Bosphorous dividing Europe from Asia dart between the ever present tankers and provide welcome relief from the snarled roads leading to Sultanahmet.

Whirling dervishes spin in devotion at the Old Press Museum, stirred by the haunting melodies of the adept sufi musicians.

‘The Imam fainted’ was the only dish that in fact escaped me on my visit but the quality of the Meze at the Çiya Sofrasi in Kadıköy, the delicacy of the fish at Balikci Sabahattin in Sultanahmet and the extraordinary rib of beef (not to mention the stunning view) at Vogue in Beşiktaş were just a few of the highlights from an incredible culinary tour.

And finally, to the Hamam itself, a worthily enduring Turkish tradition enjoyed by tourists and locals alike. It was there that I rested on the hot wet marble gazing upwards through the brazed orange dome, pierced by circular holes of steamy light and contemplated the freedom to which I have gratefully returned.

To be taken to a gallery of my photography from Istanbul please click here or on the picture above.

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Camden Pics

Today I spent the morning shooting in Camden – click here to be taken to a gallery of the images.

camden

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Collaboration with Helena Winkelman

In this video you can see an example of the experimental work that I am doing with Stephen and Helena Winkelman.  In this video, Helena and I connect to the same state of heightened presence.  Helena plays violin spontaneously as I allow my body to move spontaneously.

http://www.vimeo.com/3324123

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Light Drawings Evolving

I have added two further galleries of light drawing works.  Please click on the images below to be taken to the galleries or refer to the gallery page.

31.01.09

_-29

18.01.09

_-8

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