To join all of the walls of the past, a yet another, vast and enormously tall wall, has recently been constructed by Israel to protect itself against terrorist attacks and suicidal bombers. It separates the West Bank from Israel. Israelis say that it has achieved its objectives by dramatically decreasing the intensive of terrorist attacks. At the same time though, the wall's path has also divided certain neighborhoods, people and families who had lived together till its erection. While there are military check points through which people can cross from one side to another, officially the Israeli citizens, especially the Jewish ones, are not permitted to the West Bank, this is supposedly to protect them, for their own personal safety.

While it separates the people and sides, in the most odd of ways it also acts as a form of a dialogue, a conduit of emotions and wishes expressed by those leaving on one side of the wall, but unfortunately not see by those on the other side. When you think about it, at least to me, this Wall has become an unintended symbol of human lunacy and desires.

 

Jerusalem, this is a land that has inspired legends, myths and mysticism which have not just impelled the course and evolution of our humanity, its religious beliefs, cultures and politics but also, throughout our history, been the source of endless dreams, desires, conflicts and conquests. The issuing reflections are probably the most complex of all of those I have written until now, difficult and troublesome for me to reflect upon and even more so verbalize. Nonetheless, I feel a deep need to face a challenge of distilling and then sharing my personal thoughts and observations on this perplexing topics. At the same time I am well aware of the displeasure and anger, even wrath of those readers who, for their own personal reasons, will differ, disagree, be infuriated by or dismissive of my ideas, opinions, perspectives and analyses I am about to express. But intellectual discourse is not just healthy and crucial but moreover vital to our evolution as human and social beings designed to coexist with each other.

In the past I conducted my workshops and presentations in not just the different states within the USA, which in itself offers insightful dissimilarities, but also in such countries as Poland, Germany, France, Canada, Venezuela, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Hong Kong, Costa Rica, Turkey, Japan... You cannot imagine how contrasting the experiences of working with Mid-Western students is from that of those in New York City or even Boston, and how much more extreme these distinctions become in, for example, cases of Korea and Costa Rica.

Currently I am exploring possibilities of conducting my creative workshops in India. Based on my previous visit to this fascinating country, is would seem to me that students who are growing up in the environment that is so ancient, with such rich heritage,  and yet radically diverse and intensely vibrant, would be truly fascinating. If Indian art, legends, myths, film, dance, culture, ways of life, their energy, passion, spirit and “hot blood” are indicative of the imaginary potentials of the Indian students, than this could truly become a “mind blowing” experience. As such it could radically expand my sensibilities and horizons, and thus scope of future impact on those I hope to mentor over the years. And I am always ready for more.

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, it was 1985 in fact, the SIGGRAPH Electronic Theater thrilled me by selecting “Nick Brew”, my first ever CGI animated project, for its eminent annual screening of the best of computer animation from around the world. For me it was a foreword to the world of 3d computer animation.

I do admit, technologies utilized today by computer animation are simply breathtaking. Prospect such powers unveil are truly arousing. They made me itch for the chance to harness them, to will them to accomplish my imaginative feats, make my dreams come true. The insanely realistic modeling, texturing, shading, lighting and rendering are truly astonishing. Synthetic actors, their dynamics, the gestures and facial expressions are almost life like. Today it takes an experienced eye to differentiate a synthetic actor from a real live one. It is amazing. It's a genuine achievement. So what is wrong with this?

We, the so-called “advanced”, “civilized” world, have become empowered by amazing means of instant communication. Such make vital and enlightening information available to most of the world’s population. This power could, if we only chose to, embody a great weapon against tyranny, oppression and malicious censorship infecting and pervading our societies, eroding our basic freedoms without most of us even being aware of it.

Such instant communication can also act as a mighty generator of ideas, health fuel for brainstorming, a limitless platform for collaboration, exchanges and propagation of global connectivity, thus seeding mutual understanding and respect for those whom we would otherwise never connect with, instead left ignorant, unable to understand or appreciate.

And so it seems that humanity is loosing appreciation and benefits of simple and pure nothingness, of silence and calm, which come with not being under pressure to talk, to respond, to converse, react, but instead to think and feel, digest and reflect. Why?

To ignite, liberate and empower imagination to its fullest and most potent we need to open our minds to, and embrace, "gravity free and reality independent” thinking. Only then imagination transforms into a limitless, infinite state of a creative mind within which everything is attainable and nothing is unthinkable. Within it creativity roams free, unbounded by time, space, reality, logic, rules, dimension, mental or physical gravity or laws. In this inspiring state of mind imagination acts as a fuel for creativity, ideas, ground breaking innovative concepts or visions of what could be, but only if we dare. 

These days, when technology plays such a significant role in all aspects of our lives, and in much of what we do, there is a strong relationship between “IT” and our imagination: when they are not in balance, technology itself can overshadow imagination and seemingly become the ultimate answer to all. But when they are, technology empowers us, acting as our “magic wand”.

As a crusader for creative self-expression, empowerment and ideation inspired by imagination, I deem it to be the ideal medium for cross-cultural, cross-ideological communication propagating mutual respect, appreciation and understanding. It is a potent, sincere, emotional and, most importantly, physically non-violent platform for an evocative, enlightening and empowering dialogue. For an individual, it seeds, cultivates and shapes an artistic and creative voice for self-discovery, self-identity and self-expression. For humanity at large, as an antidote to aggressions, it can cultivate peaceful coexistence, at least amongst those who deem themselves open-minded.

Whatever the medium, creative expression represents a powerful, poetic, emotional and visual language understandable and felt by all. When fueled by a sincere and deeply felt personal expression such a language can turn into a potent herald of ideals, feelings, aspirations and hopes we all have. Each of us has a message—potent, deeply felt and meaningful ideas—and a great need to share them with others, to make a difference during own, much to brief a lifetime.

 

 

For some time now I have been promising myself a return to organic art. In my case this means line drawing. I love how line fluctuates, swings, cuts, curls, twists, envelopes, stubs, caresses, how it becomes a natural extension of an artist, how its creator can funnel into it the inner thoughts, passions, desires, frustrations or dreams. How such a simple entity can act a echo of the complex one who brings it to being. What a harmonious synergy and mutual dependency, one might say, till death us apart? It is amazing how it carries and projects such an amazing range of emotions, while maintaining its black and white purity and simplicity, even certain integrity, how it can challenge and drive its creator crazy. And so, I loved it back when it and I had such an emotionally fulfilling bond, and hence have been missing it ever since. Now, years later, my desire to rediscover and explore it once again has grown in intense, became eager to be unleashed.

Over the years, I kept on delaying and postponing. But in Japan, maybe due to the quality of calm and stability, of which I had spoken in all the previous reflections, even if for a limited period of time, I found it and regained it. Did I enjoy it? To the fullest! I felt motivated, vibrant and “spirited away” once again. It was amazing to see that the skill, the passion, desire to will a line, to unleash it to life, is not eternally gone. It is reliant on one’s state of mind, and time to reflect.

 

Over the last years I have observed our country, one that stands as the beaker of success, one to which most of the world looks up to, aspires to or wants to alike, change. Political correctness, fear of being painted as insensitive, a chauvinist, a racist, or being too this or too that, or “I’ll sue you”, in my personal view, is killing our free spirit, our sincere openness, ability to dialogue or differ with others on a deeper emotional level. As one who has, not so long ago, personally experienced a good old-Midwestern inquisition, I have strong feelings and beliefs on this topic.

Back to the last blog. It triggered a discussion on whether some restrain, a “black mask”, is called for. I felt that the images left untouched made a mighty statement against their authors, or artists who, in my view, misuse their talents for immoral, even sick, degenerate objectives. Furthermore, I felt that the presence of a “black cover up” actually attracts more attention and causes imagination to spin wild in all the wrong directions. But maybe that’s just me? I would welcome hearing back from those who read the blog. Do comment and share your opinion. Am I wrong?

And before I progress to the topic this blog is dedicated to, I wish to thank the reader who was kind enough to send me an email of appreciation for the series. I would welcome more thoughtful feedback. While praise is always cheered, criticism is helpful as well. Being new to this domain I have much to learn. So feel free to love me, thank me, applaud me, correct or challenge me, even tear me apart, as long as it is done in a civil and intelligent manner. Else a black mask!

I anticipate this may be the last blog in the series dedicated to Japan? In it I wish to pay homage to the complex delicacy, beauty, sensuality and unique simplicity, purity and sophistication of Japanese art, design, craftsmanship, old architecture of ancient temples, shrines, dragons as well as other real or imaginary creatures.

 

 

There are many impressive aspects of and qualities I now associate Japanese people, their ways of lives and their culture with. However, what sets them apart in minds of those who have had a limited exposure to, or those who have never been there, are Anime and Manga, and to a lesser extend a mysterious Geisha.

 Japanese Manga acts as a vast, all encompassing visual, graphic, emotional and storytelling mirror of all of the facets of Japanese life, from conflicts, relationships to all other social and personal issues, everything. There is manga exclusively for girls and there is manga only for boys, there is manga dealing with relationships between the girls only or only the boys, and there is Manga for everyone else. There is Manga for the kids, the teens, young adults and all of those in-between.