The Journal is a collection of notes, observations and moments gathered along the way. Here I share works in progress, travel experiences, studio reflections, encounters with artists and collectors, and the ideas that quietly find their way into the paintings. Part diary, part archive, it offers a glimpse into the people, places and experiences that continue to shape both the work and the artist.
Every now and then it is important to stop making and start looking. Today was a day for looking. At the Centro de Arte Hortensia Herrero in Valencia, I spent time with the work of Anselm Kiefer, Miquel Barceló, Anish Kapoor, Sean Scully, Olafur Eliasson and others. Some works deserve more than one encounter.
Some places are admired for their beauty. Others are remembered for their atmosphere. Wat Chedi, in Southern Thailand, is a place where faith can almost be touched. Thousands of devotees cover the statues of Ai Khai with delicate sheets of gold leaf, creating a living monument that changes every single day.
For six months, Phuket ceased to be merely an island destination and became an open-air museum. Abandoned schools, forgotten civic buildings, public parks and historic streets were transformed into places where contemporary art could be encountered in unexpected ways. The Thailand Biennale invited visitors not only to look at art, but to wander through it.
The Bootleg Show (MRKREME) A visit to The Bootleg Show by MRKREME (Varagun Chongthanapipat) at Bangkok’s Museum of Contemporary Art became more than a museum visit. Inspired by the exhibition’s playful exploration of originality, reinterpretation and creative identity, I left behind a small drawing of my own, “I am Bugsy, but you can call me SUE.” It was my quiet contribution to an exhibition that invited artists and visitors alike to question where originality truly begins. MRKREME’s work playfully blurs the boundaries between design, street culture, painting and sculpture, reminding us that creativity often grows through transformation rather than perfection.
Northern Thailand is celebrated for its remarkable temples, yet one place follows an entirely different path. The Black House, created by Thai National Artist Thawan Duchanee, is not a temple in the traditional sense but the physical expression of an artist’s imagination. Hidden behind dark timber walls, mythology, spirituality, beauty and mortality come together in a world that is both unsettling and deeply captivating.
On 9 January 2025, while visiting an elephant sanctuary in Sabaraganuwa near Kandy, Sri Lanka, I discovered a small workshop making handmade paper from elephant poo. Intrigued by the transformation of waste into something delicate and beautiful, I bought five sheets and carried them with me to Phuket. A few weeks later, at the end of January, these unusual surfaces became paintings, works born from travel, curiosity and the quiet alchemy of turning unexpected materials into dreams.
5 January 2025 – Kandy, Sri Lanka Today I returned to what is, in my opinion, one of the most inspiring places in Asia: Helga’s Folly in Kandy (https://www.helgasfolly.com/). Calling it a hotel hardly does it justice. It is an ever-evolving world where art, architecture, imagination, and eccentricity merge into a living work of art. Walking through its rooms always sparks my creativity. Every corner tells a story, every object seems to have found its place by instinct rather than design. It is impossible for me to visit without feeling the urge to create. Inspired by the atmosphere, I decided to make a drawing as a gift for Helga. I called her to tell her about it, hoping to present it in person. Unfortunately, she was recovering from the flu and was unable to meet that day. I hope our paths will cross on my next visit to Kandy. The drawing became more than a simple souvenir. It became a gesture of appreciation for Helga, for her extraordinary vision, and for creating a place that continues to inspire artists from around the world. Title: ❤️ For Helga Location: Kandy, Sri Lanka Date: 5 January 2025 Technique: Pastel on paper Dimensions: 25 × 35 cm Collection: Gift for Helga
I arrived in Cambodia expecting to see one of the greatest archaeological wonders on earth. Instead, I found a country where beauty and tragedy continue to exist side by side. Among magnificent temples, weathered statues and endless galleries of silent faces, I felt an unexpected heaviness. It became impossible for me to admire the stones without sensing the lives that had disappeared around them. This is not a story about Angkor Wat. It is about what Cambodia quietly leaves behind in those who are willing to listen.
Some paintings become famous. Others become part of history. Guernica belongs to the latter. Seeing Picasso’s masterpiece in person at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía was one of those rare moments where reproductions disappear, and only the original truly speaks. Its story, its scale and its emotional power cannot be understood until you stand before it.
Meet Agung Rai, ARMA Museum in Ubud, Bali.
31 January 2024 – Lovina, Bali Today I met Made Ariana (@madeariana53), an accomplished painter and owner of the Gallery of Art of Life in Lovina, Bali. We spent time exchanging artworks, ideas, and experiences, sharing an inspiring conversation about painting and artistic practice. As a result of our meeting, we decided to exchange artworks and to present a selection of my paintings in his gallery in Lovina. Encounters like these remind me that art is not only created in the studio, but also through the people we meet and the conversations we share.
Some encounters begin with a conversation and continue through the exchange of artworks. Meeting Indonesian sculptor Rudi Hendrianto in his Yogyakarta studio became one of those memorable moments, where paper and wood formed a quiet dialogue between two artists.
After visiting the magnificent Borobudur Temple, I had the pleasure of meeting Indonesian painter Cipto Purnomo in his studio in Wanurejo, just minutes away from one of the world’s greatest cultural monuments. We spent hours talking about painting, Indonesia, artistic identity and the challenges of remaining authentic as an artist. It was one of those conversations that reminds you that art is as much about people as it is about the work itself. Cipto’s paintings are deeply rooted in his surroundings, where Javanese culture, mythology and contemporary life naturally converge.
An inspiring meeting with photographer and visual artist Felisa Tan, where the exchange of a book, a drawing and ideas became a lasting reminder that meaningful encounters often continue long after they end. Art sometimes begins with a conversation. A shared search for meaning led to an exchange of works, ideas and inspiration that continues beyond that day.