My first Vipassana Retreat

May 23, at 11 am, I carpooled to Dresden. I met with a woman called Kirsten. We were booked to attend a Vipassana Course. She drove us to the Dhamma Dvāra Centre in Triebel. The next day the retreat was to start.

The day before was busy in Leipzig. I packed up the flat and walked things to Bassel’s flat. I helped to clean at Daniela’s. I put in an arts application and cycled between places. I thought that going to the meditation retreat would be a rest. Lie back and listen to dolphin sounds, seems I had that wrong!

Vipassana is one of India’s most ancient meditation techniques. The word Vipassana means seeing things as they really are. One begins by observing the natural breath to concentrate the mind. It is a ten day silent retreat. The Courses are very well structured, and being in Germany, even more well structured! You can talk to the assistant manager volunteer whom is there for the women. Men and women are segregated. In the meditation hall, women sit on one side and men on the other. There is about 9 hours a day in meditation.

A Vipassana meditation course is a bit like running a marathon, it aint easy. It certainly is a life changing journey, well it was for me. Phones, keys, wallets, notebooks and pens are handed over on arrival. Put in safe keeping until the end of the course. The second day of the retreat was hard for me. So was the fifth day. Everyone has a different experience.

I met Mar, we were room ates, in a room of four. And were placed sitting beside each other for ten days. So we spent quite a lot of time together. It was kind of weird to actually speak at the end. I remember one morning, before breakfast we were resting after early meditation, and thinking I had mist breakfast. I sat up and said ‘oh no’ really loudly. Mar looked at me very amused. Meal times were very much looked forward to. Mar is from Georgia, the one in Europe. There are usually many people from many different nations on these courses.

In the food hall one day, I vividly remember looking at her plate with two huge slices of cake. Just a moment before, I had seen the sign that said ‘one piece of cake each’. I nearly burst out laughing, and she too. She gave me a look of pure spirited naughtiness.

It was amazing how much clears out of the body in such a short space of time. This is something I hadn’t seen coming. There can be lots of trips to the bathroom. Seems I am thin, but it seems we store a lot of stuff! The practise really seems to help, it is like scanning the body with the breath and moving it slowly through. I did feel really good and a lot clearer afterwards. To be honest, when the course finished I felt like I was just getting the hang of it. I almost wanted to keep going!

June 4, with a lift back to Leipzig after the course, to stay with friends at their flat. Coming out of the Vipassana is quite a transition phase.

Artists moving in

I ended up living in Leipzig, Saxony.. I didn’t even know it existed until I went to Germany. The arts residency was cut short, as Hoefgen was closing the residency program. I was able to be on the residency for 5 weeks. I was very thankful for the time I had there. Daniela, a friend I had made during the residency, offered that I come and stay with her in Leipzig. I accepted while I worked out my plans. It turns out Leipzig is a wonderful city to live in. And I ended up staying there for quite some time. It was a base in between journeys during the year as well.

3rd March, I moved to Daniela’s, where she lived in Leipzig with her two young daughters. I helped out by cooking meals and cleaning dishes. I also took her youngest daughter for rides in her Christiana Bike. The park next door backed on to the zoo, so we would see Giraffes, zebras and pink flamingos every day.

Daniela is a well known German author. She lent me her bike and I explored the town, and enjoyed the parks. I met an artist friend of hers Thomas, whom had a spare room in his flat. He offered that I rent it as a studio, at a great price of 40 euros a week. This seemed like a great opportunity. One day I caught the train and bus to Hoefgen. It was a bit of a mission. I picked up the stretched canvasses I had left there. Then, catching trains, I took them to the new studio. The address was Waldstrabe 20, Leipzig, on a lovely street. By the end of March, somewhere along the line I had moved into this studio room in Leipzig! I borrowed a mattress from Daniella to sleep on. I was happy because I now had my own space. It was only 50 euros a week.

Then on the March Equinox, I went for a big ride. My goal was to purchase a fold up table from Obito, a great big hardware store, with Danielas Christiana bike. But on the way back found another table! It was an old table someone had left outside their house for donation. One of those ones that have the two extra bits to make it larger. I managed to get it on the bike with a hand from a lady passer by. Another neighbor helped me get it up the stairs. It was quite a mission, and I must have looked slightly odd cycling down the street.

I enjoyed living in Leipzig and painting, and riding the bike around. I would often go to Spinnerei, This old cotton mill now houses galleries and artist studios.. Spinnerei – from cotton to culture. For open days and also to check my emails. It is a fascinating old factory complex to explore. I simply loved the large Boesner art shop there. At one time it was the largest cotton mill in continental Europe.

I met with Bassel one day. He took me to visit Gabrielle. Whom was staying at ‘The Paris Syndrome’, a cool apartment he had rented in Leipzig. He rented it for a few nights to do writing. I would meet sometimes with Bassel n a café, he is from Lebanon, and good company. He shared that when he first came to Leipzig, he found it almost too quiet. He was used to hearing the background sounds of Beirut. And he had to readjust. He is a doctor and also a passionate classical pianist, with a grand piano in his lounge.

Leipzig is situated in the north-west of the free state of Saxony, in the former East Germany. In 1989, Leipzig saw the largest public demonstration in East Germany. This event led directly to the fall of the Berlin Wall. How East Germans peacefully brought the GDR regime down

More about Creative Leipzig here, where artists moved in really, converting disused buildings and warehouse into vibrant new cultural spaces.

Godwyn was a friend known to his friends as the mayor of Leipzig. This was because he knew so many people. I met him as he had organised a couch surfing evening for English speakers. We all met at a local bar/cafe. I met many new friends that night. This gathering helped shape my social life in Leipzig. I was very thankful for this meet up. Leipzig is in East Germany. German is, of course, the main language. I met Nuby, Annushka, Godwyn and Mirco. Godwyn invited us all to many social events, including picnics in the park. His spirit loves travel and different cultures. He hosted couch surfers. Godwyn loved to show them the city he is very fond of.

In May, I met with Godwyn and friends at African Breeze. It was really fun, an African beats club, Leipzig seems to do these well. I am still borrowing Danielles bike. It’s good to have this, as Leipzig is quite a safe city. Another day it was Godwyns birthday BBQ, on Brockhausster, a gathering outside. Latter went to Spinnerei for a music event, with Maeshelle and Mirco. It was a big night out for me, as I didn’t really go out much at night whilst living there.

I went on various trips with Leipzig as a base. I traveled up to Berlin many times. I also visited Portugal, Italy, and the Czech Republic.

I bumped into Godwyn one evening on the tram. He was with a couch surfer named Max. Max was staying with him. They were heading to a famous Leipzig site. It’s called Monument to the Battle of the Nations, or Völkerschlachtdenkmal. If you can say it, you can go there. Godwyn asked if I would like to join, I was on my way home, and had no plans. We had a lovely time. I hadn’t really been much of a tourist living in Leipzig. I didn’t know of this place at all. Accidental tourist.

May 22, this was a big day. I helped clean at Daniella’s, as she was moving house, from 9-2. In Germany when you move you take out your whole kitchen. I was also moving out of the room I had been renting at Thomas’s. Walked all my stuff around the corner to Bassels, to store. It took a long time, as the paintings were heavy! Cycled to Karl-Heine Strasse sent off applications to Bremen, Packed everything up!

May 23, I attended my first Vipassana Course, at the centre in Triebel. June 4, after thee course, I stayed with Anushka and her partner at their flat. Coming out of the Vipassana is quite a transition phase. The next day I met up with Sybille and Andreas to view paintings, that were stored at Basel’s place. They took two paintings to Dresden for a summer exhibition in Sybille’s gallery. June 6th went to Schaddel, for a few weeks.

On the 15th of June, back to Leipzig with Cindy, and stayed at hers for a few nights. The next day, met up with Graham, and cycled to Halle, with Godwyn and co. I borrowed Daniella’s bike, was a long way on this bike! We stopped at one of the man made lakes on the way. It was a hot day. Shameem was there too.

The next day, met with Bassel, and later went to eco festival in the park in Leipzig. And Mirco my Italian friend, let me stay on his couch. The next day was a beautiful sunny day. Meeting up with Patrick and we went for a lovely walk at the canal. Cindy picked me up to drive back to Schaddel. June 22, to Leipzig to Bassel’s flat, collecting clothes for next journey. Back to Schaddel, to stay to a few more nights. Then its to Goldwyn’s flat to housesit in Leipzig, lovely flat in a great neighborhood, Erich Zeigner Alee 27.

I was doing 1 to 2 hours meditation every day now.  I was a bit sensitive in my emotions and felt a bit lost sometimes. But again i was trusting and knowing that I was where I should be.  I spend a lot of time by myself in the process. Leipzig has lots of parks and quiet spaces. so was spending a lot of time in nature.

I really liked Leipzig as a town to live in. It felt like I could breathe again there, like I could exhale again after being in Berlin. The air is better, and there are parks everywhere through the town. I enjoyed cycling along Karl-Heine Strasse.

July 4th to October 2nd, I was away travelling through Europe. Arriving back on a train from Amsterdam. I met with Andy and he gave me the keys to friend Graeme’s flat at Arnd Strasse. He was away and offered that I stay. Oct 3, met with Bassel at Kaffik cafe. Which was a favourite cafe. We went to his place, so I could sort things ready for the next trip. He had kindly stored a few bags and paintings. As all the flats have a hold in the basement.

The next day I went to Spinnerei to purchase canvas and stretchers. Later dropping keys back to Andy at his work, then flew to Rome!

November 13, Back to Leipzig, Staying in Johannas room. She had kindly offered me her room to stay in, as she was going to stay at Graemes flat. The next night I was up most of the night, researching and booking the next flights. One evening we went to a Jazz concert, Johanna and I. I had met Volker, a musician friend (played the saxophone) from the residency at Hoefgen. It was beautiful, and he told the audience that a Kiwi was in the crowd. Seems that New Zealanders are exotic creatures in Leipzig. After the concert, a friend Nuby, had cooked yummy Sudanese food from his country.

Maeshelle West Davies is an American artist living in Leipzig. She had put a call out on fb looking for participants for an art piece called ‘Open Duet’. I thought it sounded really interesting, and she is a friend of Godwyns. So I made contact with her, and went along to her flat to take part in the photography series. I was paired with Francky, a drummer musician from the Caribbean. She asked us to tone, to make sound at the same time together. The couples were all strangers, the sound is quite beautiful that comes through (video below).

Whilst staying at Johanna’s, I enjoyed singing with her flatmate and friends. They meet and have a good singalong from song sheets. I also took the stored paintings in a taxi to Graeme’s flat. He was going to put them on his wall, and store a few bags for me. On the 19th on November, I couch surfed at Godwyn’s flat. And went out to dinner with friends I had made in Leipzig, as it was my last night. Bye, you are a very cool town. The next day I carpooled to Berlin as I was leaving to journey back to New Zealand.

12th April, a carpooling ride took me from Leipzig to Prague. I met up with Bedrich, whom I knew from Dunedin. He is Czech, and I went to stay in his lovely apartment that he had recently brought, with a rooftop garden.

13th April, Bedrich and I went to the Masters exhibition opening of another friend from Dunedin, Aroha Novak, as she was studying there in Prague. The next day we went to the fairgrounds. I really enjoyed going on a Ferris wheel for the first time in my life. The next day I met with Aroha and her daughter Eva, we went up a tower that you can see a view of the city.

I also met with another Eva another day, and yet another friend from Dunedin days. An old flatmate and she is Czech.

I was actually feeling quite tired when I visited Prague, and wandered around the city. It is very busy. So found the touristic spots quite overwhelming at the time. But it was lovely of course, lots to look at, the enamouring architecture, and the clocks, and a kind of old world magic still ticking in the town. I really liked the tea houses, and Bedrich took me to one. 

I missed the arranged lift back later that day, I was waiting, but must have been in the wrong place for the car pooling driver. So contacted Bedrich and went back to stay another night there. I was happy as that meant I could go to see the exhibition the next morning. The Human Body Exhibition at Výstavištĕ. Real human body parts and interiors on display, it was fascinating to say the least.

On April 16th, found another lift on the carpooling going to Dresden instead, so stayed with friends there. And the next day a very good deal, a 3 Euros car pooling lift safely took me back home to Leipzig.

Creativity, Snow and German cheeses.

Does creativity flourish when all your needs are met? Creativity can happen anywhere, and thrive in any environment. Creativity can be a way out of darkness and a new way of looking at things from a different perspective. But when an artist is given a space, an environ where all the needs are taken care of, but of course this allows for the seeds to be sown and flourish in the spring. The only thing you have to do is work on your creation, and there are no constraints (except your own!). Time is on your side, to allow the gift of creation. But I guess creation is also limitless and timeless.

I was given an opportunity to explore this. Before leaving New Zealand I applied for an arts residency in Germany, as I was heading in that direction. the application involved a small payment, and for some reason I felt to apply to this one. And so came some good news, brought by the email pigeon, I was offered the Hoefgen residency stipendium!

I had brought some art supplies in Berlin before leaving for Saxony. On the 18th of January with a carpool Mittfarrgelenheit; 11.30am to Leipzig, and from there caught a train to Grimma. Kristina Bahr greeted me and picked me up at the Bahnhoff (station). A Lovely large room awaited me, open plan studio/bedroom. I walked in and was full of superlatives, (I’m not so good at being an aloof artist). It was like a New York Style apartment, with a little kitchenette and even a bath. It was snowing later, but this room was warm and cozy with central heating. I may have been pinching myself that night.

It was a five minute walk down to the restaurant, which is open for locals, and also where the artists in residence are able to eat and enjoy three meals a day. Quite an incredible residency for an artist, and I was very appreciative. There was a concert and a recital whilst I was there. There was a sculpture walk on the land, and some of the buildings were very old. The place where I was staying was a new building. The people were kind to me on this residency.

It was nice to meet Daniela, a German author there, and a few other people, Volker whom was a musician.

My time at Hoefgen was very, very valuable in terms of further experimentation with the paint process/techniques and working on many designs/ideas.  Most of the paintings were inspired by images of Circuitry boards, collated from the internet, and put together with cellular formations.   They are about connectivity and communication.   Below is a painting I completed whilst there. ‘Connectivity’ – 60 x 80cm (Acrylic on Canvas). I was actually very tired when I arrived at the residency and was thankful for this time to rest, research and draw.

nicolagibbons.com

I was away from the residency from the the first week of February, (31 Jan – 7 Feb). I had an
appointment in Berlin 10am, and was happy as visa was extended to stay in Germany until November 2012. Then I went to Basel (Switzerland).

On the 7th, I carpooled back from Dresden with Rosemarie, all the way to my front door of the residency flat! Arriving back I met Gabriele, an Italian arts writer also staying there. Whom liked a good conversation, we talked a lot and shared meals at the restaurant. And we strolled along for merry snowy walks, next to the river and it was poetry to look at.

Walking in to Grimma town on a cold crisp day had many artistic moments. I would do walks around the Hoefgen area when it wasn’t too cold. These walks were beside the Mulde River. It seems that Grimma, is affectionately known as the “Pearl of the Mulde River Valley”

I caught the train to Leipzig one day and brought canvas stretchers. I stretched all the canvasses at the studio. There were about five 1m sq canvasses all ready to go. But they ending up going with me to Leipzig…

On the 3rd March I moved to Leipzig as it happened. I had to leave residency at Hoefgen a bit earlier. As the residency program was going to close, and so the residency was cut short. But I had been there for 5 weeks. so that was already a long stretch and I was thankful for the time. So Danielle offered that I could stay with her in Leipzig. And I ended up moving there as I met an artist friend of hers Thomas Flemming, I rented a room in his flat and completed the paintings. I called this group of paintings ‘The Saxony Series’.

Before I left and before it closed there was an open day. An arts crew came to film the place and filmed me pretending to work with the canvas.

Feb 6, flew from Basel, Switzerland, at 19.30pm and arrived, 20.55pm in Dresden, Germany. Went to stay with Andreas and Sybille, partners whom I had met when doing an arts residency in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand. It was good to see them, they were very welcoming and their flat is full of art. They had cooked some food, and Andreas had cooked some horse, something I had never tried, I hesitated of course, but I did try some, whilst in Rome and all.

The next day Andreas took me for a walk and took me to Sybille’s gallery, the Sybille Nuett Gallerie. She had exhibited two of my paintings there earlier in the year. Andreas also showed me around the town and explained a bit about Dresden. I really liked the town a lot.

Feb 7, I had arranged a lift back to Hoefgen with Mittfarrgelenheit (carpooling), with a woman called Rosemarie, 3.30pm from Dresden Central Station, all the way to my front door of the arts residency in Grimma, as she was a local!

Feb 3, From Berlin to Dresden, then to Switzerland, flight (Easyjet) 21.25, stayed with Jonas in Basel, from couch-surfing, he was a fantastic host. We went lamp shopping one day at antique shops as he was looking for a new lamp for his flat. His flat was beautiful and you could see his eye for design. Jonas is a young architect. He also took me on a boat ride out one day, and walking around the town. The snow provided a wondrous backdrop to wander around a bit.

The reason I had booked inexpensive flights to Basel is that I had researched that there might be the possibility of prolonging my visa to stay in Germany by crossing over the border. But turns out this wasn’t true, and turns out I got a visa extension to stay anyway. It wasn’t really necessary to go, but as flights were booked and trip arranged, I found myself in Switzerland!

Basel is known for Art Basel, an international art fair staged annually in Basel, Switzerland; also now in Florida; and Hong Kong. Swizerland is very prosperous, buying a cuppa out is not recommended!

Feb 6, I went to museum on last day – Vitra Design Museum, at Weil am Rhein in Germany. I got a design and architecture tour and hit and also a really interesting Rudolf Steiner exhibition. Bussed there and back. It looked amazing in the snow. Later that day I flew from Switzerland back to Germany, so crossed into Germany a few times that day!

Feb 6, Flew out at 19.30pm that night, (Easyjet) 20.55pm arrived in Dresden, Germany again, and stayed with friends. The next day an arranged a lift back to Hoefgen, carpooling with a woman called Rosemarie, leaving at 3.30pm from Dresden Central Station, all the way to my front door of the residency flat, as she was a local.

15 November, arrived in Berlin, (British Airways, connection in London) in the evening. And straight to a new flat, a short term sublet with Nicky, whom I had not met but we had a mutual friend Matt. We had been communicating via email, about renting a room in the flat she shared with her partner, Marie.

Nicky is an artist, from South Africa/New Zealand, and one of my favourite artists. Link to her works. And utilising the binary 1 and 0 in her work, applies this with a stamp. She had her studio in the flat, and sometimes you could hear her stamping. My new address until the beginning of December was Karl-Marx Allee 49, in Mitte. It was a bit of mission finding it when I landed, but got there in the end.

I would walk down to the Christmas night market at Alexander Platz quite a lot, even though its cold, nice to look around. Everything is all lit up, and different to anything I have seen. As my body is still adjusting to Jetlag, and I am resting a lot, its winter but the room and flat are surprisingly warm. I buy some winter boots and clothes too.

I looked for events on Couchsurfing, and met with a miscellaneous group whom were going to exhibition openings together, and then out for dinner. A friendly bunch whom didn’t know each other beforehand.

I went to the NZ consulate to vote in the NZ elections at the end of November and met some new friends. As there were many discussions whilst waiting to vote. 2nd Dec, move into a new sublet in Kruesberg, an artist called Kokens flat that I had found on Craigslist. The flat is on Lausitzer Str. 15, and upstairs my neighbour Connie was very kind to me. She is a German woman whom helped me when the kitchen sink got completely blocked.

Kerem, comes to stay, he is from Munich and thinking of moving to Berlin. We had met at Prana festival in NZ. It was fun spending time, as he is very funny, and we walked around a lot. He tells me about Vipassana meditation.

Nicky and her partner organised an art auction, and Kerem and I went along, I ended up buying a photographic print of water, hadn’t expected to buy anything, but all of a sudden I was raising my hand! It was fun.

And I meet new friend Lola, in a café. I was looking for a hairdresser, I liked her haircut so asked her whom cut her hair, she said ‘my flatmate’. We ended up talking for a long time, and meeting up again, and she was a new friend. So, her Mexican flatmate Miguel, was a the hairdresser and I ended up getting many great haircuts from him at their flat in the next year. I also rest a lot. My system is still very tired.

I go to Christmas celebration at the house of one of the NZ peeps I met at the Consulate whilst voting, Andrew. He is a musician from Dunedin, and his family were over to visit, they were all very welcoming. So it is a kiwi Christmas. But the night before I went to a Couch Surfing dinner, and didn’t get home till the early morning, so it was also a Berlin Christmas. I loved going to the Turkish Markets in Kruesberg, such amazing food and at really good prices, all beside the water.

Boxing day, a woman from Moscow, through Couchsurfing, contacts me and asks if I would like to go to art galleries with her. I went along and met with her, thought I had better make an effort to look at art that was on my doorstep.

I went to stay with Lola at her flat over the New Years, and there was a party to celebrate, Miguel DJ’s and also does capoeira, he and his friends do this on the rooftop terrace, which was brilliant to watch. Lolas friend Wunmi, is also staying, and Lola has wigs for us to wear. At twelve, so many double happies and fireworks go off, never seen or heard anything like it. Looking out over the rooftops and 360 degrees of bam bam bam. The next morning there are shells of carnage all over the streets. We enjoyed this time, Lola, Wunmi and I, we sing and hold hands together as we walk down the street visiting places. I was to go to the next sublet on the 4th of January.