Friday, May 23, 2008

Day five- May 22ed: Lecture and Nakedness





Day of the presentation- I had a hangover from the night before and rushed to pull myself together for the lecture and slide show. Thankfully I am scheduled in the afternoon and it was amazing experience to have seen what other artists have done. My presentation went pretty well even though I wasn't 100 percent there.

After the presentation I thought it would be fitting to go to a historic bath for some relaxation. I took the Streetcar over to the Buda side and had a interesting time at the Kiraly bath (built 1566). The bath has an old historic essence oozing out it's very pores. The common changing area still has the old Soviet Union feel, everything thing is utilitarian; blend without personal identity. White floor tiles with baby blue accent borders, white paint with white changing cubical and wood mesh painted white as screens.

I walked through a seemingly endless hallway with paint peeling on the edges, as the wind whispered though my ears, came the centralized circular pool with a large group of men sitting on the edge of the healing water. The very same moment as the sunlight beaming down the shadowy interior through small fist size holes on the dome above, I realized most of the men around me are as old as the the building itself. To me they appear to be gentle, classic, with a sense of over easy comfort to public nudity.

After 2 hours spent in the bath I emerged from the water almost a brand new person. I walked the streets around Kiraly Bath and walked on the Margit bridge and watch the spectacular views this wonderful city has to offer.

Day 4 - May 21s: Prep and drunk



As the presentation gets close I started to feel the pressure to preform. So I decided to review and work on getting ready for the presentation in the morning and early afternoon.
After lunch I realized for the last few days my stomach haven't been agreeing with me but the food eaten seem clean enough. As long as it's not too unhealthy I hope to loose some weight through this could be harmful event.


I later went to the Danube's bank for a relaxing and even did a little yoga practice. I arrived around 630pm and patiently waiting for the sun to set, waiting, waiting and waiting... hours had past and it was 9pm and sun still up and the chill forced me to gave up. Dinner was delicious at a restaurant called Veritas for 35 USD; I had, a smoked tuna salad, a glass of Rose wine and Csirke Brassoi Maskepa (garlic marinated chicken pieces with pan- fried potato) and the evening ended with me in a very 'friendly' bar and 5 drinks down my belly.

Note to myself: Never have Hungary wine/ shot called Unicum, it's disgusting.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Day Three- Work starts

We had our Art residency meeting today for 7 hours, went over the program's history, information, and what we are expected to do. We later drove to a hardware store on the outskirt of the city and did some material researching. I also realized I haven't had the need to speak a word of Hungarian... shocking how people are able to understand each other without the need of a common language.

I got a metal rod and needed a wire/ rod cutter for it at the store and got the wrong tool. I asked a worker and made a sawing action with my hand and he pointed me to the right tool. We didn't understand each other's language but we understood each other's hearts. That was beautiful.

It's been only 3 days since my arrival but I am starting to fall in love with Budapest and can see myself living in this beautiful city. I can's say the same about Taipei, which is totally ironic because I was born there and lived in Taiwan for 14 years. Life in Taiwan is either too boring in the country or too exciting in the city and Budapest is just right with a mixture of everything and very much like a larger Pasadena, which I totally adore.

Due to unexpected internet problems my blog and flicker sites will be uploaded once every 2 days instead of daily

Day Two- War and lost in Budapest

Today I got up early after sleeping for 12 hours. I went to the Nygugati station (hub) and it's attached Westend mall to shop for a SIM card for my cell phone. The train station is beautiful but I forgot my camera so I will have to go back for pictures, it also helps for being a 10 min walk from the hotel.

The mall is new and supposed to be the largest in Europe and it's just slightly larger than Glendale mall; America has Hungary beaten on this one. The mall design was blend, stores there were boring but I did have the most delicious melon ice cram there.

Very much like the Taiwanese, the Hungarians love their hot spring bath. Bath culture is wonderful here also. I lingered over the Danube river in the afternoon and took a great bath in Ruda's (established in the 1500's) and had a very hairy fat man massage my naked body for 22 USD (yes, I had to paid him, what a lucky guy huh). It was also the first time I worn a lion's cloth which it's much more homo- erotic than being nude (that's how hot springs are done in Asia).


I find the city pretty easy to navigate on foot or via subway. I wish LA will have a greater density of mass- transit system soon, very soon.

Although there are some Asians in the city but they are in such small number I find myself a hot commodity amongst some. I have been getting a lot of curious vibes and it's very interesting because I never encountered this before.

I wondered the city until 10pm walked through many nameless and pedestrian-less alleyways but made it back safely. I was a little uncomfortable and scared that someone might “jump” me. The organizer and travel book had repeatedly warned about tourists mugging, pick-pockets and credit card crimes, so far I still haven't felt 'that' unsafe.


i found ur right hand....

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Day Zero- Budapest here I come.






Long- lines at check in counter

delayed- flight for 2 hours

disgusting- terrible uneatable food

smelly- neighboring passenger

overcast- London weather

smooth- landing

modern- London airport

shopping- heaven

shame- on LAX

beautiful- people

attractive- British accent

5 hours- of walking back and forth







I had such high hopes for being on my first British Airway Flight but it was such a let down. The food was blend (contrarily to American's sodium rich airline food) and tasted terrible. I am waiting for my five hour layover at London Airport and I cant believe how ultra modern the design and architectural hardware are here and it made our LAX airport feels like a third world airport.





The design of the airport is very space- age, Jetson's like with modern materials like glass, stainless- steel and it's a shoppers' heaven with stores like Five- Star, Apple, Gucci, Coach, Boosts, and Harrod's department store. The stores added the sense of humanity to the somewhat cold' interior. The interesting thing is Taipei- Tauoyong airport is exactly opposite (with airport's design modern and with interesting traditional Chinese architecture details but the eve super upscale stores there made it traveler unfriendly).



I finally finished eating at Gordon Ramsey's restaurant “Planefood” and I had Miso crab salad, and small cauliflower soup, both from the appetizer menu. Soup was wonderful sand salad was way too salty and he didn't use fresh crap meant its very salty. The bill came out to be 45 US Dollars.. for just 2 little portion. He is over-rated.



Finally got in to Budapest at 1145. the airport here is petite so it takes 2 mins to get through customs. One other Asian was on board.


Friday, May 16, 2008

Escape from LA!

I am all packed and getting ready to head to the airport and heading for Budapest and later Vienna. I feel extremely lucky to have this opportunity and am glad to be escaping this 90 heat wave of S. Cal.

However the flight might delay for about 2 hours and I will be blogging/ flickr again once I have landed in Budapest.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Benjamin Page: Lectures, Slide Presentation, Gallery Exhibition in Budapest, Hungary 2008-2009

If you happen to be traveling in Europe or planning for a great destination this summer I urge you to join me and other artists from around the globe in Budapest, Hungary for a wonderful culture and mind inspiring experience.

Benjamin Page in International Artist in Residency: Budapest, Hungary
*May 20th- June 13th, 2008 (Residency dates)


Lectures, Slides Presentation and Gallery Exhibition by Benjamin Page and Artists from around the globe all summer long.



  • Lecture and Slide Presentation: 3-4pm, May 22nd , 2208 with topics and discussions on modern sculpture, assemblage, architectural and interior design.

  • Gallery Exhibitions: Untitled art piece created during the residency will be exhibited at the closing exhibition in mid- June 2008, and is scheduled to be exhibited at Vizivarosi Gallery in Budapest, Hungary and Congress Center, Balatonfured, Hungary in the year 2009 (committed, exact dates to be determined).

  • Residency Blog and Flickr: http://benjaminpage.net anytime.

International Artists Residencies Lecture and Seminar- Budapest, Hungary 2008:


This residency program and year long event is hosted and facilitated by Hungarian Muti- Culture Center; a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.


Lecture will be held at: Hunter's roomVI. Jokai ter 9. Budapest, Hungary

*May 22, 2008


09:30 Beata Szechy, HMC
10:30 Lisa Erdman, FL, multimedia
11:30 Rudee Westphal, SD, mixed media
14:00 Megan Randlett, MA, mixed media
15:00 Benjamin Page, CA, mixed media

June 19, 2008

10:30 Odette England, UK, photo
11:30 Jenna Spevack, NY, drawing, installation
14:00 Howard M. Christopherson, MN, photo
15:00 Gregory Euclide, MN, painter
16:00 Niku Kashef, CA, photo, installation
17:00 Andreas Papanastasiu-Greek/UK, photo, painting, video

July 17, 2008

10:30 Candida Pestana, Portugal, painter, video
11:30 Hannah Verlin, MA, installation, performance
14:00 Holly Boruck, CA, painter
15:00 Marlene Vinha, Portugal, mixed media
16:00 Lana Ing Gabor, Canada, photo
17:00 Patricia Tinajero, TN, installation
20:00 Kristine Trever, VA, film

Exhibition and FilmFest by Hungarian Muti- Culture Center: opening reception: August 3, 2008 at 6:00pm


Sincerely,


Benjamin Page
Designer- Artist


Studio Functions
architectural, interior, graphic, environmental design

385 S. Oakland Ave. #101Pasadena, CA 91101
626 568 3641P
626 628 3741F
info@studiofunctions.com
www.studiofunctions.com

P.S. Many of you have asked about my HGTV appearance--it's still being scheduled and will email once I have more infor
mation.