It struck me just a little while ago how much I love communication and that I’ve now (as of 2023) worked within the field in a variety of roles for more than 25 years.

It’s been a long, wonderful love affair and one that has provided a wealth of creative and monetary rewards that I feel confident few other vocations could have provided me with. I’ve tried a handful of other professions and none came even close. This is probably why I love this newspaper wall so much – even if I can’t understand a single symbol. I don’t even know if the wall is actual news or merely fresh propaganda from the PRC’s long arm.

Regardless, I think it’s a beautiful representation of public communication, which, thanks to its location, makes it accessible and inclusive – as long as you can read Mandarin (I’m obviously guessing here that the wall’s newspapers aren’t printed in Cantonese).

I love Chinese characters as they remind me that the oldest form of communication was hand-painted on cave walls and not written letters, words, or sentences. The shapes and forms of the earliest Chinese characters (Shang Dynasty, 1600 – 1046 B.C.) were more reflective of what they represented and the oldest cave paintings (Indonesia, 43,000 B.C.) were rough but basic and concise. Inarguable as long as you knew what they represented. If you hadn’t seen a wild pig, you wouldn’t know what that thing on the cave wall was until someone showed you what a wild pig looked like. If you’d seen a lamb, you might be able to guess it was an animal, or, at least that it represented food. Kinda like the difference between two related languages…

It would be kinda cool if we once again had newspaper walls like the one above here in Europe. A public space where all kinds of papers could post an article or two. Maybe adding a QR code for those that wanted to read beyond the wall’s limited space. Yeah, that could be an interesting installation themed on communication.

Daughter Elle captured this portrait of me, her father, late last summer. In retrospect, I was significantly more interested in our creative collaboration than whether or not the results turned out to be as good as they ended up being. Which is by no means a reflection of Elle’s capability to take a portrait of me, this is the second portrait she’s taken that I’ve published, as it is my inability to accept what I actually look like these days.

I think this particular version of me turned out really well. It’s compositionally excellent and my look feels emotionally, if not physically relatable. It mirrors one side of who I am: a serious, composed, and focused dude in his sixth decade. 

Captured this intriguing Resurfaced piece earlier today on my way to a friend’s book release event in a part of Malmö I rarely visit, Södervärn. On the way back, I located a long plywood wall full of riveting surfaces of which I hastily captured a few. I definitely need to return sometime next week to take a closer look.

Yesterday was emotional on many levels. Elle came over for dinner and she and I talked about her late uncle and godfather Tyko and how her generation is less stigmatizing about mental health.

I feel fortunate and privileged to be surrounded by people that care about me. Many reached out to me yesterday and shared their thoughts about my post. For decades, art and my creative process have helped me therapeutically to avoid falling too deep into an emotional abyss. It’s a godsend, really. Obviously, love is part of that “lifejacket” as is humor.

The Resurfaced piece above is as good a representation of my life as any. Flaky, curly, verklempt but still standing.

Here’s my travel map for 2022. It’s significantly longer than 2021 which in turn was more extensive than 2020.

Most of these trips have been linked to the Resurfaced Art Project. But I would be disingenuous if I didn’t admit that since the pandemic tapered off, I’ve become even more addicted to new travel experiences. Which might be a reflection of my inability to find “zen” at home. But it could also be that I don’t see why I should refrain from traveling. Aside from the environmental aspect, of course.

At the beginning of the year, I told myself that there were three things that would keep me from seeking out new places or returning to familiar destinations:

1. Health issues
2. Political hindrances
3. Financial woes

All three continue to be relevant potential perils – but so far, knock on wood, none have kept me from traveling.

I’ve mostly been to destinations with a warm climate, which has definitely helped stave off arthritic pains and aches. Together with Rinvoq, the medication I’m taking right now, I’ve been more or less asymptomatic since early November.

Obviously, the political situation in the world continues to worry. But so far, the war in Europe, as idiotic and tragic as it is, is still contained and doesn’t threaten travel in the rest of the world. At least not so far. I had a dinner discussion last night with a seasoned journalist friend about the Russia-Ukraine war and neither of us could come up with a probable or possible outcome. It’s a real deadlock.

Financially, well, things could be both a lot worse and a whole lot better. I’ve learned to be a frugal traveler and with just a few exceptions, most places I’ve visited in 2022 have not been excruciatingly costly.

Where to go in 2023? Who knows. I would love to revisit rural Japan, go skiing in Bulgaria or Georgia, do some charity work in India, go on a long hike in Madeira, surf the waves of Cornwall, and finally see the icebergs in Greenland. We shall see what the new year has in store.

Take a look at some of my travel photos from the past year right here.