Around and about in Linz

Forgot to mention in yesterday’s post one of the most remarkable features of the day. I managed to get through airport security with 7 kilos of plasticene without anyone raising an eyelid (is that a phrase or have I just made that up?) I’d been having slight concerns about it’s resemblance to plastic explosive – but obviously they weren’t shared by airport security staff.

I’ve got stuck into work today – settled into the studio after a morning wandering with Robyn to collect materials. I’m working with record sleeves and the aforementionned plasticene at the moment. We managed to re-find the record shop I discovered when I was last here in March with LPs from the 60s and 70s for 1 euro each. I’ve got to finish 30 by the 30th ready for the exhibition here which opens on the 6th of July. Forgot how tough plasticene is to work – you have to warm it up to get it malleable. By the end of this I think my hands may well resemble hams even more than they do already. Joy.

Robyn went off to explore the Linz Triennial this afternoon whilst I cracked on with plasticene gripping (they’ll be more on this topic over the next few days…) The studio itself at Salzamt is exceptional. Massive and bright – strong clean smell of warm pine from the floorboards – and with a view directly over the Danube which flows just below the window. I felt very blessed sitting here this afternoon. It felt almost like I was sitting on top of the river, and it was flowing right through me. Some of the challenges and pressures of recent times lifted off a bit. The surface of the water is truly mesmerising, hypnotically shifting as the light moves over the ripples and eddies. Watching it flow makes me want to make films. The sort of scandinavian films that play with light beautifully, pan ever-so quietly and make you feel luxurious in slowness.

Robyn and I have met some more of the artists based here today – Volcan “as in Volcano” from Istanbul is here on a month long residency. He is finding Linz far too quiet in comparison to Istanbul. I can imagine it is quite a strong culture shock. Linz is quiet, almost secretive. Not how I imagine Istanbul to be at all. Haruko is hosting a Japanese/Korean cultural evening in the arty bar next door later this evening and I am looking forward to some more conversations with artists here.

German for today – eins, zwei, drei, vrei, fumf (1,2,3,4,5). Fumf has to be one of the best words for 5 ever.