I bought 10 books "The Long Road Turns To Joy" A Guide To Walking Meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh 10 years ago. I had given away 9 of them to friends I met at that time. I found the book this morning. I read some pages, I still could remember what were written, I still like it and love the black and white photos printed in it. Out of curisity I search in Google about this book and I found it. Wow, You could even see some pages shown here. Interesting!
There are many books about the Dhammapada. I love and always like to read the following two of them: (1) A New Rendering by Thomas Byrom (with a Preface by Ram Dass and Photography by Sandra Weiner), and (2) Treasury of Truth (Illustrated Dhammapada) by Ven weragoda Sarada Maha Thero.
I enjoy the simple and clear rendering by Thomas Byrom and the beautiful Preface by Ram Dass. I enjoy the photos that are printed in the book. As for the Treasury of Truth, it is a very thick book (around 900 pages). I like the detailed explainations and stories, and artistic illustrations of the book.
I am happy to know that out of the ten most expensive paintings in the world, four of the artists I like: Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Pablo Picasso and Jasper Johns are in the list.
Song of Change. 2007. Acrylic on canvas. 90 x 80 cm. (Painting on the right) and Cradle Mountain, Tasmania. 1999. Acrylic on canvas. 102 x 76 cm. (Painting on the left at the background.) On the floor is painting Morning Meditation, paintings by Jimmy Quek Prabhakara. The painting Song of Change has been acquiried by an art lover recently.
I took out this painting today. I have not seen this painting for a long time. It is quite a long painting. I can't remember the exact year I painted it, most likely before the year 2000. I'll find it out later and update it again in future. Meanwhile, please enjoy it.
Rejoice with Changes. Acrylic on canvas. 80 x 26 inches. By Jimmy Quek Prabhakara. All Rights Reserved.
There will be an art exhibition of 30 paintings of Indonesian artist Nyoman Masriadi at 8Q Singapore Art Museum till 9 November 2008. I have received an invitation to the official opening of the exhibition. It mentioned that the exhibited works are from 1990s to his most recent works. The works on display are on loan from various collectors and most of them are on public view for the first time. Congratulations!
3 pupils had a small celebration of their Birthday today at the Sunday Class. The monk and all the pupils chanted the Auspicious Victory Verses in Pali for them and wished them happy and long life. Everyone had a smile on their happy faces.
There are times that I just like to do something without thinking of meaning and purpose. The pure doing itself is enjoyable and happy. Here is the result... hope you enjoy them!
Please feel free to let me know how do you feel about them! Have a Nice Day!
My Dhamma Duta. 2008. Acrylic on canvas. 20 x 24 inches. By Sayadaw U Pannathami. Sayadaw U Pannathami started paitning this work years ago. The painting shows what he brings with him when he goes abroad sharing Dhamma, including a fan and a bowl. I am happy to help him a bit for the painting. He finally signed off the painting at my place when he was in Singapore recently.
It was a raining day. My wife, my nephew and I were walking toward the traffic light crossing. We heard cat meowing loudly when we were about to cross the road so we looked for the sound to find out where it came from.
We saw a small kitten moving toward and meowing its way to take shelter under a vehicle. The cat was just few inches infont of the rear wheel of the second vehicle waiting at the traffic light junction. It was real dangerous for the kitten! It could be fatal! If the vehicle would move forward, the kitten would die! I quickly signaled the vehicle driver not to move his vehicle and told him that a kitten was underneath his vehicle and I wanted to take it out. I warmed him not to move his vehicle otherwise my hand and the kitten would be in trouble.
It was a small kitten, may be about 3 weeks old only. I carried the kitten across the road and placed it under a bush near the pedestrian’s path. The kitten still meowing and it followed pedestrian’s footsteps. A child was so frightened that he ran away with his umbrella when he saw the kitten. A young lady felt disgusting and she avoided the kitten by walking very fast. The kitten then followed an old woman who carried a basket, obviously she came back from the morning market. What surprised me was that she used her umbrella to push the kitten away from her. She felt most unhappy that the kitten followed her.
At that time, my nephew was with me. He came from Malaysia to stay with us for 2 weeks in Singapore during his school holiday. He was about 14 years old. He said to me: “Uncle Jimmy, how about we bring it home and take care of it for some time, until it grows older then you let it goes his way.” I was very appreciative to my nephew’s suggestion and I felt ashamed for not having that kind thought in the first place. I went to take up the kitten again so to bring it home this time. The old woman looked at me and she still felt unhappy about the kitten.
The kitten was wet and shivering in my hands. I was sure it felt cold, hungry and restless. I looked at it from head to tail carefully. I found it had a funny design of black spots on his white hairy face and body. I found the black spots were not positioned in a very balance manner visually. However I accepted it totally because I felt it needed care and protection in this very beginning of his life.
At home, I cleaned and dried the kitten and placed it on a new towel. My nephew and my wife found a box to serve as its temporary home. The kitten did not like the box much but it liked to hide behind my paintings that were leaned again the wall. It preferred the small space in between the canvas and the wall. My wife made some milk for the kitten. It meowed while it was taking the milk. It did not allow anyone to go near the little bowl of milk. Later, we fed it with fish and it also made noise when it was eating. It was very offensive and alert when eating.
Next morning, I bought the kitten to a Vet. This is the first time I visited animal clinic. The Vet Dr Lim came out from her office to greet me at the reception area when she heard that I came to see her. She was once my student who took art lessons at the Federation of Art Societies where I conducted drawings and paintings lesson for two years. She directed me to her office and after we had chitchat a while, she began to check the kitten.
She checked the cat's eyes, ears, mouth, legs, paws and the body. She told me she found no abnormality with the cat. She assured me that the kitten is fine. She shared with me knowledge of taking care of kitten, including giving a name to it so it could understand that when we called him. She showed me how to have contact with the cat so it would be friendly to us. She showed me how to train the kitten for his toiletry needs. She gave me a bottle of milk powder for the kitten and some nutrition pills. She asked me to bring it back for an injection about one month’s time.
We called it “Bear Bear”. Bear Bear became a member of our family since then.
I painted this small painting in 2007 for art lovers and beginners' collection. It is not framed. If you wish to view more small paintings, they are at http://pabha.com/SmallPaintings
Orchid 2007 Medium: Acrylic on paper. Size: 14 x 9.5 cm. By Jimmy Quek Prabhakara
An inquiry I received on art rental service ignites me to have ideas to serve people with what I have and what I can. So, I decided to give it a start, to provide art rental program to meet the needs for credible corporates.
After I have carried out research and found out more about art rental service and consulted friends who are in corporation and business, I feel I could do the job well. I have a very good collection of paintings, I have the willingness to share and show my paintings to people, and at the same time I continue with my creation.
I shall expand this art rental service to public and private organisations, corporates in future. Works are rented for yearly basis. Rental fees vary according to value of artwork. If any organisations, corporates and companies in Singapore are interested in this art rental program, you could submit your inquiry or proposal application to Pabha Creation, or contact me Jimmy Quek or Siew Hooi at 67823579 or email: pabha@singnet.com.sg for more information.
Siew Hooi passed me a small but heavy box yesterday while she was tidying the cupboards in a room. She told me that it was my Treasure. I opened the box and I found many Chinese Seal Stones in it. Some have carved with words and some are new. These are my collection of Seals and Stones that I acquired when I was still a school boy more than 30 years ago.
Chinese name Seal.
Chinese Name Seal.
3 Seal Sones with a cute little lion on it. I bought it from the bookshop.
This stone has 3 sided seals, from the words it tells that it were carved in 1973 November.
Portrait - Sayadaw U Pannathami. Medium: Acrylic on canvas. Size: 10 x 12 inches. By Jimmy Quek Prabhakara.
This is first time I painted a portrait of Sayadaw U Pannathami. Sayadaw U Pannathami is the Religious Advisor of Vipassana Meditation Centre (Singapore). Born in Myanmar in 1948. He received higher ordination at the age of twenty. He graduated with Sasanadhaja Dhammacariya and in his early years, Sayadaw had practiced meditation under illustrious masters, notably the late Most Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw as well as Sayadaw U Pandita. Sayadaw has many years of experience guiding meditators, easterners and westerners alike, particularly in the practice of Insight (Vipassana) Meditation. He had carried the torch of Dhamma to many countries: Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Canada, Belgium, USA and UK and is well respected for his skillful guidance, loving-kindness and compassion. Since January 2000, Sayadaw U Pannathami has been the abbot of Panditarama Sydney Meditation Center, Sydney, Australia.
I have created some artistic pendants in the last few years. They are unique and one of a kind. Siew Hooi has been selling them. I have placed some ot them in website, it is a good way to show them. I have updated them at PABHA website at http://pabha.com/PendantsCollectionGallery , click the link to view them if you wish. Hope you enjoy my small works.
This is an old exhibition catalogue that was printed in 1990. That exhibition was organised by Della Butcher Gallery. It was held at the Oriental, Singapore Atrium Gallery, 4th Floor, 5 Raffles Avenue Marina Square, Singapore. Della Butcher was the gallery owner who also held my first one man art exhibition. I am grateful to her for her love and care she had had for me and my arts.
GUESTBOOK:
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