Do you remember the photo series "Where Children Sleep"? It went viral on the internet a little while ago. Back in 2010, James Mollison documented children's bedroom from around the world. If you've somehow missed it, you should check it out now. It was quite interesting slash trippy slash kinda scary! 
James Mollison came back 5 years later with another photo essay documenting schools playgrounds from around the world. Again, his images are very powerful. Not only do they witness the differences in children's environment from all over the world, they also bring back our very own playground's memories from our own childhood.
And I'll admit that my memories really aren't fantastic. I went to a private catholic school from kindergarten 'til I was 15 in my home town, in France. Playgrounds were a scary unsafe place for me. I was one of those bullied child. Big long teeth, too skinny, not fashionable (denim jeans where not allowed in our closet for the longest time!), struggling at home with a sick mom, and not only bullied in the playground by other kids but also by my very own sister. It was quite awful. I would do my best for people not to notice me. I remember that girl, her name was Alix, she was my sister's friend in high school. My sister was waiting for me on the curb outside of school, my mom had passed away not long before. The girl looks at me as I am walking towards them and screams in front of all the older kids "Oh you're right, your sister is so ugly". I froze. Ever since my childhood I have been a fierce defender of bullied people. But then playgrounds also showed me the way to true beautiful friendship. My two best girlfriends growing up were the opposite, they were the pretty girls, the ones boys would want to hang out with. They were the cool ones. And never, not once, have they let me down. They would protect me no matter what. If the boys didn't want to play with me, then they'd stay with me. Those two were my safe place and my everyday dose of love and affection. Julie and Laure.
I have always thought of school's playground as a place where you had to be either pretty or tough. I was not pretty and I was not tough. I cried a lot. This is something I do not want to pass on to my children. No matter what they may look like, I want them to grow in an environment where they can feel safe and strong enough to stand up for themselves. I want them to be respectful of others, no matter our differences. There will be no compromise on that last point. 
That's how far James Mollison's photography work has taken me. while inspiring me to dig further in my own photography journey.
Interesting to think that the first thing I noticed on the photos were the kids being made fun of or even hit while some other people may focus on the kids laughing and having a blast in their freedom kingdom.
1 child = 1 childhood = 1 chance to make the world a better place

above : Pei Qiao Central Middle School, Qingyuan, China - My favorite photo-wise : I love the balance between the concrete and the greens.

Above : Kaloleni School, Nairobi, Kenya

Above : SDCCL Public School, Sikka, Gujarat, India 

above : Ugo Foscolo Elementary School, Murano, Venice

Above : Aida Boys School, Bethlehem, West Bank

Above : Dechen Phodrang, Thimphu, Bhutan

Above : Maamounia Elementary Rhimal Area, Gaza City, Gaza

Above : Gomalandet Skole, Kristiansund, Norway

Above : Bhakti Vidyashram, Katmandu, Nepal

Above : Paso Payita, Aramasi, Chuquisaca, Bolivia

Above : Sohei Elementary School, Tokyo

Above : Nativity School, Los Angeles

Above : Emiliano Zapata Elementary School, Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo, Mexico

Above : Affiliated Primary School of South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China

I always love a good photo series. 
Here I admire the aerial view and the eye of the photographer Chan Dick using the green ish concrete background for canvas. The very graphic images, the pop of colors here and there, the shadows..Hands down hats off, I'm loving this work. 
I'm always impressed at how powerful an image can be. I also like the idea that while I may love the series below, not all of you will. What makes an image appeal to an eye and not the other, I call it magic.
It's also always inspiring to come across a complete stranger's work and feel something clicking within your own body. Something that's going to take you further within your very own personal path. There's a specific feel of excitement to it. 
I am starting to see some kind of a pattern too. Somehow this series takes me back to Spectrum Berlin, another series I shared a few month ago.
When you don't have an artistic background, when you grew up in a dark rather than a colorful world, it's interesting to see how your eyes, brain & soul adapt to a world that you've grown to love in a very self-taught manner - Talking about Art. 

​Photos by Hong Kong Photographer Chan Dick

Book-addict. I'll survive with a small closet but won't let go of my books. Here's my latest wish list. From left to right :
1-From Ummmm to Der by Thomas Campbell, please! / 2-Milk Anniversary book, anyone traveling from France out there?/ 3-M Train by Patti Smith, (if I had to pick one iconic woman she would be it.) / 4 & 5-Freunde von Freunden books I have been eying those for a long time now / 6-Aloha to Zen by Fern Levack the ultimate Happy-Bandits A to Z glossary / 7-Tomboy Style by Lizzie Garrett Mettler, there has to be a Patti Smith portrait in it / 8-The Grand Budapest Hotel by Matt Zoller Seitz, I have loved the photography in this Wes Anderson movie, I would love some stills and a behind the scene look at how it all came together. / 8-Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings by Laura Markham, no need to comment much here, this book has been warmly recommended to me, I will give it a try. 

and the list goes on. Any recommendations?
x

What a creative mind can make with ink as a material is pretty mind blowing. I would love this as an Artwork playing on a wall in our home. The projector would be hidden. The day we have a home, maybe. 

Talking about his Art, Southern California surfer & artist Andy Davis says :"It makes people smile, or laugh, but mostly I hope it just makes them feel good. Surfing and the culture of cool around it can get too serious sometimes. That's the last place we need that kind of attitude. It's our sanctuary". This alone makes me like the guy. I love simple line drawings in general, I love grown ups who cultivate their childish mind. Some drawings might even seem naive but it brings a colorful feel of happiness to me when I look at his Art. It makes me want to grab my longboard and go look for that missing tooth, and eventually catch a wave or two. 

Willy (above) is the Oh So Enthusiastic Wild Artist behind those sculptures. You gotta meet him, you gotta talk to him, you gotta see his funky awesome outfits to have a slight idea of the character. We love him. He left yesterday for the mainland and has been spending these past few weeks cleaning up his pieces, selling them, freeing himself from the attachement he had to them. Before letting go of all of them he asked us if we'd want to keep one. We asked if we could keep two. The sphere and the rainbow. I would love to hang the clouds in a kid's room. Keeping some of the magic safe with us. 

waves breaking, ukulele playing, flower leis & smiles. This is Hawaii. 

WE  HAD  F U N ! !