Som Chai meets my family & friends
I am so excited that Som Chai is now in Oz and has been granted a partner visa.
He's met my family and friends, and even come along to Uni with me.
It is wonderful having him here with me - no more lonely nights or awkward outings on my own!
I can throw my wish list in the fire now because he fulfils all my dreams. I am so proud of him - he is charismatic, generous and kind, and he is also Budhist and a meditator!
I wondered whether there was a difference between art made by a human and art made by a machine? So I made a fan that painted, and I became a painting human fan.
Conclusion: there was no difference.
Just an Ordinary Peasant is based on my uncle’s experience as an inmate at Treblinka extermination camp in 1944. His memoir recounts that while being forced to carry corpses from the gas chambers to an open-air pyre, he was handed a sack which held little children who were still alive. The guard commanded the sack be thrown into the fire. The woman I play in Just an Ordinary Peasant is a hybrid character created from the memoirs of my uncle, my parents and my own research. She sings and dances and also throws a sack of babies into the fire. This piece explores my own biases as well as questions the culpability of ‘ordinary people’ who were accomplices to the atrocities carried out during the Third Reich.
My Perfect Man
How to Build the Perfect Home for my Perfect Man
Once I had made Som-Chai, My Perfect Man, I knew I had to cement our relationship by building our Perfect Home. Which led to my final question – Once you have the Perfect Man and the Perfect Home, can you truly be happy?
Well, so far, I can say, yes. Som-Chai does makes me happy. He reflects all that is true in me – my passions, my inspirations, my joy and my peace. He is also kind, generous and brings a smile to everyone he meets.
Som Chai and I want to thank the devoted team behind this project.
Firstly, our Burmese builders, Low and Lough. They are smart, reliable and resourceful.
Also the Compeung team: Pa, the head supervisor, who was promptly here at 8am every morning. Ong, the brain and the hands behind this construction, and also the provider of nightly music that pumped us up even more.
I thank Gabor for his evening bursts of power and energy and his belief in this project. Linda – thanks for your perfect pics and the interior decoration of our Home.
And most importantly, Ma, for adding her nurturing care to the whole site. With warm hearts, Som Chai and I leave you with our words of appreciation and blessings.
We will carry the spirit of this haven back to Melbourne, Australia and look forward to our return.
​
My Perfect Man
 The Plan (in plasticine) |  01â€.‬ Measuring the area |
|---|---|
 02â€. ‬Removing the bark from the trunks |  03â€. The soil arrives |
 04â€. ‬Me, Pa and Low erect the trunks/poles |  05â€. ‬Unloading the grass-matting |
 06. Calculating the centre of our home |  07. Connecting the radiating poles |
 08. Attaching the cross beams |  09. Building the roof cap |
 10. The roof cap peak |  11. Adding the radiating umbrella cover |
 12. Attaching the cross beams on the roof |  13. Organising the grass matting |
 14. Laying the matting |  15. Sewing the matting |
 16. Enjoying the view |  17. Filling the bags with soil |
 18.Pounding the bags filled with soil |  19.I need a rest |
 20. Showing Som Chai around |  21. So exciting |
 22. Filling the gaps with mortar |  23. Mixing the mortar |
 24. Plastering mud bags |  25.Spreading the mortar |
 26. Rest time again |  27. Spreading the powdered dye |
 28. A visit from the monks |  29. Building the table structure |
 30. Painting the pattern on the seat |  31.Close up of table structure from tyres and bamboo |
 32.Smoothing the cement on the table |  33. Low is finishing off the plastering |
 34. Plastering the table base |  35. Our home is almost finished! |
 36. Gaabor & Ong pounding the ground |  37. Laying bricks for the floor |
 38. Gaabor & Ong working hard |  39. Ong putting up the sign 'Jane & Som Chai's Home' |
 40.Our Home (Baan) is complete |  41.All cleaned up |
 42. Now that I have a Man AND a Home, I can be truly HAPPY! |