Butterfly Project

60 blessings written on rice paper with 60 butterflies
30x50cm
Private collection

60 butterflies with 60 handwritten notes, each with a blessing from Sufi poems dedicated to love and unity.

Carnets d’Inspiration

Artist’s book
21×13.5cm
Private Collection

The artist’s book is made for the occasion of the benefit auction “Carnets d’Inspiration”, Curated by Olivia de Smedt, at Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, France, December 7 ~ 9, 2010.

Carnets d’Inspiration is a charity art event, which invites contemporary artists to work from a Moleskine sketchbook in order to create an original work of art. The artworks will be auctioned for the benefit of “Vaincre la Mucoviscidose” association (fighting against cystic fibrosis). I was invited for this meaningful project during a period when I was constantly traveling for work. Since receiving the notebook from Olivia, I have brought it along with me on journeys beginning from Paris to Taipei, Tokyo, Gwangju, Seoul, London, Budapest, New York, Dominican Republic…etc. Around this time, I was very attracted to the philosophy, music, and literature of the Islamic sect of Sufism. Especially when I hear chanting by Sufi musicians from Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey…etc, I feel very touched in the heart. I think of Sufi literature as blessings that lead us to experience non-duality of which create a sense of unity that uplifts our spirit beyond perceived knowledge. It brings us to a state of euphoria where you are no longer different from me, and we are no longer separated from the world that we share. My hope for this little book in addition to the benefit for children with cystic fibrosis, is for the writings coming from this beautiful tradition to inspire us to embrace our shared path towards happiness and bring a breath of fresh air. The texts that were written in the book were in Chinese and English, which are the two languages that I know best. Special thanks to Olivia for the invitation.

Published
Categorized as Books

Lovely Daze – Special Edition 3

Lovely Daze - Special Edition 3 - 2010 - Joaquin Sarmiento

Lovely Daze is a curatorial journal of artists’ writings and artworks published biannually in limited editions. For this special edition: Of Ease & Euphoria, we are pleased to present a collection of photographs by Joaquin Sarmiento dedicated to the cultural vibrancy and diversity of the Caribbean region of Colombia. This six-year photographic journey (2004~2010) takes us from the remote deserts of La Guajira to the lush landscape around Cartagena.

While growing up in Bogota, I have always been fascinated by the Caribbean region of Colombia. My grandmother was originally from Barranquilla, the largest city of this region, so I was curious to discover what I might have in common with the costeños (people from the coastal area). Colombia struggled through unforeseen harships during the 1980’s and 90’s – roads were controlled by guerilla and paramilitary groups and it became nearly impossible to travel locally. In more recent years, the conflict eased and I returned to the region and committed myself to capturing its uniqueness and documenting how its people have retreated back to the laid-back lifestyle after two decades of violence. ~ Joaquin Sarmiento

publisher/editor/designer ~ charwei tsai
artist/writer ~ joaquin sarmiento
editors ~ kelly carmena, lesley ma, sabrina shaffer
muses ~ ana maria calle, angela garcia, maria martinez, cristina rodriguez
copyright ~ lovely daze, autumn/winter 2010/2011
printed in my beloved formosa

JOAQUIN SARMIENTO was born in 1977 in Bogota. He graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University in the United States. After working as an engineer for several years, he decided to pursue his passion in photojournalism. Sarmiento completed a postgraduate program in Photography at the SENAC School in Sao Paulo and has worked as a freelance photographer since. In 2005, the city of Sao Paulo awarded him a grant which initiated Um Olhar (One View). The Um Olhar project brought cameras and photography lessons to youngsters living in local favelas. Sarmiento not only taught photography to the students, but also worked with them to organize exhibitions of their work. These resulting exhibitions focused on how Um Olhar’s students saw and documented their daily lives, and challenged how professional photographers and media portrayed life in favelas. After three years in Brazil, Sarmiento moved back to Colombia where he currently resides and continues his work in photography with a focus on the Caribbean region. Following Um Olhar, he has moved on to organizing workshops in schools and prison facilities in Bogota. His work has been published in various news magazines throughout Latin America and has been exhibited in Colombia, Brazil, and Portugal.

www.joaquinsarmiento.com

Published
Categorized as Books