Travels with Edward B. Gordon

Rio de Janeiro, January 2022

Last year, I had been invited by Edward B. Gordon on a visit to his art studio. It was a very hot day in august, when I arrived on my bicycle, totally sweaty, in an industrial area of Berlin-Schöneweide, the new underground student’s neighbour hood right beside the main river Spree, way out of the center. We had not seen each other for quite some years but always kept in touch. Last time I had invited him to my big 45th birthday bash a year before in January 2020 - last party before pandemic- and he had sent me an exquisit bottle of whiskey instead, as he was out of town. Real Gentleman manners.

He received me with a cup of tea in finest china and I sat, in my sweaty shorts, on his chaise longue with a perfect view on his current work in large format right in front of me. I always followed and really admired his work and wanted to buy a small piece I had seen posted online recently. He did not want to sell but painted me a similar one as a present. There I was, with this precious piece in my hands, signed and packed up in a box for safe transport. An original small work of art dedicated to me by Edward B.Gordon. I was thrilled!

In my world of light traveling and minimalistic life style, it means a lot if carrying around such item to be accompanied by, where ever I go. And I did well in deciding what to take along with me, those little things that make me happy apart from things that are necessary and practical such as toothbrush or an old school vaccination pass printed on small yellow pages. Clothes come and go, depending on how the weather conditions are like. Shoes get worn out and bought new. Laptop is constantly in use and needs an update here and there. But a piece of art usually remains the same and enlightens my daily mood.

Green, how I want you green ( Federico Garcia Lorca)