Friday, March 30, 2018

Ricardo Chavez Tovar ~ Sacred Ritual As Art

The Muse Is Not Available (December 2009)

The Elusive Art of Sacred Ritual

“Commercialism and industrialism now threaten, alas, to turn art into just another economic activity - and the artist's ceremonial and magical role into a purely ornamental one. No doubt a certain superstitious awe still attends the artist's endeavors; but in this consumerist age, the artist-shaman's contribution to the success of the hunt has been reduced to churning out effective advertising and public relations for the vulgar new gods of materialism - or fashionable new trends for the children of the privileged.” ~ Antares Maitreya (Inner Technology of Art: Making Public the Private, 2001)


It’s not often that I get the chance to quote myself, so I decided to grab this opportunity. I feel the above statement is particularly relevant to what Ricardo Chavez Tovar is all about. He is one among a handful of artists with whom I’m personally acquainted who has consciously reclaimed his magical lineage as a brujo – a practising shaman. Technically, he is as conscientious and competent as any professional artist you will find anywhere in the world. It’s just that Ricardo doesn’t give two hoots about public relations and the glossy hype that permeates the art milieu.

I don’t claim to know the man at all, but he apparently knows something about me, since he keeps inviting me to officiate at his openings. And now he is twisting my arm to write a foreword for his catalog, even though he must suspect I no longer feel fired up enough about art to wish to pontificate about it. In any case, Ricardo says I should view it as an honor and not a chore, and so I will.

Rare photo of the artist with some of his students
Ricardo Chavez Tovar will always be an enigma - perhaps even to himself. I won’t attempt to expound upon his equally enigmatic and intriguing art. Indeed, to approach his work on the cerebral level seems sacrilegious. It would be as uncouth and ungracious as furtively extracting dead skin cells from the fingers of the Muse for laboratory analysis, instead of ecstatically surrendering to her tender caresses.

One thing is certain: Ricardo Chavez Tovar is not bothered by the games people tend to play and the elaborate pretenses that surround the rarefied precincts of fashionable and marketable art. Would he otherwise spend months and years working on exhibits that can’t be sold and proudly displayed in the finest suburban homes?

Nonetheless, having said that, I can picture Ricardo’s evocative installations occupying pride of place in some prestigious contemporary art museum anywhere in the civilized world - so I hope he maintains an open mind about the prospect of sudden, unexpected global acclaim.

Altar to the Muse (December 2009)
What drives the man, then, to such unimaginable intensities of feeling and artistic arousal? If the word “religious” didn’t carry such a heavy burden of negative connotations, I would apply it to Ricardo’s art. After all, he was born Mexican: a tempestuous genetic and cultural mix of Olmec, Maya, Zapotec, Toltec, Aztec and Conquistador. His blood is infused with the otherworldly song of stars; and with the colors, flavors and textures that inspire vivid murals. His cellular memories encompass galaxies and constellations. The mystery of death fascinates and obsesses him as powerfully as the secret of life. His imagination is fired equally by the divine and the diabolical. You could call him a regenerate pagan, a renegade human.

Ricardo’s series of installations dedicated to the Muse - conspicuously absent, yet ubiquitously present - now exist only in photographic form lovingly documented by Ung Chirt Min - having been exhibited to no more than a tiny number of hardcore aficionados. In effect, Ricardo Chavez Tovar is one of those rare artists who can operate quite happily without an audience, since his art is his personal form of worship, his own sacred ceremony.

Morning Stretching Of A Golden Fool On The Awakening Balcony
What inspired him to embark on the current series? In a recent email Ricardo discloses that he “got struck by a shining light of creative madness” while listening to The Residents, one of his favorite avant-garde bands, whose allusions to an imaginary guru named N. Senada and his Theory of Obscurity were probably based on the mutant musings of Don Van Vliet aka Captain Beefheart - a 1970’s Dada rock icon who retired from the music scene in 1982 to focus on painting.

Ricardo spent three years in China learning the language and absorbing the culture. Then he relocated to Penang where he has taught for nearly twenty years. His best buddy and artistic accomplice in Penang is Askandar Unglehrt (a German married to a Kelantanese princess) who shares Ricardo’s eye and taste for the surreal, the epiphanic and the ephemeral – and also the luminous, numinous, humorous, ludicrous and (conceptually) intoxicating.

I mention Askandar because his contribution to Ricardo’s evolution as an artist-magician cannot be discounted. Every artist, shaman, sorcerer or wizard derives inspiration, nourishment and nurturing from those who recognize, acknowledge and believe in him.

Well, Ricardo, let me state here for the record that I, too, recognize, acknowledge and believe in you. Live long, prosper (if at all possible), and influence the course of human destiny (if you so desire).

Antares Maitreya
Magick River
6 August 2009

October’s Full Moon Party at the Tropical Gardens of Lady Luna (2012)

A Note of Apology from Antares

Ricardo emailed me in January 2007, asking if I would say “a few words” at the opening of his installation, The Muse Is Not Available.

I agreed, of course, since everybody says it’s an honor to be invited to officiate at such events.

My dear friend Askandar Unglehrt, in his program notes to this event, describes Ricardo’s work as “a visual poem about presence and absence - or, more precisely, about the presence of the absence.”

I know Ricardo as an artist who lives his art. And we know that life imitates art as often as art imitates life. I was looking forward to being present at his opening in Kuala Lumpur. And yet my absence is proclaimed by this note. I was compelled by unavoidable circumstances to deliver this message by proxy.

One of my daughters celebrates her 10th wedding anniversary today on Langkawi Island and she insisted that her Daddy be present. Without consulting the calendar I immediately agreed. Knowing her, she would not be amused if I didn’t show up for her grand party.

Ricardo, I know, has already forgiven me. Indeed, he wants me to officiate at his next opening. I promise I will make myself available on that happy occasion. For now, I can only trust that my absence will add to, rather than detract from, the magical presence of Ricardo’s uniquely imaginative and evocative work.

Thank you, dear friends. May you enjoy and be enriched by the work of this extremely talented and passionate artist.


Antares
1 June 2007






Thursday, March 29, 2018

And the beat goes on ~ a percussive interlude!













What these amazing talents reveal... is that you don't need multi-billion-dollar budgets to get astounding results. Those who can't afford expensive equipment can improvise with plastic buckets, a bicycle, even an invisible drum kit!

Yup... it's all a matter of timing, folks... keep your spirits upbeat.... won't be long now... it will be curtains for Umno/BN!

[First posted 24 August 2012]


Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Sahara Yaacob ~ songs from an unrecorded album


SAHARA YAACOB



Music by Tommaso Cecere
Words by Antares Maitreya
© 1995




GO CRAZY (TILL THE BREAK OF DAY)


every night when the light goes out
i'll be thinking about you
i don't know what it is that i miss
but it's something about you
i'm goin’ crazy
think i’ll slip on my high-heels &
go dancin’ till the break of day

i've been told that the man in the moon
is an old has-been
he used to work in hollywood
cleaning out the stars’ latrines
i'm goin’ crazy
think i’ll slip on my high-heels &
go dancin’ till the break of day

well it's hard to be a red-blooded woman
and a lady too
people talk behind your back
regardless of the facts
no matter what you do
i'm goin’ crazy
think I’ll slip on my high-heels &
go dancin’ till the break of day

let the bad old world spin around on its tail
i'll only show you what i can unveil
i'm doin’ all i can to help &
hoping that my strength won’t fail (won't fail won't fail won't...)
i‘m goin’ crazy (baby)
think i’ll slip on my high-heels &
go dancin’ with the devil till the (goddamn) break of day
("hey let's go! crazy! till the break of day!")



SINCE I FOUND YOU

friends all say
i should run away
or pay the price
don't know why
every time i sigh
i end up crying

i have to decide
if this feeling inside
is what i'm hiding
from myself
but however i try
i just can't deny
i find i'm climbing much higher
since i found you
life's been so full
so beautiful joyful & true

[CHORUS:]

WHERE DO YOU COME FROM?
SOME HEAVENLY SPHERE?
I'M SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT FROM HERE
WHERE WILL YOU TAKE ME?
WHAT WILL YOU MAKE ME?
WHY DON’T I FEEL ANY FEAR?
HOW CAN I PLEASE YOU?
I NEVER WILL CEASE TO
THANK YOU FOR EASING MY WAY
NOW THAT YOU'RE NEAR ME
I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME
WHISPER MY LOVE IN YOUR EAR

[SPOKEN:]

Teach me the language of angels
So I can share the secrets of your heart
My Beloved,
Soul of my Soul,
We’re One, you and me,
United and free
From now till eternity

friends wanna know
why there's a glow
from my soul
so hard to explain
but I’ll sing you
this sweet refrain

i have to confess
i’m at a different address
and my new home
is where i can rest
but however i try
i just can't deny
i find i’m climbing much higher
since i found you
life's been so full
so beautiful joyful & true

[REPEAT CHORUS]



TIT FOR TAT

you can call it luck
or you can say it's fate
you can call me a lady
or you can rake up the muck
well i found out the hard way
the world’s not an easy place
for a girl who wants to have her say
‘cos they only see your pretty face

HYPOCRITES & ARISTOCRATS
I SHOW YOU A TIT IF YOU GIVE ME A TAT
HYPOCRISY’S PART OF DEMOCRACY
HEY DON’T YOU KNOW IT’S TIT FOR TAT
BULLSHIT! DON’T YOU GIVE ME THAT

I’m an advocate of love - mmmmm - not hate
and i have had enough of your purr-litical debate
some folks like to open doors
some defecate on floors
then they’ll accuse you of some crime
when they slip and fall in their own slime

[CHORUS X 2]

i’m an advocate of love - baby - not hate
and i have had my fill of your furr-natical dictate
some folks like to open doors
some defecate on floors
then they’ll accuse you of some crime
when they slip and fall in their own slime

you can call it luck
or you can blame it on fate
you can call me anything you want babe
frankly i d0n’t give a f--k
well i found out the hard way
that the world’s not an easy place
for a girl who wants to have her say
they want to see a pretty face

HYPOCRITES & ARISTOCRATS
I’LL SHOW YOU A TIT IF YOU GIVE ME A TAT
HYPOCRISY’S PART OF DEMOCRACY

HEY DON’T YOU KNOW IT’S TIT FOR TAT
TIT FOR TAT
TIT FOR TAT
BULLSHIT! DON’T YOU GIVE ME THAT




MY LOVE IS AN OCEAN
   
all my life
I’ve been trying to find
someone who can see
what's on my mind

but all this time
I’ve been so blind
that someone i was looking for
was right behind

in another life we shared a love so true
we were such a perfect pair - me and you
in another world we would have dared to fly
higher, much higher than the sky

all my days
I’ve been waiting for you
to come back
into my life
but i can't stay
I’m on my way
i hope we meet again
in some other play

i do know
when it’s time to go
I’ll be calling out your name
hoping you’ll answer
wherever you are
you’re never too far
‘cos you and i we’re closer
than lovers

PEOPLE SAY THEY KNOW
WHAT LOVE IS ALL ABOUT (“It must be your hormones, honey”)
THEY THINK IT’S SOME KIND OF WISHING WELL
YOU CAN FALL IN AND OUT OF
BUT IF YOU TAKE A LOOK DEEP INTO MY EYES
YOU CAN SEE THAT MY LOVE IS AN OCEAN
THAT WILL NEVER DRY
(“Why don’t you try it?”)

but i can’t stay
i’m on my way
i hope we meet again
in some other play

i do know
when it’s time to go
I’ll be calling out your name
hoping you’ll answer
wherever you are
you’re never too far
‘cos you and i we’re closer
than lovers

[REPEAT MIDDLE EIGHT]

in another life we shared a love so true
we were such a perfect pair - me and you
in another world we would have dared to fly
higher… much higher... than the sky



CAN’T JUST CARRY ON 
(SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND FLY)

i’m amazed that you never
seem to get any wiser
you think you’re so clever
you don’t need to be any nicer
well here’s some news for you
from a friendly adviser
fact or fiction - truth is stranger
everything’s gonna change
we can’t just carry on (“seriously, people!”)
can’t just carry on

it won’t be business-as-usual
at the market exchange
you know trust must be mutual
or we’ll all get rearranged
well won’t be long now
time to right ‘em wrongs now
don’t throw stones at strangers
everything’s gonna change
we can’t just carry on (“you better believe it, baby!”)
can’t just carry on

I JUST GOT A LETTER IN A RECYCLED ENVELOPE
IT SAID THE WORLD WILL BE SO MUCH BETTER
WHEN WE LIVE IN LOVE AND HOPE
WORKING CLOSE TOGETHER
AND NOT JUST TO GET AHEAD
LIKE BIRDS OF A FEATHER
WE GOTTA FLY OR WE’LL BE DEAD
WE’RE BIRDS OF A FEATHER
GOTTA FLY OR WE’RE ALL DEAD
FORGET EVERYTHING AND SPREAD YOUR WINGS
GOTTA FLY OR WE’RE ALL DEAD
SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND FLY
SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND FLY
WE CAN’T JUST CARRY ON (“NO WAY, JOSÉ!”)
CAN’T JUST CARRY ON (“WE GOTTA STOP IT NOW!”)

everyone’s in the same old boat
whether you’re rich or poor
some people are sheep and some are goats
and with some you can’t be sure
we gotta be ready
when the angels open up the door
so don’t turn away the stranger
arriving at your shore
we can’t just carry on (“hell it’s been going on too long!")
can’t just carry on

[REPEAT BRIDGE]

we gotta be ready
when the angels open up the door
so don’t turn away the stranger
arriving at your shore
we can’t just carry on
can’t just carry on (“oh no!”)
can’t carry on now (“i’m not putting you on!”)
can’t just carry on
can’t keep on carryin’ on (“c’mon, do something!”)
can’t just carry on



  
I CAN’T STAND IT ANYMORE
  
people on the street
rushing round on their feet
looking down upon themselves
searching for someone else
every day smiling away
i can see a thousand people
with nothing to say

show me what i’ve got to do
how do i get through to you
little colored lights before your eyes
nobody seems to realize
every day filing away
i can see a million people
trying to earn their pay

don’t please i can’t stand it anymore
round and round and round gets to be such a bore




ON MY OWN AGAIN
  
i don’t see your face at the window
as i turn the key in my door
i don’t hear your voice from the kitchen
asking how did everything go

a man comes on the radio
saying it may rain tomorrow
makes no difference to me
i’ll pour a drink & watch tv
on my own again

i’ve been glancing at my bedside phone
almost hoping for a ring
i can see myself hesitating
why don’t we leave well enough alone

but what can i say to you?
that i still care for you?
is there a way to deal with the pain i feel?
i know i can heal
on my own again

("it’s only pain - big deal - take it away!")

but what can i say to you?
that i still care for you?
is there a way to deal with the pain i feel?
i know i can heal
on my own again

i can smell your hair on my pillow
there’s a footprint on my bathroom floor...

a man comes on the radio
saying it may rain tomorrow
makes no difference to me
i’ll pour a drink & watch tv
on my own again




WHAT CAN I DO?

well i know the kind of person you are
i’ve been patient but you’ve gone too far
that look on your face only says you’re a liar
hey don’t waste my time get out of my car
i have been fooled before
don’t give me shit no more
so mister now’s the time for you to go
but please do me a favor don’t slam the door

i should have listened to my dear old mama
my life wouldn’t be such a melodrama
she always told me not to take any chances
you wanna get married don’t count on romances
you gotta get yourself a real job
drop freddy billy harry & bob
you gotta save up your dollars
girl don’t respond to callers
behave like a snob

WHAT CAN I DO?
I’M MAD ABOUT YOU
I FEEL SO ALONE
CAN’T SLEEP ON MY OWN
I WANT YOU TO STAY
JUST ONE MORE DAY
THEN MAYBE I’LL LEARN
TO TURN AWAY (FROM YOU)

well i know the story you’re gonna tell
you say you’re sorry but what the hell
where have i heard that before?
i’m not going to be your fool no more
so mister now’s the time for you to go
but please do me a favor don’t slam the door

[REPEAT CHORUS x 3]