Day 20, Level 2: EGGS, Building facades, Kinetic sculptures, and the horrors of FGM
The world has been in pieces - which reminds me of a fabulous exhibit I saw at the AGSA (Art Gallery of South Australia) in Adelaide last year. The facade is fabulous, with an intricate and intriguing EGG sculpture outside which reflects the building in a unique and artistic way. Of course, the world being in pieces is not at all fabulous. But hopefully, from one end to the other, we are emerging into a better place.
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| The world in pieces |
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| EGG at AGSA |
As we inch ever closer to Level 1 in NZ, those old familiar activities like socialising, getting out and about, even travelling are coming back into our worlds - with ease and a degree of carefree joie de vivre.
After 11 days with no Covid cases, this makes perfect sense.
We may be one of the first countries in the world to get back to life as "normal" - but what exactly is normal? As someone who has never really done "normal" in any shape or form, I still have to wonder what it ever was and what it ever might be!!!
Busy day with my EGGS (Epsom Girls Grammar School) Old Girls Co-President hat on - sitting in on interviews (via Zoom) for girls applying to board at the school. The Old Girls Association offers a scholarship to a boarder. Three interviews today - and each girl with lovely qualities. Four more to come over the next two days. Normally we have only 2 or 3 apply but word has spread and this year 7. Great. Love that we can give a girl an opportunity! The choice will be hard.
Due to this significant time commitment, and other work I can do remotely, I stayed on at Omaha. Because I can!
A nice day outside although a bit breezy, but I was too busy inside to notice much or make the most of it anyway.
Our builder called in late afternoon to photograph some finishing features of our house that he created that other clients may be interested in. Had a good chat.
As night drew in it got a bit chilly and I flicked the central heating on. It usually comes on very swiftly but no heat was apparent. The radiators didn't come on. Hmm. Yesterday's post was so positive about the system - was it trying to make a mockery of that!?!?
Intent on sorting the problem, I checked the boiler, saw an error message (numbers), perused the manual, found those numbers, worked out what might be wrong and what I had to do to fix it (hopefully). I followed the said instructions and ... voila, the heating duly came on. Not sure why it had gone wrong, but I was very relieved that a read of the manual and a bit of patience did the trick. The boiler fired back to life. Phew. There was warmth. Relief. A nice ambient controllable warmth. Heaven. I was very pleased - with both my prowess and the warmth!
We'd had a leak at home which Brett had a plumber in to fix this morning.
Let's have no more water/heating issues please!
In terms of my travel work ...
Am still finalising my special small-group tour of the Matakana area, it's fiddly to pull together, particularly regarding costings - and being distracted by other work and commitments doesn't help - but I'm nearly there.
Am also planning a small-group Taranaki tour.
Which of course has led me to thinking about all the wonderful things in that wonderful area that I know so well.
Including the awesome Len Lye Centre in New Plymouth which is well worth a visit, both inside and out. Outside a "crazy house" mirror illusion architectural arrangement that is quite something, reflecting buildings and yourself, if you stand in the right place. And, inside, a fine selection of Len Lye's wonderful kinetic sculptures.
This part of NZ has so many stunning parks, gardens, beaches and coastlines. Unique attractions. Local artists galore. Superb food. It's a brilliant part of NZ that is utterly captivating.
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| Len Lye Centre and clock tower, New Plymouth |
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| Bromeliad (there are beautiful gardens throughout Taranaki) |
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| Glass sculpture by local Taranaki artist |
Late in the evening I watched the film Desert Flower - the story of Waris Dirie, who fled Somalia as a young girl, went to London, became a super model. It's a tale of horror and happiness. It features FGM (female genital mutilation), escaping an arranged marriage and covers all the trials, tribulations, adulations and experiences that Waris went through. Nicely acted and, although a bit clumsy in parts, and certainly harrowing in others, it was a good watch. Throughout, it touches on the sensitive and controversial topic of FGM.
FGM - A totally barbaric practice of female circumcision that is unfathomable. Particularly prevalent in Somalia and northern Africa, although also practised further afield. The most frightening aspect of it is that it is perpetuated by the mothers of the young girls who suffer "the cut" and have their genitalia sliced off and stitched up. Just as those mothers themselves did, and their mothers before them. The unimaginable horror of it is hard to get your head around.
Having said that, I also believe that male circumcision is equally barbaric and, shockingly, it has been totally normalised throughout society with a religious and army/sand context to seemingly make it okay. I can only shake my head.
I made absolutely sure that no boy I would ever give birth to would ever suffer through that in the 1990s, no matter what. For medical reasons, later in life, it can be necessary, yes. But it shouldn't be done to babies for the sake of it, for some belief, for some ridiculous tradition. Please. No. Take a stance and stop it.
My dad was one of few men of his era (b. 1937) who was uncircumcised and I'm certain that, had I been born a boy, my parents would never have allowed me to undergo the barbarism of it.
What can possibly be okay about cutting away a piece of human body that someone has just been born with, especially when they have no say in the matter? Wrong on every level. But it's been the norm in western society for a very long time, and people have gone along with it, afraid to shun it.
Personally, I'm all for natural everything, as anyone who knows me will know. From going naturally grey (no dye in my hair for decades), to letting the wrinkles settle in (they tell the stories of your life for goodness sake), to accepting the spread that comes with middle age (you are the age you are whether you like it or not!)
Life was designed with lifelong change in mind and it's astounding the number of people who can't cope with that. Why spend precious time, energy and angst fighting what is natural? I haven't wasted a moment on worrying about it, I've put that energy into enjoying life! Much more productive and happy-making!
OMG - just as I was typing that paragraph about "natural" right now, a song came on You Tube (I've got a random selection, playing in the background) and it's called ... "Naturally". Yes, it's true! Never heard the song in my life before. Shazam tells me it's by Lime Cordiale. Never heard of them.
Now what sort of sign is THAT!?!?! I kid you not ... as I sit here typing about naturalness, this song called "Naturally" comes on! Too much.
People today do body modifications that are equally unfathomable as FGM, but they are adults and they are free to create and bear their own pain, crazy as it is. I see no beauty in tattoos but distorting and mutilating yourself with needles, knives or ink is not the same as doing it to a small human being who can't protest except by screaming as the deed is done.
There is no such thing as good intent involved in inflicting pain and suffering on someone else, no matter what tradition you think might be worthy or good. Good for whom, exactly?
Years ago when I worked in London for the IPPF (sexual and reproductive health realm) in the 1980s, FGM was common in many African nations and not as widely known about or understood as it is today. It was always hovering around like a pesky hornet; hard for us at IPPF, working for the wellbeing of people around the world, to get our heads around it. Stamping it out was the desire but it was so ingrained and entrenched.
I remember a woman came and gave a talk one day; she was an advocate against FGM, an African woman who was all too familiar with the trauma and tradition of the practice. It was in effect a cleansing in preparation for marriage. What, how, arrgh!?
We all abhorred the very thought of it, but I'll never forget hearing from that woman sharing with us that it was the mothers themselves who condoned the practice and ultimately kept it going. I'll always remember listening to her and shuddering in stunned disbelief and feeling despondent about and for those women who could let it happen to their own children - who often died in the process.
The reality was that the shame of not having their daughters mutilated seemed far worse to those mothers than the daunting prospect of going against tradition and potentially producing unfathomable wrath from the menfolk who seemed to like unworkable genitals that they had to snip open on wedding night. I defy anyone to tell me that the reality of this barbarism is right, even though the culture involved might believe it to be the truth of clean and decent living.
BTW, FGM was outlawed in the UK by the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act 1985.
It's still practised in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
It was banned by federal law in the US in 1996, but in 2018 the act was deemed unconstitutional. It currently varies by state. Excuse me?
Many cultures practice rites and traditions that seem horrific, cruel and outlandish - from stretched necks, gigantic lips, pierced everything, slashings that scar and various horrific feats of endurance and physical pain that no one should bear - and some believe that each culture should be able to do what their tradition dictates. I'm someone who disagrees - some things are just not okay.
To me there are none more horrendous than FGM. There are different levels of severity of it, the worst being full infibulation. OMG, the physical and mental damage of FGM simply cannot be comprehended.
Having said that, New Zealand's domestic violence and child murder stats leave a lot to be desired. They cannot, however, be put down to culture or tradition - surely we are many steps beyond that being reality! But perhaps it is truth!
My pondering: "Truth is not always reality - but reality is always truth". (This created a fair bit of debate over Queens Birthday weekend!)
Another thing that occurred to me, referring to PPE, the acronym of the moment ...
It is also the acronym of a professional journal I produced during the 80s - Planned Parenthood in Europe (known as PPE).
SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
NZ can boast about Len Lye and his amazing kinetic sculptures.
But check out the incredible form and motion of those created by Anthony Howe, USA.
Creator of the most extraordinary and hypnotic kinetic sculptures that move with the wind.
A static image does no justice to his works, you simply have to watch them on video, seeing them move is like nothing else on earth. The skill, insight and sheer energy required to create these pieces is incredible.
Check out more ... Google Anthony Howe.
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