August Mind-Body Activities

Text and photos by Chen Chi-Hsiang

"There is no other life than living consciously to the fullest."

After a mid-July heatwave swept across Europe, Paris endured several days of intense summer heat. Although August’s temperatures hovered around thirty degrees Celsius, feeling somewhat less oppressive, the human body’s adaptability is truly unimaginable, verifying the natural law of survival of the fittest. Under such conditions, I embarked on a full schedule of mind-body activities, encompassing both mental pursuits and physical labor. Work is undoubtedly beneficial to one’s well-being; as the French say, "work keeps you healthy." Having completed a large painting this year in late July, along with an essay on the creative journey of Taiwanese photographic artists, I felt a sense of liberation for both mind and body. Next, I began tidying up my home, repainting and updating the master bedroom and living room. Taking advantage of my current drive and stamina, I realized that manual labor and painting are not so different; both require meticulousness, patience, and concentration. Whether wielding a large or small brush, physical strength is equally necessary. There are no pretensions to set aside; simply put down the paintbrush, roll up your sleeves, don work clothes, and get started immediately.

Repainting the Home: Starting with the master bedroom, I first had to carefully move out all furniture and items, leaving only the immovable wardrobe and bed. I covered them, tore off all old wallpaper, filled gaps, and sanded smooth once dry. The next day, sanding created clouds of dust—the most complex task before painting. Entering the painting phase, white (water-based acrylic paint) was the most appropriate choice for a home. For a painter, this task was surprisingly easy. Using a No. 6 brush for edging from ceiling to wall, followed by cross-hatching with a roller, the ceiling was finished cleanly in one pass. However, the old walls left after removing wallpaper required two coats for perfection. The newly refreshed bedroom, a space pure and white as nothingness, became a world of artistic aspiration or a sky of dreams.

The apartment living room is the core of my daily life. With two large floor-to-ceiling windows, it is filled with bright, vibrant light. In summer, direct sunlight floods the room, and the evening glow settles in; this light has become the source of my creativity. The spacious living room accommodates my multiple uses, serving as a sacred space for both life and art. It houses a series of lush green plants and orchids, a sofa chair (a gentle haven for occasional backpackers), a coffee table, two Louis XV chairs, two cabinets, and in the storage room, a treasure trove of books, a computer desk, audio equipment, and numerous classical and modern music CDs. Since I have neither a writing desk nor a studio, the living room serves as the place for living, receiving guests, writing, and artistic creation. I regularly repaint the living room; this white space is where I take deep breaths, aspire, and dream.

Mental Activities: In Paris, what I enjoy most is quietly painting, writing, photographing, visiting exhibitions, listening to music, walking in gardens or forests, daydreaming, traveling with the clouds, and engaging in physical labor. These have become my daily routine, opening my heart to embrace all beautiful circumstances. Regularly visiting exhibitions is a leisure activity and work for my mind, body, and spirit, reflecting my curiosity and aspirations regarding current affairs—a window that opens the mind. Continuous viewing of arts and culture events allows me to detect the trends of thought and the state of the era in the current world.

In August, I took some time off to breathe fresh air and visited two major exhibitions. First was the "Painting Collection Exhibition" at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, where I felt how wonderful it is to have "money." This exhibition showcased only a fraction of their collection (having been displayed several times already). The Fondation Louis Vuitton’s collection is currently the largest private collection globally, featuring works that are abundant and rich, holding almost all masterpieces of modern and contemporary art. One wonders if the collector enjoys these treasures? Conversely, as a viewer, I can personally visit each time, diligently enjoying the brilliance of art. Each encounter with beautiful paintings or artistic settings brings me great happiness, and I am grateful for the collector’s boundless merit in sharing them.

I regularly visit the Fondation Cartier, which is currently hosting the special exhibition "Our Tree." Given current climate change, seasonal anomalies, and ecological crises, this exhibition promises to explore pressing issues: nature and environment, climate change and its impact on migration, destruction of plant and animal life, deforestation, and the disappearance of long-standing indigenous cultures (note: from exhibition text). It advocates for loving and protecting trees, planting trees, and saving the earth, addressing urgent topics of human coexistence with nature and environmental protection. Currently, wildfires rage across the world’s most important rainforests, the "lungs of the Earth." When wildfires engulfed the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, the significance of this exhibition was further highlighted. I also stopped by the nearby Alberto Giacometti Foundation Museum, located to the front-left of the Fondation Cartier, to see if there were new exhibitions. Once again, I admired Giacometti’s sculptures of lonely, helpless figures—thin, elongated, almost non-existent. Are these not reflections of the modern human soul?

Country Vacation: In mid-August, I went to the countryside with my friend V to his farmhouse for a vacation. This was my first trip to the country this year, returning to a remote area in Burgundy. Far from the noisy city, I wandered freely in the bright pastoral scenery, immersed in natural landscapes, liberating my mind and body. I enjoyed the sun, fresh air, insect chirps, bird songs, and leisurely moments in nature and the garden. Living spontaneously, I took the opportunity to exercise my muscles. Each time, V and I worked together on farmhouse renovations, weeding the yard, tending plants, pruning branches, and strolling through the fields. Daydreaming under white clouds and colorful sunset clouds, I poetically counted stars under a starry night sky. Occasionally, at sunset, I would go into the hills to practice Qigong in the forest, breathing in phytoncides. On weekends, I often went to clearance sales in surrounding villages to hunt for treasures, bringing back a beautiful iron table and chairs for the garden this year. On Saturday mornings, I bought vegetables at the village market, strolled through the small town’s market, or walked together by the river or canal to relax, even visiting nearby historical sites, becoming part of our countryside vacation leisure activities.

This year, V planted only small tomatoes in the farmhouse courtyard. They seemed weak and listless, appearing yellowish-green and unproductive, with few fruits. Since early spring, after being hit by heatwaves and high temperatures, there was hardly any rain, causing the land to dry out and suffer severe water shortage. In contrast, the grapevines climbing the wall were lush and heavy with clusters of fruit, which was comforting. These two grapevines, one black and one white, were a gift from Mimi’s daughter to V three years ago. They began fruiting two years ago, but due to negligence in not setting up nets or packaging, all the grapes were eaten by birds. This year, Mimi specially bought paper to wrap the grape clusters, competing with birds for the harvest, creating another unique landscape in the courtyard. Remembering to return when the grapes ripen, I didn’t expect Mimi to bring me a few clusters just two weeks after returning from the countryside to Paris.

The most satisfying labor this year was repairing a large stone wall. Working seamlessly together, V and I repaired a wall about two meters high and ten meters long. Years of wind and rain had reduced this boundary wall to rubble. Taking advantage of the holiday, I engaged in the arduous work of moving stones, sawing rock, and cutting walls, like a sculptor. Under the scorching sun, my body sweated profusely, yet I found joy in it, experiencing a sense of mind-body liberation through physical exertion. This restored stone wall became my masterpiece of this summer vacation, echoing French writer J.K. Jerome: "I love work: it fascinates me. I can sit and watch it for hours."