October 17th, 2022
October 2022
TRAVELLERS JOURNAL
Our inaugural Artists Retreat gave time and space to explore and create from within. Through cultural and artistic exchanges, new ideas are hatched and experimentations can be nurtured. Artist residencies also forge networking opportunities for an artist who is taking his or her first steps into the creative industry. Ultimately such an experience will not only shape one’s work, but also sculpt one’s approach and thinking.
October 29th, 2022
Day 14 of travelling and still counting….Although the 11-day retreat has ended, my journey home is only beginning.
After four years, I will finally be visiting my family in Melbourne and for the very first time, meeting my niece who was born back in November 2019 during TextileSeekers’s very first retreat!
Three years on and this retreat has taught me many new lessons. I have been extremely sick and exhausted, which has and always has been the hardest thing for me to accept: being ill, vulnerable and trying so hard to fight the body's urge to rest. This retreat reminded me the importance on being adaptable, and that listening to your body is imperative.
Apart from the many wonderful new workshops introduced to our itinerary, such as rice harvesting, bamboo paper making and palm weaving, our travellers had the opportunity to visit a local school in Mai Chau and interact with the 26 students from the class of year 9. The echoing sounds of children cheering and playing reverberated and for a slight moment my senses aligned with equanimity.
Finding ways to connect with the local communities and giving back to the places we visit is a key focus when designing new retreats.Thao Phuong
Still buzzing, a moment to recalibrate the senses…My career goals for 2023 are to reconnect with my creativity both as a woman and as a photographer, to work with creatives with interesting, thoughtful brands and publications, furthermore to delve deep into my personal projects with a conscious social focus. This retreat with TextileSeekers felt like the beginning of my metamorphosis. Thank you for taking me on this journey and showing me your beautiful land. Anouk Nitsche.
There is a profound sense of vibrancy, community, and frankness in Vietnam. A beautiful country from the city to the mountains...one that I'm proud to call my motherland. Catherine Bui
Enthralling, tranquil, traditional.
As a weaver myself, I know it’s a labour of love. Watching Ms Trang spinning silk from cocoons adds another layer of complexity and devotion to the process. We followed her through the garden set in the jungle as she navigated the land to harvest the ingredients she required to soften the woven raw silk. After collecting the items, she cut off two banana leaves, wrapped the ingredients up and tied it off with a vine creating a compact parcel she could then carry back on her scooter. She threaded a vine through the two fruits and hung them from the handlebars. I couldn’t stop smiling at how savvy and beautiful she made this task. Georgina Whigham
Bamboo paper making with indigo dye. Kenn Pan
Do take the time to read and explore Our Pillars, and Our Ethos and let us know what you think.