CHAPTER TWENTT SIX - "Bullet proof"

Hello everyone. 
Im here to announce that Surviving Pangea has taken an unexpected turn. Due to legal issues and having to deal with some stuff in Spain, I have been force to leave the US and fly back to Madrid. Nothing serious, just things that have have to be done if I want to keep on traveling.
I will, OF COURSE, continue drawing and spending time on my sketches so I guess that this second book will be something like MIAMI > MADRID > LONDON (because I might be traveling there in mid Feb for an exhibition). It makes everything special in a way, I guess.
I like that this happened so it will make drawings more intense and the contrast will be great. Miami was being kind of boring after the first 15 days there. I didnt expect that to happen, to be honest. I mean, I do not regret the trip to Florida but I thought things were going to be different. In a bad and in a good way. Dont get me wrong, I DID have a great time!.

Anyway, Im back in Madrid and, besides doing boring paper work, I will have the chance to meet my friends and family left here. But I want you to remember this:

SURVIVING PANGEA STILL CONTINUES!

My trip back to my the capital has been a REAL NIGHTMARE. I was hold at Miami´s aiport for 5 hours because I had a bullet belt in my bag that was considered a dangerous weapon. After a million questions and explaining to them that it was JUST A BELT and that I wasnt going to kill anyone in the US or Spain or ANYWHERE, they made me put it in cardboard box apart from all the rest of my stuff. Then they wrapped  my bag with an electric orange tape that said CAUTION! DANGEROUS! TERRORIST WEAPON! EXPLOSION! BABIES DEAD INSIDE! NAPALM! IMMIGRANT! MOLESTER! OUTSIDER! REJECTED! CONTAGIOUS! . Then they added some more stickers just in case it wasnt enough. 
OF COURSE, my bag never arrived to Madrid so I have lost ALL MY BELONGINGS. Im homeless and I have been traveling with my bag around the world with EVERYTHING that I own.
Now I only have my boots, my pants, a pair of underwear, dirty socks, a black denim jacket, a black jumper and a black tshirt. Thats all. No more.
Its freezing in Spain and I dont have any winter clothes. Damn!. I had cool stuff in my bag and now its gone. Well, just clothes and some awesome stuff I have been collecting traveling. Thats all. I can still live.
The funny thing is that I have a really sharp cutter, scissors and a compass in my hand bag and no one said anything a the passport control. That is ok, I cant kill anyone with that, right?. Cool, well done. As usual, americans do the right thing. This is so lame. They are still so vulnerable and are so scared that they dont know what to do. When you are scared out of your mind and so obsessed with protection is because you know you did (are doing) something VERY wrong. 
Watch you back, uncle Tom!.

Before leaving Miami we went to the Museum of Science because we didnt have anything else to do and we thought it could be fun. Well, I have never seen anything so decadent and sad in a long time. I was really mad when I saw how they have snakes and other reptiles there, in tiny little cages, with fake vegetation, dirty water... Even dead mice where rotting just by the snakes. When animals lose their appetite in captivity its means that they are stressed and probably will die soon.
Man, that was so disturbing. That place must be shut down. Kids there wont learn ANYTHING good, prff...

sweet coconut grove

it seems that everyone has been playing the same stupid game this christmas

last night

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CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE - "Grumpy"

Humidity! I f***ing hate humid weather. It makes my hands sticky, my clothes too soft, my hair turns into Mufasa´s mane and everything is uncomfortable. Its disgusting. I feel like Im sweating all the time. it sucks but it could be worst, so its alright. Im a winter man, Im sorry. I like cold and darkness (even thought this sounded pretty lame).

Some people are going to kill me for saying this but IM ALSO SICK AND TIRED of this tropical, sunny, everyone-is-happy-weather. I want to leave Miami. Its boring. I dont like it. The only problem is that Im trapped here and I must stay for a while. As soon as I can I will travel to La Habana, papi!. That idea keeps me away from killing someone or from jumping into the void of the open blue.
Days get longer and there are less things to do every minute. I have watched everything on Netflix, walked around the neighborhood and eaten all the food here.

I know I should be drawing right now or making plans but Im going to watch AKIRA.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YA´LL!

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CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR - "This is over and it starts"

This year couldnt end up in a better way. Well, it actually could but Im happy with the way it turned out. 2014 has been a VERY intense year for me. It all started with real sadness and lots of pain, it transformed into something meaningless, stupid and boring  that almost destroyed my life but finally, as soon as I started moving around and facing ghost, learned how to deal with some problems, changed some aspects  of my life, toxic behaviors, perspective on things, feelings and goals, everything lighten up and positive energy took over my entire body and soul. I packed and moved my restless little ass around Planet Earth and that helped me a lot to understand me better and get to know myself which I think I did not yet. Im kind of a new man, I hope I wouldnt be wrong if I say a "better man" but lets just leave it like that: Im different, in a good way, thats all.

I have a LOT of plans for 2015. Besides moving and traveling around the world as much as I can I have very interesting projects in my hands that will keep me busy for a while.
Watdafac Gallery will be curating some awesome shows again, I have a few exhibitions at cool places, my first vinyl toy will be out soon this year too and I will be creating all the characters for an adult animation series if everything goes as planned. I will also start a new magazine and release more books with Watdafac Artifacts plus I will bring Gssh! Gssh! Records back to live in a very near future (even though music style will take some drastic changes). As usual, money is always the big problem. We all know that. I need investors.

money is evil

Anyway. Im still in Miami working hard and spending most of my time at home drawing while watching Netflix or listening to music. I dont know anyone in Miami and I think that has been a good thing because I can focus my energy in what I came here for. First week was crazy so I think I had enough of this tropical party madness.
Now is christmas time and it feels weird. Its kind of strange to be on your short sleeve and swimsuit standing by a christmas tree or images of Santa and friends. My brain does not compute.
Things will get weirder as soon as I get to Cuba, I guess. I will try and make it for NYE, but I still dont know exact dates. What I do know is that La Habana will be my first destination in 2015. Yay!

Here is some examples of the new collection Im working in for future exhibitions and collaborations (there will be around 20 of them). Today this drawings where featured in Beach London´s blog, where I will exhibit most of them in early 2015. BL is one of my favorite stores in London . They sell amazing stuff, they produce stuff, they have a great taste, they do cool things and they also run a gallery. How awesome is that?. 

As I said before all this pieces are biographical. The represent things I have been through while traveling so they are very important to me. Anecdotes, episodes and experiences are all embodied in them. They all have a meaning and they are all true.

I gotta get going but here are some helluvah images for ya´ll
later!
 

Tinder is the best game app of 2014. Seriously, human race is sometimes fascinating and this is  clear example. its the best comedy I have seen in years.

somos lo más

Therése mailed me and awesome zine from Sweden. She is cool, she runs an awesome club in Malmö called Natten. I promise I will go in 2015. She does cool comics too!.

Gsshers circa 2012

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CHAPTER TWENTY THREE - "Isolation"

Its funny. Its funny how people withhold information or encodes what this is all about. I never said that this project meant living in the streets, starving to death, stealing to survive, getting sick, being left alone into the concrete jungle of any city, suffer like a wounded wolf or anything like that. Im just adapting to circumstances, thats all Im doing. Taking advantage of things I have, living the moment. Some cities will be easy and I know some others will be more than hard.

My first experience in Helsinki was intense but Miami is being much easier. I knew that and everyone is aware of that. Things came that way and Im taking them. Wont turn my back when something good happens, that would be stupid.
Miami is what it is and its located where its located. I didnt put it here. I didnt bring the good weather, beaches or my mum and friends here. Some people think Im just sailing on yachts, eating expensive seafood, going to VIP parties or driving a Porsche. Im not but what if I am?.
Surviving Pangea can be that and also can be sleeping under a bridge in the freezing cold (which I did in Helsinki). That is the magic thing about all this. The contrast is the interesting fact!!. It can be swimming in crystal water and also can be walking for hours lost under the snow in a hostile city (both true). That is the point, living the living, as it comes, as it goes. I wont regret anything I have done so far with this project. I have made mistakes and Im also enjoying it as much as I can. 

Im not forcing anyone to donate and Im not fooling a single person that has done it. Everyone is free to think, do or judge. I will take that and I like that. Sometimes I have money and sometimes I am broke. Right now, Im taking care myself of everything involved in Surviving Pangea. Donations are not enough to make this happen and, of course, I knew that so Im not worried or complaining. I know this is a weird thing seen from the outside. I understand if people do not trust or just dont give a damn. I hope that changes after Miami, though, because things are going to get rough again in Melbourne.

I really appreciate when people really understand what this is all about and support my project.
If you think this is a joke I dare you to join or just start your own journey. 
Thank you.

I miss Bea Smith

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CHAPTER TWENTY TWO - "Wentworth & Pens"

Nothing interesting happened since the last time I posted in here. Without a car or a driving license Im trapped at home in Miami and I depend on people to go to places which sucks big time.
Well, its kind of good because that makes me produce and draw like an isolated prisoner or something so I shouldnt complain because I love it. I mean being productive not being in Alcatraz. "Always look on the bright side of life" (after killing those who bother you).

I have been drawing and planning while watching my favorite tv show of the year. If you still havent watch Australian´s show Wentworth, you should. I mean, do it! now!. Netflix has saved my tropical life in this place.

After eating french fries and bagels for 10 days Im finally eating something healthy and green. I have gained some weight since I arrived.
I ate once a day in Helsinki and sometimes not even that. People have fed me and I will appreciate it forever. There would be days in which I would only eat a piece of bread or some nuts. Its true that friends have cooked for me and bought me food when I didnt have a single cent in my pocket but most of the days I have starved for real. Things here are very different. Sometimes you win, sometimes you loose. Money comes and goes. No sweat.

If I listen to these 3 songs AGAIN i might kill someone, jump off a palm tree with both hands in my pockets or dive on an olympic pool with no water. Seriously, why are "Miamians" doing this to me?. Since I arrived here, I have heard the name DRAKE a zillion times. If I human being died every time someones said that word our race would be extinct in less than 10 minutes. Holy crap!

Someone please kick this two little bastards in the head. He or she would make them a huge favor. Their mum would be happy for that. Humanity would appreciate it. Thank you.

This is the 21st century´s definition of IDIOT. We have rappers like him in Spain too, look:

... but he is cool.

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CHAPTER TWENTY ONE - "Father Coco Yod"

new piece coming up!

After this weird but lovely twist of plans and this unexpected hiatus its time to get back to what I came here for. I have been kind of distracted and excited with all this tropical vibe in Miami, Art Basel and meeting friends I havent seen in a while. After the "helsinkian" adventure I needed something like this to get back to Surviving Pangea fully charged with positive energy. I REALLY need to draw now and enjoy some time with my things. Also, I have to keep on painting for my upcoming shows in Melbourne which is something that makes me smile like an idiot. Im happy this is happening.

These 10 days in Miami so far have been awesome. Totally different from my time in Finland. Dont get me wrong, I dont mean that this is better or worse, just different, totally the opposite but mostly because of the weather and the light. Its pretty weird to wear a swim suit standing by a christmas tree but I kind of like it.

Here are some random pictures of this wonderful parentheses in time before getting back in track and feed my project for a while. I bought a new sketchbook and will be here for a month so LETS START AND GET THIS DONE so I can move on to my next location!. No cheating allowed here and also no laying because I want everyone to see what is going on for real. No need to hide stuff. That is not the point. Miami has been different because my mother lives here, thats all. Im just trying to use all my cards so Surviving Pangea can be done and this oasis was necessary to safe some money and get some good rest for the journey. Some cities will be easy, some will be hostile. Whatever...

Im also scanning and editing Helsinki´s first sketchbook. Pre-orders will be soon up on my online store. FIRST BOOK is about to be born! Yay!

later!

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CHAPTER TWENTY - "Baking Soda!"

WOW! yesterday´s bike ride around the Everglades was AMAZING!. We preferred to do that instead of taking an airboat. Those things are insane and literally destroy the environment. They just run over everything underwater. Its crazy. I wont be part of that so bikes where the best option.
We watch tons of alligators, turtles and awesome birds. I also fell from my bike and almost landed on the water. I could have been killed by a beast there or something but ucky I did fell just be the shore. Its cool we found the dead bird in the picture bitten by a gator on its neck. 
To be honest, the ride was too long for the sights and we ended up exhausted after pedaling for 24km / 14 miles. Of course we didnt bring any sun protection and my skin is like any other gator´s skin right now.

no pictures, please!

Its weird that alligators are just wandering around. I mean, they are used to human contact I guess but they are wild animals after all. People take pictures with them REALLY close and I was just waiting for a tragedy to happen but It didnt. Too bad. I would have loved to see a crazy attack or something. I hate when sightseers act stupid. It would have been an awesome free show. Blood everywhere!

gator attack!

I know I havent been posting much of my sketches. Im being very slow since I arrived to Miaami and Im starting to worry for real. I have to focus. The reason why Im late on my pages is because Im speding most of my "drawing time" working on a new collection of paintings for my next 2 shows in Australia and also starting a new business far from illustration or graphic design. I know its not an excuse but I havent been just dealing with wild life here. 

SURVIVING PANGEA CONTINUES!

totally in love with black vultures

welcome to america

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CHAPTER NINETEEN - "Everything here is COCO"

Wow! Its been a very long time since I updated my blog and that is not good. Art Basel is over and it has been crazy. I havent had a single minute to sit quietly and write or even draw (which is the energy that keeps me alive). Everything has passed so fast in front of my eyes that I still dont have a clear opinion about Miami or what I have seen.
What is this place? Why am I here? What´s going on?!!!?. Im totally spaced out.

Its fun, tho. I have been doing weird stuff at weird places with weird people. This is absolutely a different world to me. Im not used to this kind of lifestyle. Its ok, no sweat. I can handle it.
Things in Miami are being A LOT easier than in Finland. My mum is a (great) chef and runs a catering here so food is always around and I sleep on super confortable bed (almost) everynight.
This is  a good thing since I can focus my energy on something else than thinking about how to make money to eat or sleep. I really needed this after all the bad and good things I have experience last month.

People might think Im at the beach all day but what of they dont know is that Im NOT a beach kind of guy. At have been at some of them, that is true, I have visited a few and things like that but, actually, I havent spent more than 5 min in any of them. I dont like the sea. I suffer from Thalassophobia so all I do is take pictures and make people jealous. Sorry for them.

I have partied at huge Mansion´s, weird places, galleries... My passport got stolen, I lost my phone, slept on couches, met extraordinary people, walked around, eaten at fancy restaurants, made nice contacts,etc. The regular stuff, you know!. Now all that crap is over, not my thing, it was just something that came to me. I want to draw, I need it, I feel like dying if I dont.

Next year I HAVE to exhibit at Art Basel and I WILL.

these are the best 4 things I have seen at Art Basel.

The one thing I really hate from Miami is traffic and the fact that you have to drive EVERYWHERE!. It sucks big time. Distances are INSANE. Its so sad how much time people spend in their cars here. It stresses me like crazy. Specially when I dont drive and I depend on everyone. Everytime I arrive to where Im going I leave the car cursing. UGH!.

some presents for cool people before leaving Helsinki

voyeur trapped by art while a tropical storm hit our faces

house party

some houses here are beautiful

see?

moon over light

I like holding other people´s greens

boys. ride. pattern

Pascal Mox peeing 

 Miramax peeing

Desperate business at Cocoplum

We are going to ride our bike around Shark Valley in the Everglades. Alligators are getting ready for my arrival. Im a magnet to tragedy so Im sure that something is going to happen.

Wildlife, here I go.
Later!.

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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - "Lo traigo caliente, papi!"

BIENVENIDO A MIAMI / WELCOME TO MIAMI

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BY THE POWER OF OUR ALMIGHTY STARLORD! COME TO ME, FEED MY SKIN, LIGHTEN MY SOUL, SET ME FREE, LET ME REVEAL ALL THE SECRETS OF THE COSMOS!. DEAR, ASTRO!, SHALL THE JOURNEY BEGIN, ENTER THE MAZE, MYSTERY IS NO LONGER HOSTILE TO ME, I BEG YOU!. I LOVE YOU, MY SUN!

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This is the first time in more than a month that the energy of the sun has touched me body and I think Im going to cry. The inner me did but no one noticed. Im born again. Uglier but alive.

Surviving Pangea continues and Im in Miami right now. After a million hours trip and 399 new pages on my sketchbook, Im finally here. The contrast of Helsinki and Miami has been extreme. I arrived with 6 layers and left the airport in short sleeve, sticky hands, sweating like a racing horse and my hair like Tina Turner´s: Welcome to humidity land, my friend!.

I haven’t seen much yet because I arrived late but what I have seen so far reminds me of the south of Spain but with a Cuban accent. Its weird to feel like Im in Marbella but something is not right. I don’t have a clear opinion yet. Im confused and scared.

first contact

my real ride

my ride

or could be this one

Anyway, Art Basel starts today and I already have to meet a bunch of people. Friends from Spain, friends from friends, new friends, people I still don’t know, artists, gallery owners, punks and outsiders. phew!
First of all I have to find an art supply store and get all I need to start a new book. I now what Im looking for so I should be easy. Come on! we are in america. If you want a black midget elf riding a blind transgender unicorn with white hair you got it. They have one ready for you, right away!. You can even go further and chose what the elf should be wearing. I love this game (and hate it at the same time).
I don’t know what Im going to do here without a car. I don’t drive. Im the eternal co-pilot. I did passed my first driving test, though, t but I stopped just when I was about to get my driving license. I failed the second and final test the day before I moved to NYC. Im like that, sometimes a quitter. I don’t care. We almost got killed by a giant truck because I didn’t see a Stop sign and just drove into the highway like a maniac. My teacher had to jump on the breaks like a fox hunting a mouse in the snow. We almost died. I of course failed. Whatever. Im going to rent a pony anyway.

I woke up at 3am today but I feel like I could defeat Hulk Hogan right now with just one arm. This is the first time in a LONG time that Im sleeping on a real bed. Big one, with a thousand pillows, clean and confortable. At first I didn’t know if I had to lay down, stand up or just roll over it all night long. I had to download a tutorial from youtube to learn how to sleep on a mattress again. It took me a few hours to understand the process but I finally did and I feel lucky.

I already did my first “Lolada” (which means i messed things up). I went into the kitchen to make some breakfast. Did coffee and put some toast in the toaster. I forgot about that and the fire alarm went on so I think the whole floor hates me now. It was around 5am. I didn’t know how to turn it off so it stayed like that for a while. I ate my food with a great soundtrack. So, For those who didn’t know, Im in town.

Miami is waiting for me. Talk to you later!.

xoxo.

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