Traveler: Lucy Newman – Artist
Lucy, what is your most unforgettable Escape? I am super lucky that with my work I get to travel a lot but one of my most favourite trips has to be to Fort Kochi, India December 2012.
What was the purpose of your travel? To build and install a Robert Montgomery sculpture for the first ever India Biennale.
With how many people did you travel? I traveled with Robert Montgomery as I usually do, we travel a lot for various projects.
Where did you stay? We stayed at the Tower house hotel, The hotel is a beautiful 17th century building furnished with the most stunning colonial furniture. I love to walk whenever I travel. Its location was perfect for me to take the short walk past the mesmerizing Chinese fishing nets to Aspinwall house where we installed the sculpture on the facade.
What did you most like about the trip? It was the most incredible experience we arrived from London with nothing, not even a screw. We spent ten days working with local producers and workshops to build the biggest sculpture we have ever made.
Could you share an unforgettable memory about the trip? Getting up at 6am to go visit the elephants being washed in the most beautiful stream about 3 hours away from Kochi. i went with a great friend of mine Hein Hoven who was in India working on a film called Roads to vanishing tribes. He happens to be a giant like myself. I think he is about 6ft 6! Immediately one of the elephants fell in love with him. she was flirting with him and the look in her eye was incredible. She wasn’t so inamered with me… so she sprayed me with water… jealous elephant!
Your most surprising find during the trip? The temple drummers.
Favorite restaurant or food you have tried during your trip? Fish Fish and more Fish! so fresh so good.
What is the must tries of the city? A trip to the backwaters is a must.
Would you go back? Yes in a heartbeat.
Could you list a few of your favorite finds you came back with? I bought the most beautiful wall hangings that are hand stitched depicting temples and animals.
Any tips that might be useful to know before going there? The mosquitoes are pure evil!
Next stop you would like to visit? I am desperate to visit more of India. especially the North.. I would really Love to go to Varanasi.
Lucy Newman
Artist
