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| Dubai Creek, Deira |
As I said this expat blog has been a long time coming. I have had many conversations round n' round with myself, ideas and observations over the years that I had intended to relay as my journey in to expat life unfolded. I had come to this new way of life in my post 40's and at first struggled with such a very different way of life, surroundings and culture. After growing up on a dairy farm in coastal southern Australia, with the majority of my adult years spent in art studios in inner Melbourne, I was now living in The Middle East, at first Abu Dhabi and now Dubai.
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| Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi |
This was a world away from what I knew, what was familiar to me. At first I was a little out of my depth. I didn't know about 'expat life' and the things I could do to help myself adjust to this crazy new life. Five years on and I now have a far better understanding of what it takes to move to a new country and adjust and find your way, and ways of coping and surviving which can eventually lead to getting used to the whole idea and even liking it after a while!
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| Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi |
I have met many reluctant expat wives along the way and I have been in that category myself more than a few times, however I am now coming to see this is how my life is now... we live overseas...with time I have become used to it... but it wasn't always like this... and it never is. There is a rise and fall of acceptance, enjoyment and familiarity with the new life and a longing and homesickness and nostalgia for all things 'home', for me that is Australia.
As a full time professional artist I am traveling constantly with my camera, looking, seeing, observing, taking it all in, my eyes noticing everything... searching and scouring my new surroundings, the environment and its people. Along the way I am also continuing my art practice, painting each day, working on a solo exhibition each year to be freighted back to my galleries in Australia and in time maybe also to exhibit in our new surroundings.
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| installation of my 2008 solo exhibition Tim Olsen Gallery Sydney |
