Imagination

When I was about 7 years old, I remember the first time I saw a magician. It was on TV, he made money appear. Asked my dad, “Why are there still poor people in this world if there are magicians who can make money appear?” I don’t remember getting a straight answer. But it was a nice feeling, it gave me a sense of hope that the world could be changed to a better place by these people.

Possibly.

Add another 5 years to that 7 year old kid, I saw sleight of hand magic live. A card transformed to another card in my own hands. I could not understand why, but I was amazed. It was a good feeling. I went home and spent days and nights imagining the possibilities. I imagined how the card would look like as it changed. I imagined the ink to fade away on one night, and on the other night, I imagined the change to be a rapid one. I was so fascinated. Then I imagined the many possibilities this power would entail. I could change the card to another person’s identification card, I could change the card into my favorite Pokemon card (I loved Pokemon), I could change the card into my favorite X Men card. Imagine the implications. These imagination brought me wonderful moments.

However more often than not, imagination is so much better than reality. In my magic performances, I find it more amazing to change a card mysteriously than visually. It almost feels like once you show it all, once you show them that a card is changed in an instant, you take away the opportunity for them to imagine. Even in real life, I am certain imagination trumps the real thing, more often than not.

                                    

So tell me, which sheep is prettier?

Signing off,

Alexander

Magic brings people together

I performed magic at an elderly home this morning. It was a very humbling experience in which I come to a further realisation of the power of magic.

I did close up magic followed by stage magic. Initially, the elderly were a little apprehensive, and one of the care takers told me that it was because they were not used to a new face. I understand. So I decided to take off the whole “magician-y” feel, and I simply greeted them in mandarin and spoke to them for a while then performed my magic.

It was such a wonderful and heart warming experience when they start to open up to you. I see the smiles of their faces and how they look to one another for an explanation to the magic and then burst in smiles in acknowledgement that the magic amazed them.

I spent some time talking to this old lady, and despite her old age, she is the one of the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Her hair is white, and she has a nice smile, she is frail, but yet as graceful as a swan.

She told me that she had a son who is studying in the United States right now, and that he is married to a lovely wife, and how much she misses him. She also asked me where did I learn my magic from and to my surprise, she used to know magicians personally from China and America. And she shares that they all learnt from mentors. It was a very pleasant and enriching experience for me.

I think magic has the power to connect people and elicit emotions that are hardly elicited in everyday life. It brings smiles to people in the most unexpected situation. Smiles beget more smiles, and happiness begets more happiness.

It was a wonderful way to begin my day.

Magic, art and psychology

Check out this beautiful piece of magic blend with art by Marco Tempest. Or click here.

Isn’t this such a wonderful piece? I really like what Marco said about “Art is a deception that creates real emotion”. Lovely. The psychological things he said about how the mind remembers good things more than bad is scientifically true as well. I am very impressed.

 

M for Magic: a SinemaTV production

M for Magic

What can I say, it was an absolutely amazing experience! I had such great fun working with the SinemaTV crew as well as JC Sum and his team.

My segment was filmed together with a good friend of mine, Samuel. I did an effect for Crispian Chan who is a Fly Artist. I felt the rapport between us was good, everything was very smooth flowing and I cannot wait for the end result.

A picture with the magic star, JC Sum

Very exciting.

 

Signing off,

Alexander 😉

Japan, here I come!

Hi all!

I am really really excited and nervyyy about tomorrow. I will be flying to Japan tomorrow morning at 5.45am. Will reach Tokyo at about 1pm.

The reason why I am so nervy is because this is my first time taking part in an internation magic competition. It brings a totally different feeling. Its really one thing to compete in Singapore and another in a foreign country. I hope everything goes well. =)

I’m really excited to make new friends there! The lecturers at the convention includes Darwin Ortiz and Richard Kaufman, big big names in magic! Can’t wait to see them!

I will be taking alot of photos and uploading them too!

Japan, here I come!

 

Signing off,

Alexander ; )