18.2.11

YOUREYESARELIES

My first project for my drawing course this term. Our prof wanted us to do a "mapping" of some sort.
I wanted to explore the ideas behind the fourth dimension, the boundaries of reality, and the blurring of knowledge and truth.
After doing extensive research on this thing called Wikipedia, I decided upon the image of a tesseract, which is a net of some sort. (Recall the days of elementary geometry, when your teachers would ask you to cut out polygonal nets to glue and assemble in various 3D forms -the cube, the cylindar, triangular prism etc)
The net for the 3D cube would be a "t" shape assembled from 2D squares. Hence, the net for a 4D "cube" would be a similar cross shape assembled from 3D cubes. If one were to venture into the Euclidean space and somehow fold and assemble this 3D net, one would get a fourth-dimensional "cube," so to speak.
I came upon the idea of the 4th dimension through one of the most phenomenal works by Duchamp, entitled A Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, or The Large Glass. Duchamp worked with invented machines that occupied a fourth-dimensional space, painting his images in ultra-thin layers of pigment on glass (which, because it is transparent, would be considered to have zero dimension.)

If it is possible for a three-dimensional object to have shadows composed of 2-dimensional planes, then it should be quite possible for a four-dimensional object to have shadows composed of three-dimensions. However, we cannot observe this fourth dimension, so we are living in a world of shadows (references to the Allegory of the Cave philosophy)
What we are seeing, then, is not true reality. Truth lies beyond our perception and comprehension.
I had to give that entire schpiel to my class during critique. I hope they understood what I was talking about, because it felt so surreal (due to my extreme sleep-deprivation to finish this piece)
Graphite on mylar, structure made from bamboo skewers and hot glue. Thread was also used.
I liked the idea of translucency and obscuring one's vision to create an image.
My father criticized the merde out of this when I brought it home. Yes it is quite unpolished and sketchy, and at places rather crude, but I like the tension of organic marks against such a rigid, angular form. I'm quite pleased with the result, given the allotted time I had to make it. (2 days)
Perhaps one in a series, if I have the heart and time to come back to it.






4.2.11

Google


I'm pretty excited about this. Google Street View changed a lot of how we see the world, and now they've given us an opportunity to see artworks that we can't travel to. It's not the same as being in the physical museum, but this is as close as anyone can get when they're stuck at home. And, c'mon, the high resolution photographs are a great plus! You can see brush strokes! I was never able to get close enough to paintings to see that kind of detail before a security guard would told me to move back.
Technology and art, what a beautiful couple.

1.2.11

Don't know anything other

Shut up. Shut up and just do it. Do it because you cannot imagine a life without it, cannot imagine doing anything else. You will make mistakes. You will grow. And when you get caught up in perfection, recognition, fame, financial stability, it will break you down and it will bring you back.
It's not romantic. It's not about talent. It's about the nights you don't sleep so you can harvest a little bit of honest and truth. It's about working and reworking, wanting to throw it away and coming back to it refreshed and willing to do it all over again. There is plenty of waiting, but never idleness. It involves networking, but it's never about luck. And it's never about you. It's about the love that is greater and bigger and more truthful than anything that is manifested in you or your knowledge. It's wanting more and giving all. It is your voice. And if you want to be heard, shut up, and do it. Make your art. Live your life.