A R T A S A M E T A P H O R F O R
C O N S C I O U S N E S S
C O N S C I O U S N E S S
"Works of art, in my opinion, are the only objects in the material universe to possess internal order."
E. M. FORSTER
E. M. FORSTER
The conscious self operates by advantageously processing objects and situations and relationships in the 'real world' - that much is clear. But this is only the tip of the iceberg (as Freud was so want to tell us). We get glimpses of the 'world below' in dreams; and sometimes there's unsubtle hints in the form of 'synchronicities' (as Jung was so want to tell us).
Beneath the 'limen' (the Mason Dixon line of consciousness) the currency of communication is symbolism. And for advertising agencies and political spin doctors this 'subliminal' area is home territory.
I have noticed a spooky correlation between the 'language of consciousness' and the drama that has been unfolding in the visual arts since the turn of the 20th century. Bear with me on this one; think of everyday consciousness as figurative painting - paintings that are aimed at fooling the eye into believing a that a two dimensional surface is, in fact, a three dimensional object. As we penetrate deeper into the unconscious, and deeper into the 20th century, objective representation becomes progressively less important to the point where even marks disapear and concept alone remains.
So if you allow unscrupulous marketeers to communicate with your subconscious it's about time you learned the language; maybe this will help.
This space represents the 'limen' also termed the 'endopsychic' barrier which is located slap bang in the middle of the 'preconscious'. It is a negative space between the ectopsyche and the endopsyche.
(The ectopsyche representing life above the 'limen' - the personal consciousness and its interaction with external phenomena. The endopsyche representing life below the 'limen' - the personal consciousness and its interaction with the personal unconscious.)
What transforms this area from a void to a structure is the log jam of psychic junk (some inherited, some learned) that collects there.
Beneath the 'limen' (the Mason Dixon line of consciousness) the currency of communication is symbolism. And for advertising agencies and political spin doctors this 'subliminal' area is home territory.
I have noticed a spooky correlation between the 'language of consciousness' and the drama that has been unfolding in the visual arts since the turn of the 20th century. Bear with me on this one; think of everyday consciousness as figurative painting - paintings that are aimed at fooling the eye into believing a that a two dimensional surface is, in fact, a three dimensional object. As we penetrate deeper into the unconscious, and deeper into the 20th century, objective representation becomes progressively less important to the point where even marks disapear and concept alone remains.
So if you allow unscrupulous marketeers to communicate with your subconscious it's about time you learned the language; maybe this will help.
This space represents the 'limen' also termed the 'endopsychic' barrier which is located slap bang in the middle of the 'preconscious'. It is a negative space between the ectopsyche and the endopsyche.
(The ectopsyche representing life above the 'limen' - the personal consciousness and its interaction with external phenomena. The endopsyche representing life below the 'limen' - the personal consciousness and its interaction with the personal unconscious.)
What transforms this area from a void to a structure is the log jam of psychic junk (some inherited, some learned) that collects there.
W A K I N G C O N S C I O U S N E S S
"The soul never thinks without a picture."
ARISTOTLE (384BC - 322 BC)
ARISTOTLE (384BC - 322 BC)
"What a delightful thing this perspective is."
PAOLO UCCELLO
PAOLO UCCELLO
“The deepest and most lifelike emotion has been expressed, and that's
the reason they have taken so long to execute.”
REMBRANDT (1606 - 1669)
the reason they have taken so long to execute.”
REMBRANDT (1606 - 1669)
"Speaking to a lawyer about pictures is something like talking to a
butcher about humanity."
JOHN CONSTABLE
butcher about humanity."
JOHN CONSTABLE
“The worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful
and has nobody to thank”
DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI
and has nobody to thank”
DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI
"Some say they see poetry in my paintings; I see only science."
GEORGES SEURAT
GEORGES SEURAT
T H E U N C O N S C I O U S
"I shut my eyes in order to see."
PAUL GAUGUIN
PAUL GAUGUIN
"I experience a period of frightening clarity in those moments
when nature is so beautiful. I am no longer sure of myself, and the
paintings appear as in a dream."
VINCENT VAN GOUGH
when nature is so beautiful. I am no longer sure of myself, and the
paintings appear as in a dream."
VINCENT VAN GOUGH
"I paint objects as I think them, not as I see them."
PABLO PICASSO (1881 - 1973)
PABLO PICASSO (1881 - 1973)
"Although the dream is a very strange phenomenon and an inexplicable
mystery, far more inexplicable is the mystery and aspect our minds confer
on certain objects and aspects of life."
GEORGIO DE CHIRICO
mystery, far more inexplicable is the mystery and aspect our minds confer
on certain objects and aspects of life."
GEORGIO DE CHIRICO
"Surrealism is destructive, but it destroys only what it considers to be
shackles limiting our vision."
SALVADOR DALI
shackles limiting our vision."
SALVADOR DALI
“If the dream is a translation of waking life, waking life is also a
translation of the dream.”
RENE MAGRITTE
translation of the dream.”
RENE MAGRITTE
"The dignity of the artist lies in his duty of keeping awake the sense of wonder
in the world. In this long vigil he often has to vary his methods of stimulation; but in this
long vigil he is also himself striving against a continual tendency to sleep."
MARK CHAGALL
in the world. In this long vigil he often has to vary his methods of stimulation; but in this
long vigil he is also himself striving against a continual tendency to sleep."
MARK CHAGALL
"In a composition in which corporeal elements are more or less superfluous, they
can be more or less omitted and replaced by purely abstract forms, or by corporeal forms
that have been completed abstracted."
WASSILY KANDINSKY
can be more or less omitted and replaced by purely abstract forms, or by corporeal forms
that have been completed abstracted."
WASSILY KANDINSKY
"I have a clear view of 12 years of history of my inner self. First the cramped self, that
self with big blinkers, then the disappearance of the blinkers and the self, now gradually the
reemergence of a self without blinkers."
PAUL KLEE
self with big blinkers, then the disappearance of the blinkers and the self, now gradually the
reemergence of a self without blinkers."
PAUL KLEE
"I paint my own reality. The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint
whatever passes through my head without any other consideration."
FRIDA KAHLO (1907 - 1954)
whatever passes through my head without any other consideration."
FRIDA KAHLO (1907 - 1954)
"The emotion of beauty is always obscured by the appearance of the object.
Therefore the object must be eliminated from the picture."
PIET MONDRIAN
Therefore the object must be eliminated from the picture."
PIET MONDRIAN
"What I am looking for... is an immobile movement, something which would be the
equivalent of what is called the eloquence of silence, or what St. John of the Cross, I think
it was, described with the term 'mute music'."
JOAN MIRO
equivalent of what is called the eloquence of silence, or what St. John of the Cross, I think
it was, described with the term 'mute music'."
JOAN MIRO
“Today painters do not have to go to a subject matter outside of themselves. Most modern
painters work from a different source. They work from within.”
JACKSON POLLOCK
painters work from a different source. They work from within.”
JACKSON POLLOCK
“Art to me is an anecdote of the spirit, and the only means of making concrete the
purpose of its varied quickness and stillness.”
MARK ROTHKO
purpose of its varied quickness and stillness.”
MARK ROTHKO
"During the 1960s, I think, people forgot what emotions were supposed to be.
And I don't think they've ever remembered."
ANDY WARHOL
And I don't think they've ever remembered."
ANDY WARHOL
"Immortality is really desirable, I guess. In terms of images, anyway."
DAMIEN HIRST
DAMIEN HIRST
"I never grew up."
TRACY EMIN
TRACY EMIN
"Bob Law is the most underestimated and overlooked
minimal artist in Britain."
TONY MCNERNEY
Bonhams head of contemporary art
minimal artist in Britain."
TONY MCNERNEY
Bonhams head of contemporary art