Finally I'm able to catch those moments when you see something and you wished you had your camera with you. Like when you are driving and sees one of these marvelous skies.
That became possible because I needed a new mobile phone. Already a long time ago I made a list of what my next GSM should be able to do (compatible to my Mac for addresses and calendar, a more than 3 megapixel camera...) And finally they made what I always wanted and even more... video shooting in MP4! The Nokia N93, as this multimedia marvel is called, is now my permanent companion and works as a sketchbook, just quicker. It makes a very spontaneous photography possible and it's a lot of fun. Mainly because of it's point and shoot capacity with the big display. I am curious what his influence will be on my future creative work...
More about the Nokia Nseries
Between these two Nike's lies more or less 2200 years. The one on the right is the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Originally she had marble hands and head and was an ode to the goddess of victory to remember a sea battle that was won.
The left picture is placed in Sicily on the shore of Naxos where the first greek colonists arrived. Because of its famousness it uses the image of the former as we know it but it tells us the opposite.
This new bronze version is a more graphic, less threedimensional, sculpture. The movement and empty space gives it a fragile look, as of a deteriorated leaf. It shows that however big the moment was at some time in history, time itself will bring down those moments. So we build monuments and statues to remember - even to remember the transitory.
It's a visually strong artwork with one flaw - there are two disturbing reinforcements for the wings (not shown in this picture).
While playing around with the leaves of a Japanese tree and with the help of a birds drinking water this mandala came out.
The grass was manipulated into a circle and with the right color temperature of the unstable evening sun the one megapixel of the video camera could shoot it. Thanks to his movable display and my long arms it could be taken flat.
With some Photoshop manipulation for the color of the grass these nature elements transformed into an attractive mandala.
Since the petals are floating on water it was at least for me a meditation. Maybe something comes across when you focus on it...
More on mandala's
Few years ago a small Japanese tree was planted for his seasonal change of color. Since it was so beautiful it inspired me to create something with the fallen leaves.
Creation always works with the inspiration, the coincidences and the openness for all possibilities that the subject itself offers. But sorting, classification and looking for some structure in it can help too, as well as ‘playing’ with it.
So this came out... among others. Enhancing the beauty of the colors with a black background and giving a material contrast with the rain.
Beside ‘Art’ there are other modes of visual expression and it may be hard sometimes to distinguish them from each other.
Try looking at the the way different creations communicate with people. They can use the same means but their starting point and goal are quite different.
This pyramid can help you see their hierarchy. Starting from the material level it goes over the mental to the spiritual top. These levels are not closed.
At the base are the designers (architects, industrial and graphic designers) who translate the wishes of their clients while others have to execute their creations.
The image makers (illustrators, photographers and film directors) can create their own vision into a visual form. Which is an in between stage that can connect more with art (free) or more with design (commissioned).
The artists prime source is the ‘intuitive’, his inspiration (‘in spiritus’ - from the spirit) that comes from a higher level, not his own thoughts. He act as a ‘medium’, a mediator between that higher level and the viewer. The result of his work, which he alone is responsible for, can take the viewer, when he is open for it, to the level he is trying to express.
Each of this levels need of course talent, feeling and technical knowledge (in short: competence). But we should distinguish them among each other because they have another goal besides (hopefully) a beautiful combination of form, color and matter.
Some Flemish examples
