Framed

First you take a photograph because the image inspires you - you see something in that particular view that suits being photographed.
Then time passes and when you return to the image it seems uninteresting. Disappointingly, you cannot remember why it seemed a good idea to take this photograph.
Then, you find the image when you go through your photographs from the past and it interests you again - look! A photograph framing an object framed, by an accident of how these objects occurred in the world. Beautiful fruits framed by a grey box, as I saw them in that moment.

mewet

mute (adj.)

late 14c., mewet "silent," from O.Fr. muet, dim. of mut, mo, from L. mutus "silent, dumb," probably from imitative base *mu- (cf. Skt. mukah "dumb," Gk. myein "to be shut," of the mouth). Assimilated in form in 16c. to L. mutus. The verb is first attested 1861. Related: Muted; muting. Musical noun sense first recorded 1811, of stringed instruments, 1841, of horns.

Muted

London and its Deep Topography

This is the only excerpt I could find of 'London' by Patrick Keiller (1992) on youtube. I didn't want to focus on the political element of the film, but as I said, it's the only bit I could find. The film is WONDERFUL and well well worth a watch for it's ideas, beautiful shots, interesting composition... A narrative is spoken by Paul Scofield of his journey through London with Robinson, his companion who is conducting some sort of research into the city and whereupon is able to cite historical and literary and other art related snippets in - what could be called - a 'deep topographical' manner.

It's funny that I've ended up with the most political part of the film. After watching it I realised that my co-viewer wasn't very impressed by this overtly leftwing rant. Perhaps I was trying to justify the politics within the 'art' of the film, but it felt to me that the pessimism à la 1992 Tory victory was merely a further reference to the Frankfurt school as Walter Benjamin seems to be only just about acknowledged source of much of the idea content of the film. I appreciate the presence of the political, but do suspect that 'the political' is necessarily transformed somehow by being relegated to the status of a device within the wider artness of the film. Or is it.

This is from the sequel 'Robinson In Space':

Loved this one too, and feel I should say that it is less political - is it? More focus on structures - big, industrial structures in the landscape.

And to finish, I'm listening to Ventures and Adventures in Topography which is where I get 'deep topography' from. They also are on to Patrick Keiller and Walter Benjamin (episode 1). Thanks to Some Landscapes for the pointer.

In Solidarity With Egypt

These photos are from my two months in Egypt over the winter of 2008-2009. My heart goes out to this beautiful country.

Jellyfish

The Horniman houses these creatures. The lack of flash on my camera means that you can't see the neon colouring they exhibit in UV light, but maybe you can imagine what an incredible sight it was.

Looking at animals is always a challenge to imagine life without ego-based consciousness and a more profound challenge to live an ethics of equality that takes life without ego-based consciousness into account. Reading a lot of Freud at the moment. I can't imagine that he ever imagined the different - without being less equal - consciousnesses that might inhabit creatures. But, I guess his work paves the way for us to.

Horniman Aquarium from Horniman Museum on Vimeo.

Just found this video when searching for the link to the Horniman Museum. It shows the jellyfish in all their glory.

Also discovered that there is an exhibition of Venkat Raman Singh Shyam and Rajendra Shyam on currently. I first discovered Gond art via BibliOdyssey: The Night Life of Trees It's wonderful.

More Treen

Sounds: roaring sea, birdsong. Smell: fresh green, earth.

Treen

Just arrived back in London after a week camping in Cornwall. Still glowing with the wonder of it. A glimpse:

The Canal

We took these yesterday, on a delicious walk from Broadway Market to Regent's Park, all across North London and along the canal. Beasts to follow.

My favourites..

It's been a long time coming...

These images were taken on a ramble through Hertfordshire in February, the day before Valentine's Day. They are probably a bit dreary, but then English Winter is.

Tree lines and structures...

Tree lines, rivers, routes, veins, lungs....

The Sky's The Limit

Crossing the bridge this morning I watched a small gull swoop down from on high, loitering slightly over the surface of the Thames, flying artfully -twist- playfully.

I thought about how that must feel, and I thought that the bird was my outer limits of experience, taking me flying while I sit in the bus.

I want to revive the ancient art of augury. (Maybe not the bit about entrails though).

Work Lines Worth Isolating

Molten light thick on a
tarnished floor, flows.

Magic in the Material

Snatched London in the Autumn

Some quick randoms...

15th September 2009

Alrighty. Next stage: intermittent (guerrilla?) internet visits (get in get out), dump photos and videos and some thoughts. Disappear completely again.







These shots were from the night of my 30th Birthday.