As I travelled Europe, my “bridge” art project was on my mind. As a result, some fun shots, some (of what I think are pretty) great shots, and some memorable stories that lie behind most of them (which I will have to tell some other day).
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Tag: Photography
Circles in the Land of Angles
THE CRAB – IN ENGLAND
I love learning where words come from. England, according to wikipedia, comes from the Old English Englaland, the “Land of the Angles”, the Angles being a German Tribes from the Middle ages. Learn something new every day – I always assumed it meant ‘my land” or something unoriginal like that.. you know, like the naming of all the monuments in Sydney: the “Harbour Bridge” for a bridge across the harbour, the “Opera House” for the theatre where opera is played , the “Centerpoint” tower for the tallest tower in the center of the city. Not that there is anything wrong with that, I mean, it does make sense even if its a little boring.
Anyway, back to the Circles in the Land of Angles…
These four shots are the latest to join my “Crab” series, taken during my July trip to Oxford and London in July.
Tower bridge, London
Farmoor Reserve, Oxfordshire UK
Some ruins near Oxford
Buckingham Palace
I was hoping to make it to Paris and get some shots in front of Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, and go to Barcelona and Rome – but the peak holiday period made tripping around much less enticing… the South of France was lovely and I think I got another “crab” shot there but they’re buried in my files so I’ll have to save that for another story.
The Animal Question: Darwin’s Bastards
I’m working on a concept for an upcoming exhibition entitled “Darwin’s Bastards” that will be held at Verge Galleries on City Road in November. I’m not yet sure yet my photos will be accepted but it has been an interesting exercise to contemplate how Darwin’s theory has been modified and adapted, how it has been used and misused, and how we might transcend the theoretical application and consider the practical implications of life’s origins on our lives today.
From the vantage point of 2009 it seems that over the last hundred years humanity has journeyed through a dizzying circling of paradigm shifts (a few I will discuss below) and fear-induced retreats to pre-modern mentalities (leading to Fundamentalist paradigms embedded in ideological identities). It is time to return to the origins hence this series explores the islands where Darwin’s theory first began. Like Darwin, I was 26 years old when I set foot on the Galapagos – a group of islands that lie an hour’s flight from the mainland of Ecuador.
On arrival I immediately felt different. I looked around and wondered if Darwin too knew deep inside the significance his experience would have on his life and on the world. Not that my experience will have nearly the effect of Darwin’s but surrounded by a strange world where animals treat you as if you are one of them, something in my gut told me my experience there would be life-changing. A later book written by Darwin is called The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals makes me think Darwin might have had similar impressions to mine.
These photos reflect just some of such moments. It’s not just the fact that you are surrounded by sealions, iguanas, turtles, birds and insects, and it was their deep thoughts, expressions of emotions, and human-like interactions and family feuds, that brought me back to a key question of evolution: The Animal Question.
This year is the Year of Darwin. It has been 150 years since the Theory of Evolution was unleashed on the unsuspecting public, and just look at where it as taken us… a theory of life that that should have connected all life under a collective identity has backfired and out of fear and frustration Fundamentalist movements – be they religious, atheist or ideological – have escalated to levels like never before. Globablisation has placed different religions, cultures and often what are perceived as clashing world-views side by side with the threat of a “clash of civilisations” said to be waiting just around the corner.
In many circles Darwin’s theory has been denounced as just that, “a theory”, and children be they of religious, atheist or agnostic parents are presented with a choice: religion OR science. Believe in God and mystery OR evolution and life with no meaning. So I ask: what happened to the “AND”? Why is the commonality of the two so often avoided? Is it so hard to see that while religion questions “why?” science answers “how?” Are science and religion two sides to the same coin?
I can’t understand why children are rarely presented with a meta-narrative of evolution and history, and engaged to recognise the limitations and seek answers to its gaps. Instead at school we were presented with isolated segments of history “today we will learn about Ancient Sumer, and tomorrow Ancient Babylon”… what kid would not fall asleep at such a suggestion? Is it not much more interesting to draw a line on the black board and say, this is what scientists believe to be the 14 billion year history of the universe, and this little cm section here on the right is the 6000 years of history us humans have actually got a written history to support. Tell the children that we have no evidence that tells us how the first atom appeared, and that we have various dating techniques that tell us about the points in between: the age of our sun, our earth, the reign of the dinosaurs; and then go into detail on Ancient cultures from the perspective of how this has led to the evolution of human consciousness into the society, culture, education and lifestyles we take for granted as ‘normal’ today. To note that all of what we are surrounded by is but transient. It is never static, it has never stopped changing and will always continue to do so. To me this is a much more exciting way to present life, history, evolution, religion and science.
Similarly it baffles me that in religious circles children are still being encouraged to blindly accept the authoritative interpretation of holy books instead of equipping them to engage with the narrative presented – to historicise the Holy writings and theologies and look at how they developed over time. To question how religions of other civilizations might relate to theirs, how the differ and how they might enrich each other. Are they not all a historical record of different groups of humans seeking the divine answers behind life? Different conceptions of God better explained by historicizing the cultural circumstances of their mental conditioning rather than as conceiving each other’s conception as deceptions?
What completely astounds me is why so many people are fixed on the question of Does God exist? and Whose God is the True God, and that gods are false?
Why is it so rare that in the Atheist/Theist debate no body stops to ask: What per say is “God”???
From religious to atheist, everyone can see there is some kind of unexplainable energy that causes atoms to split and allows for animals to adapt. Whether or not you choose to personify this force as many religions do, or to see the force in more abstract scientific terms, or even in terms of the more detailed (and complicated) reality of quantum physics, it seems that this is a sturdy platform from which interfaith dialogue, sharing and learning can begin.
Simultaneous to the Fundamentalist movements of the 20th Century, bastardizations of Darwin’s theory have continued. It seems that as we rejected Modernity’s meta-narrative and embraced Post-Modernity’s pluralism, we lost something important: the pursuit of Truth. A meta-narrative exists and even if we will never fully know this Truth it is still a worthwhile objective. Books from the 1920s like H.G.Well’s The Outline of History and Hendrick Willem Van Loon’s The Story of Mankind – vanished from the bookshelves and instead of teaching children history in perspective of our place in the universe and its 14 billion year history, segmented units of history and science are taught as if each have no bearing on the other.
I now return to my concept for this exhibition: The Animal Question.
It is hard not to see the overlap between plants and animals (eg plants that eat flies), between mammals and birds (eg birds that don’t fly), between mammals and fish (eg whales and dolphins) and in forms of life that transform before our eyes (eg caterpillars to butterflies). Evidence for evolution, and how life came about, but what does this say about why? What does this say about the other side of life’s coin?
Anyone who, like me, believes there may be more to life than meets the eye, must really consider what this animal question actually means…
How is our consciousness different to that of animals?
If we evolved from similar roots to animals then do animals also have a soul?
If animals also have a soul, then do plants have one too?
Where can you draw the line? Or is it possible that we all share one soul?
Most importantly, what does our relationship to animals and plants and the history of the universe tell us about the purpose of our short human lives?
What part to we play in the process of creative evolution?
How can we unite in collective identity of life?
How can we move towards our individual and collective potentials of infinite creativity???!
People and Portraits
South Americans are different. There’s some powerful energy inside of them unlike any other people. The eyes of these children say it all.
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“A Little Inspiration for a Big Idea”
The Art Tree Exhibition – my series is called “A Little Inspiration for a Big Idea”…
The little inspiration
The Theory of Evolution is a HUGE idea. But like all ideas, it starts with one thing: a little inspiration. Something happens to you: a feeling, a thought, divine inspiration? Over time this develops, culminating in an idea which if it’s a good one, can change the world forever.
Darwin took over twenty years to transform his thoughts into the massive idea unleashed into the world in The Origin of Species. The year 2009 is The Year of Darwin, the 150-year anniversary of his theory’s publication. This series explores the origins of Darwin’s idea to explore his greatest inspiration: The Galapagos Islands.
1JB – “My little friend” on Isabela.
I flew to this island in the front seat of a tiny seaplane and roamed the island for what felt like days but was only a few hours. Alone with nature. This island is heaven. Marine Iguanas were everywhere – but it was this little Lava Lizard, so colourful and curious, that won my heart.
2JB – “Anything is possible” on Isla Bartolome.
I was standing with the tour group at the top of a volcano when Rachel pointed and mouthed “LOOK B E H I N D YOU”. I turned, and there it was, sitting on the rail. I stood and stared. This Galapagos Eagle was BEAUTIFUL. I took one photo, ten, and as it flew away I caught this shot. Freedom.
3JB – “Family life” on San Cristobal.
We spent three days and nights hanging out with the locals – Ecuadorian boys, English teachers, and Galapagos Sea Lions. At the local beach they welcome you to join their family of countless females and babies and one token attention-seeking male boss. Just watching their family relationships you realize we really are not so different after all. 3000 people live on this San Cristobal. You can too if you marry a local… and people do!
4JB – “Cancerian decor” on Plazas Sur.
There nothing little about these Sally Lightfoot Crabs – at least relative to their body… just look at their giant claws and bulging eyes!!! These bright coloured creatures, also known as ‘Red Rock Crabs’ are scattered all over the seaside rocks like Christmas lights on a tree. Sometimes animated and full of life, and seemingly playing dead – much like the Cancers I know (I’m one of them.)
5JB – “Kiss and cuddles” on Santa Fe.
I used to think if I had to be a different animal I would be a dog, or maybe a bird. But now I know what I want to come back as in my next life. These Galapagos Sea Lions are the most affectionate creatures on this planet. Sure the have their family domestics, but they always make up with kisses and cuddles.
6JB – “Old souls” on Santa Cruz.
The Galapagos Giant Tortoise has the aura of a very old very wise man. These beautiful ancient reptiles move very slowly, eat slowly, sleep 16 hours a day, and live like this for more than 100 years (the oldest recorded age is 152 years.) These majestic creatures have a ‘mutual symbiotic relationship’ with the finch –stretching out their necks for the bird to eat off ticks – an easy meal for the bird and no more parasites for them.
8JB – “Happy as Larry” on Santa Fe.
Feeling like Alice in Wonderland I wandered down a little path to have lunch with Larry the Land Iguana. He was hungry. Just one, I said to myself, unable to resist. I “accidentally” plucked a flower and put it on the step in front of Larry. As if in slow motion first his eyes motioned to the yellow petals. His head followed, then one foot and then the next. He scooped down, his tongue popped out and LICK… the flower was gone. Then he lifted his head and smiled at me. I got this shot, and hurried along in a vain attempt to catch up to my group.
7JB – “Curiosity killed the cat” on Santa Fe.
I got in trouble for taking this photo. I was crouched in the bushes observing this little Darwin Finch hopping here and there, engaging with me curiously. Finally I stood only to find my friends and tour group were nowhere to be seen. Still able to see our boat I didn’t panic, instead wandered up a pathway. The search party found me… eventually.
9JB – “Contemplating life” on San Cristobal.
I relate to this baby Galapagos Sea Lion. He is tired. Who isn’t? Life can be tough. Learning to walk. Learning to think. Learning to eat. Leraning to do this, do that, but why? All this “stuff” that requires energy and effort. Sometimes we all have follow this baby’s example: pause, rest our chins on a rock and think, “what is this life really all about?”
So… Why Galapagos?
Galapagos formed 5million years ago by underwater volcanoes that rose to the surface creating 20 or so rocky islands and over 40 tiny islets. These islands are in Ecuador, located 1000km from the mainland (about a 1.5 hour flight). There are over 300 plant and animal species that are unique to the islands, and evidence of evolution can be seen everywhere with each island inhabited by plant and animal life different from the rest. Plants and animals began to evolve there 2-million years ago after seeds, insects and plant spores were carried over in the wind and with birds, while larger animals such as the iguanas are suspected to have arrived on floating vegetation. Because they have sent this time with no predators around them, the animals have no fear toward humans and they go about their day as if you were one of them.
Our connection to the animals
As I took these photographs, and at times when I sat on a beach simply observing their family life, eating habits and the ways they communicate with each other, I felt a sense of unity with them. I could understand why these animals would challenge any belief in human superiority above other forms of life. I found myself contemplating my relationship to the other creatures of this planet: are they just there for the benefit of humans – to admire and eat? Or is there something more?
Darwin’s finches
It was the variety of finches collected from the various islands that demonstrated natural selection in action. Darwin discovered that the bird’s beaks would evolve to be longer or shorter, weaker or stronger, thinner or thicker, depending on the food sources available on the island for example large hard seeds led to nature preferring birds with a long strong beak while small soft seeds gave preference to small more flexible beaks. Darwin analysed his specimens and noticed differences between different islands, asking himself: did God create these in 6 days, or had something else occurred?
Controversy
In the last 150 years, people in western societies have faced a confronting dilemma: do I believe in creation or do I believe in evolution? It’s often presented as if we have to make a choice: religion or science. Either: an all-powerful “God” created us, or we evolved from an empty void of nothing and there is no God.
This polarized debate distorts the real issue. If we were “created in God’s image” but also evolved from animals, then might we simply have to broaden our idea of what “God” actually looks like? Could science and religion be talking about the same energy behind life, but in different languages? Could the two in essence believe in the same thing, but be talking about it in different ways – some choosing to personify the energy, and others preferring to scientify it? Might “God” be a personification of the quantum energies that create themselves out of nothing? If this is so, then what part do we now have to play in the ongoing evolution of our species, our planet and our universe?
Check out the other twenty artists collaborating for this exhibition at: www.thearttree.com.auカラフルワードロープ(服吊/衣類収納) 幅60cm 【ホワイト 取っ手：スケルトンクリア/全8個】 日本製 【完成品】【送料込/送料無料】
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Alchemy
Exhibiting at Manning Artspace, Sydney University – July 2009- August 2013.
The title of the series, Alchemy, was inspired by Paolo Cuelo’s The Alchemist; a four-part series taken over a three-month journey around South America. The first shot of the series was the one in Huacachina – sand dunes in the south of Peru. Not knowing yet quite what I was onto, I played around with the asana Urdhva Dhanurasana, also known as Chakrasana, Upward Bow, Wheel, Backbend or “The Crab” – which, seeing as my starsign is Cancer, is probably the most appropriate – in the salt-lakes of Bolivia, after a fashion shoot in Argentina and finally on the beaches of Brazil.
“Never stop dreaming”
Uyuni Salt Lakes, Bolivia
Standing on one cm of water on top of a lake of salt, these clouds surrounded me in every direction – it was the most breath-taking experience of my life. Levi Martins, one of the boys in my 4wd took this. I got a bit wet, slipping as I tried to stand up… but it was worth it. This shot represents to me the power of dreams, and the incredible way that everything you dream, everything you ask the universe for, will come true. Never stop dreaming.
“Everything in life is an omen”
“When you want somethingミヤキ ランバーガード外部用 (色：チーク)18L, all the universe conspires to help you achieve itマグノリアとオーキッドのスクエアベースアレンジメント造花 お供え花 お悔やみ花 仏花PRMF-0055.”
Buenos Aires【中古】 FUJIIRYOKI RelaxSolution SKS-5500 マッサージチェア ブラック 楽直【大型】 Y2465119, Argentina
Facilitated with an exchange of facebook details at a youth hostel, this shot followed a spontaneous fashion shoot with Columbian fashion photographer Gustavo Moreno. I stole the blue scarf from around my friend’s neck and inside the phonebook of a convenience store I created this fun little outfit and requested Gustavo to take this shot. Cars stopped (and tooted) and after many tries we got the shot (an my muscles ached for days!). This is my favourite of the series – I think because it was the most difficult to create. It is true that when you want something, anything, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it.
Photographer: © 2009 Gustavo Tomás Moreno T. (YACO)
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Florianapolis, Brazil
Words cannot describe the appreciation that the Brazilians have for life. They smile, they laugh, and in their bright coloured clothes they walk as if music is pumping through their veins. At the beach, whether wealthy or homeless, people share the pleasures of warmth, water and sand; together clapping and cheering the sun’s final glorious moments as it retires for the day. Brazilians live in a way that seems much more connected with “God”, or the “Universal Soul”, the mysterious unknowns behind life, than most people I know. By living in the moment rather than worrying about what the next day will bring (whether by choice or default) the Brazilians’ energy, attitude and lifestyle represented to me the most beautiful expression of real deep faith. They have not a cent in their pockets, but they have faith.
For the exhibition I printed them to 15 x 40 inch (381 x 1016mm), mounted them on 9mm craftwood with black melamine edging and finished them off with a cold satin lamination. Wanting to spread the love I priced them at $240, and happy to sell them over the internet for the same price + postage costs.テラモト Trim STF ミエル(ステン) DS1885242
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Sud Americana Landscapes
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Iguazu Falls
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Rio de JaneiroEC-13 唄金具 青銅 40号 10個入 飾釘 釘隠 青銅 BIDOOR(ビドー), Brasil
Enchanted Isles
This show will be exhibited in Sydney in November 2009, as the “Year of Darwin” (the 150 year anniversary of Origin of Species and Darwin’s 200 year birthday), comes to a close.
Darwin was 26 years old when he undertook his paradigm shattering expedition in the Galapagos and around South America. I too was 26 when I followed Darwin’s footsteps on what would be my own paradigm shifting adventure….
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