A Gargantuan Bluescreen

In this fascinating documentary, American author and physicist Brian Greene introduces us to the topic of space in an easy-to-understand accessible manner, free from too much technical jargon.

Although the program was made prior to the discovery of the Higgs-Boson particle,, the information is still relevant. It's thought provoking stuff. Especially when Prof..Greene brings up the newest and craziest space theory towards the end of the show...

the title of this post is directly inspired by what one witty You-tuber posted in response.

Enjoy!

Space is a Doubt

                                                                               R Allen-Sherwood 2015

I would like there to exist places that are stable. unmoving. intangible, untouched and almost untouchable, unchanging, deep-rooted, places that might be points of reference, of departure, of origin.

Such places don't exist, and it's because they don't exist that space becomes a question, ceases to be self-evident, ceases to be incorporated. ceases to be appropriated. Space is a doubt. I have constantly to mark it, to designate it. It's never mine, never given to me. I have to conquer it.

                                                                                      R. Allen-Sherwood 2015

Space melts like sand running through one's fingers. Times bears it away and leaves only shapeless threads.

"Species of Spaces and Other Pieces"  Georges Perec

Everything Emptying Into White *

"Pine Tree Island"  Ink and wash  2012

In the art of Japanese calligraphy or Shodo, blank space (on paper or canvas) is seen in a positive light, not in the negative or angst inducing way some artists would have you think. Blank paper is a white area packed with unfulfilled potential, waiting for the calligrapher's brush mark to bring it to life. Literally.

One of my favourite descriptions of this, can be found in the book "Japanese Calligraphy The Art of Line & Space", Author and calligraphy teacher Christine Flint-Sato writes: The black line passes through white as a boat through water, the wake created by its passing is felt through the white. The white is not a passive space or vacuum to be entered and which is unaffected by the line, it is energised or activated by it. (pg 58)

"Floating "  Ink on paper  2013  

Viewed in this manner, it is easy to understand the important role space & motion play in the art of brush and ink. Space and line mutually support each other within the composition of the work but it is the energy motion of the line which brings it all together.

* Thank you Cat Stevens 

Love Letter to Space

Deep Space               

I've always wondered why do I have this deep fascination with Space /Motion. It wasn't like I suddenly decided one day "think I'll study space and motion for the rest of my life!" No. This was an intuitive decision. And I am happy to say that it's been a good one because the topic continues to grow deeper and richer with each passing year. I just need to catch up to it......

Space /Motion is a vast resource to delve into. I don't think one lifetime is enough to learn about it all. Each time I make a new discovery I try hard to figure it out intellectually so that I can explain it to myself or others but it doesn't always work out. People just think I'm crazy most of the time..

What I am beginning to see is that with space, the less said the better.

Sometimes a painting can say more about the experience than whole herds of typed character words on a keyboard can.  That's probably why I'm an artist instead of a writer!

Image info    Deep Space        Sumi ink, paint and chalk on paper   by R Allen-Sherwood  (created 2011)    

"Houston, we have motion!'

image courtesy of NASA

Couldn't resist posting this gorgeous photograph I found on the web,. It combines everything I love: space, motion but with a genuine space-suit thrown in. Unintentional art. How good is that!

It's actually a photograph of an astronaut testing the motion capability of a new spacesuit. I found it in this NASA  treasure-trove  of space images, - a resource so rich and vast, you could seriously get lost in it!

Hmm, might use that for the title of my next post. "Lost in Space". :)

Taking a Line for a Ride

Notes from a sketchbook                               R.Allen-Sherwood 2015

Last year I became re-interested in another subject I studied during my art school days at university. I am talking about the concept of motion or movement. The drawing above is one of the very first studies I made whilst riding on a bus.

Yorkshire Train Ride                                  R Allen-Sherwood 2015

I never really developed the idea until much later. This second drawing above was done ten years after the first one! Using sumi ink and brush, I completed the drawing whilst travelling on a train this time.

This personal investigation into movement continued in fits and spurts in the background whilst I carried on with other things in life. But it was always there, like some distant memory of a song in the back of your mind. A song you can't remember the name of but can't stop humming the melody........ I continued making motion works but always found the results unsatisfactory,

Sands of Time                                                      R Allen-SHerwood 2015

Then I tried using a camera. It works better, but I still feel there still a ways to go before the idea, inspiration and execution can marry into one happy union that goes skipping off into the sunset..

Am I fussy? Yeah. Motion matters to me because it's an important component in my never-ending search into the meaning of space.

Motion defines space. I will dedicate more time this year towards this because I honestly feel that Motion & Space are flip sides of the same spinning coin. 

3 x 3 Inches Square

My idea of what a Zen garden should or shouldn't be has changed dramatically. Maybe it's a natural progression, given the seven years I've spent,dedicated to this subject matter in one way or another.

Now, the Zen-garden-in-my-mind expands and shrinks at the same time..It has become internalised. On the one hand, Zen-garden fills this world, yet also sits quietly inside a compact little 3 x 3 inch square box covering half the space of my upturned hand.

The above photo was my first realisation that things have changed.

Change. Something we can always rely on....

Happy New Year.