Monday, August 31, 2009

Art Conditioning Life

Two years ago and late at night, we were in a bar in the provinces in the Philippines - looking out over the deserted road below ...


... and - gradually- I became mesmerized by the scenes opposite ...


... though I wasn't sure exactly why ...


... beyond, partly, the obvious fascination of being aware of my seeing life conditioned through art ...

Edward Hooper 'Nighthawks' (1942)

... but it was also that the scene provoked a whole raft of comfortably uncomfortable emotions that I didn't want to examine - just indulge!

BTW, the photos are enormous files and explode up if you click on them - and their haunting qualities are even more intense.
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5 comments:

  1. Paul in NYCAugust 31, 2009 at 8:16 AM

    "Big Mak!" indeed.

    Your photos are absolutely haunting. As is your characterization of "comfortably uncomfortable emotions" you chose to indulge rather than examine.

    I think sometimes living the examined life means being aware of, and experiencing, rather than picking apart.

    Thank you for this post.

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  2. nickwallacesmithAugust 31, 2009 at 7:06 PM

    hey paul in NYC

    the urge to examine is one i constantly fight - and as i get a bit older i win much more often than i used to!

    good to hear from you

    best

    nick

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  3. jackscribeSeptember 1, 2009 at 7:45 AM

    What a neat posting. I love Hooper and will see the original next month when I travel to Chicago. The Art Institute recently opened a new modern art wing and I'm anxious to explore.

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  4. nickwallacesmithSeptember 1, 2009 at 8:08 PM

    hi jackscribe

    thanks - good to be seeing the hooper next month - and like exploring new galleries or new additions to old ones - remember the first time i went to the new tate in london - old friends in a new home plus a lot of things out of the basement

    hope the exploring goes well!

    ReplyDelete
  5. nickwallacesmithSeptember 1, 2009 at 8:08 PM

    hi jackscribe

    thanks - good to be seeing the hooper next month - and like exploring new galleries or new additions to old ones - remember the first time i went to the new tate in london - old friends in a new home plus a lot of things out of the basement

    hope the exploring goes well!

    ReplyDelete

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