Do you see what I see?

Apparently it is very good to stretch the visuals, which the mind needs to interpret its world. Extensive exposure to television tends to sap the mind and tire the individual, Computer games tend to over-agitate it, and exhaust them. But I don’t believe I have ever suffered too much harm, from exploring the art world in a gallery, or walking in the bush, forest, mountains, on the beaches, or hills. The daily early sunlight is supposed to be the best form of light for your health. The hard mid-day light is supposedly the worst. Perhaps there is something in the Spanish custom of taking siestas? Not just resting the body, but also the vision. I would argue the light coming off ice fields and salt plains (having been exposed to both in my time), is probably the worst form of light. But under a moon lit night, the salt plains ‘glow’, is particularly pleasing to look upon. And if a snowfield at night, the visuals can be just as beautiful. Particularly the visuals of an Aurora (the atmospheric phenomenon in the night sky around the polar regions, where solar particles interact with gases in the air to create folds, streamers, and arches of coloured lights ) or a pure star field (the awesomeness of the galaxy). I have been fortunate to have viewed both, including the night sky with night vision enhancement. Did you know when seen with that type of vision, there is barely a patch of sky that does not produce some form of starlight or particle. It is inspiring.

I am not one who looks out into the universe and feels insignificant. I look out into the universe in wonder and a deep sense of awe. Not in any religious fervour, Just awe, at all that lies before me. The word ‘majestic’ comes to mind with pause. Indigenous astronomy in Australia is different to western astronomy. Their culture refers to the ‘spaces’ in the night sky more than the stars. The stars are involved in many of the stories, but the spaces dominate. The length of the milky way for example possesses the ‘emu’ image (There is a website for those curious with a photo by Barnaby Norris which clearly shows this). Other spaces are the ‘eagles nest’ etc. We are all looking at the same sky, but do we see what others see?

This is the same concept for images. Many will say, I like art.. but what sort? Is this the line, “I don’t know if it is art, but I know what I like?” We are constantly exposed to many forms and visuals. On an average day a person in a city can be exposed to 5000 (yes, that’s five thousand) images and advertisements in a single day. Thirty years ago it was around 2000. Is it any better today? Is it any more effective? Or, is it simply more visual pollution. There are some who will say yes. Thank goodness we still have some artists who can break up the monotony of such commercial visuals and introduce other forms of visuals to our society…. But, good graffiti, is very hard to find… Not what you were thinking? No, but if done well and there is some that is exceptional (and authorised). It can make a wonderful difference to a day.

(continued tomorrow)