bLOGOS/HA HA: June 2010

David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.

30 June 2010

THE WAY THINGS APPEAR : Anne Zahalka

Speaking of the appearance of things (see previous post), the current exhibition at ARC ONE (Melbourne) is Anne Zahalka's THE WAY THINGS APPEAR.

Click here for exhibition info and images.

click to enlarge

Art Gallery of NSW (1)
2010
Type C Photograph edition of 5 + AP
70 x 48cm

detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...

LOGOS/HA HA

29 June 2010

Medusa at large : LADY HA HA

Medusa has long been of interest to the bLOGOS/HA HA team. How could she not be : someone whose appearance turns to stone anyone who looks at her.

Medusa, by Caravaggio, 1595

On a recent visit to Ballarat bL heard of a Medusa-like version of The Fame Monster Lady Gaga on show in a hairdresser's shopfront window. With no mirror at hand, nor mirror-camera for a glimpse, bL left any confirmation of this until another time.

The next opportunity came when accompanying C to Outpatients Oncology. There too, on the Waiting Room wall, another Medusan was already fixing the fear : Lady Cigie.

From Oncology to downtown Ballarat and the latest incarnation of Medusa's frightful apparition: LADY HA HA. She, by another name, whose serpent mane strikes a venom of mind into the first glance of anyone who dares it. (Perseus knew the trick : observe her reflection only. Today therefore my ancient mirror-camera SLR is recommissioned for the purpose.) Those so struck will never know their striker. Fixed thus in the poison of ignorance, they will apprehend only a writhing projection of negative images.

detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...

LOGOS/HA HA

21 June 2010

Routine Inspection

We gathered last night around absinthe and pizza to watch the latest episode of Doctor Who : Vincent and the Doctor.

Vincent van Gogh and three doctors, no less : Gachet, Who and Black.

Bill Nighy as Doctor Black. How inspired! (Richard Curtis wrote this episode.) Doctor Erebos, as it were, Being of Darkness, Guide for the habitués of the Gallery Underworld.

Dr Who and the Theatre of the Actors of Looking :

☀ At the Musée D'Orsay, Doctor Who interrupts Doctor Black's gallery tour. He flashes his psychic paper : "Routine inspection. Ministry of Art and... Artiness."

☀ Who and Black coyly admire each other's bow tie.

☀ Still at the D'Orsay, Amy Pond holds a picture card of Vincent's "L'église d'Auvers-sur-Oise" (1890) in front of that painthing and exclaims : "There it is. The actual one". Soon she and Dr Who will travel to 1890 and that very church, the actual actual one.

☀ At Auvers-sur-Oise, 1890, Vincent offers Amy and Doctor Who a small gift, a to-be-famous self-portrait. Look, love, laugh and let go.

☀ Dr Who also offers a gift. He and Amy bring Vincent van Gogh to the Musée D'Orsay 2010. Astonished, Vincent sees how future people will regard his painthings. He knows his bliss will be shared.

detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...

LOGOS/HA HA

10 June 2010

none so BLIND

e soe.

From an online cataLOGOS/HA HA

click
BLIND SPOT
X
to see

detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ...

LOGOS/HA HA

09 June 2010

ÉMAIL PAINTHING ? BONNE IDÉE !

From the bL heap, this early 2oth century French postcard.

Your correspondent is at best a babel fish employee, so the frieze atop the open image-space initially created some confusion.
Email?

running painter
( X )
messenger with bridge
( earth-sky )
can of paint and loaded brush
(Samsara Red)

PEINTURE ÉMAIL PEINTURE ÉMAIL PEINTURE

EMAIL PAINTHING? EMAIL PAINTHING? EMAIL PAINTHING?

BONNE IDÉE ! BONNE IDÉE ! BONNE IDÉE !

BEFORE ÉMAIL MEANT EMAIL
ÉMAIL MEANS ENAMEL
& PEINTURE ÉMAIL
ENAMEL PAINT