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.


22 February 2016

2016 Biennale of Sydney


We have received an invitation to the March 16 opening of the 20th Biennale of Sydney : 

 The future is already here – it’s just not evenly distributed
                 
The invitation features this image of regard. 
                           

 Shahryar Nashat, Parade (still), 2014, HD video, 38 mins. 
 Image courtesy the artist, Rodeo Gallery, London 
 and Silberkuppe, Berlin © the artist    

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

 LOGOS/HA HA 
       
We are reminded of a similar Prime Scene from the recent Theatre of the Actors of Regard production of Melencolia 1 featuring the Culture Hero turned Deity of the Art Cult, Ar Cul.


Theatre of the Actors of Regard  
 detail
 A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
 someone looks at something...

 LOGOS/HA HA