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.


04 August 2021

The Getting of Wis(r)dom


We recently referenced Philip Brophy's MeMO report on his own Golden Ticket tour of the NGV Chocolate Factory.

Theatre of the Actors of Regard  
NGV Triennial 2020 installation view of Refik Anadol (designer); Refik Anadol Studio, Los Angeles (design studio) Quantum memories 2020. Commissioned by the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Proposed acquisition with funds donated by Loti & Victor Smorgon Fund and Barry Janes and Paul Cross, 2020 © Refik Anadol. 
Photo: Tom Ross

Many current TV advertisements are also about reviewing the wisdom of our views. Here's Wayne, looking as if at his own bee-bearded bonce, wondering if he can smash and grab some easy money, honey.

Theatre of the Advertisements of Regard   
Voice-over Man advises :

Wayne, Wayne, Wayne ... careful there, big fella.
Sure, there’s a part of you thinking, 'Free honey’.
But we want to talk to the other part, your smart part.
It knows that checking your credit score without affecting it
is a good decision. Easy now...
Chorus sings : wis(e)r

So, why is Wayne now looking at the back of his hammer-become-screen-device? Because he is still required to act stupid; because it is we who are fixed on that screen (and this screen) to the wisr owl logo.

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