Reflected essence

Nature has an essence to its totality. This is not merely a sociopolitical or an esthetical aspect for the observer and the explorer. There is an underlying rhythm to this whole process of phenomenon in nature. That principle is the one that allows the spiral transformations to take place in her continuity. The man, who is her beloved, also has that reflective quality where it makes him skillfully harmonize to this rhythm of nature. Art has to explore and excavate this aspect and then exhibit and celebrate it through its medium, whatever it may be. If an artist does not know this secret, it is like struggling to find a way in total darkness.

–Nitya Chaitanya Yati

Perpetual internalization is at the heart of any art practice. It stems from the intense feeling of an intimate connection to one’s surroundings. The separation from the other makes one anxious. Whereas art connects one back to everything else, at the same time, it transforms the practitioner and viewer simultaneously.

Content in art is not a liner process. The forms emerge as a result of some secret alchemy. The significance of each image is observed and recorded daily. This works as a collection to the repository later to draw from. These internalized images and ideas are at the core and a reflected essence becomes one’s connecting cord to life. The momentary reflection of the ontological reality exists beyond our sense perception. We project our subjective view on to this objective reality with our own imagined forms and colours. A highly sophisticated bioscopic device with a projector and camera built into one, comes to my mind.

When land vistas and spaces are internalized, one's mind also expands as the visuals start seeping in and out revealing its essential nature. One cannot describe the dance of the contour or the rhythm of colors in nature, but only point at it by juxtaposing the visuals to get a montage effect of the truth.

Claude Monet - 'Bodmer Oak' - Oil on canvas - completed in 1865.

Claude Monet completed 'Bodmer Oak' in 1865. (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York) The way he has done the back light helps us to feel the tree he is refering to. The space in between two objects has a dynamic dimension to it. This is a feeling. The missing factor when we blink for a split second, remains as the essence of it all. The true mystery lies in the tree beyond the form of a tree. Claude Monet has immortalized this essence of it in his painting.

We cannot totally demystify the absolute reality as it is fleeting always. We cannot analyze it using language and describe its cause and effect. Certain parts of the whole will always remain as a mystery. We are a part of the phenomenon, and a part cannot realize the whole. It is like a finger trying to feel the whole body. It can have a partial glimpse. That is all. Our limitation is our sense perception.

Senses function where the sensation is felt, in the present moment. A finger can feel itself when the finger is fully aware of the sensation on the finger. This is an essential quality of our mind-body system. We may not be able to explore it always, but it is there. The awareness of the feeling is happening now, here. So feeling something is much more real than the thoughts or anything else in our mind.

The appropriate response is to celebrate the ride with respect, show reverence towards daily life and be grateful. I believe, art is one of the best ways to express it, by deepening the feeling of our intense connection to the whole.

An artist deepens the mystery of life –Francis Bacon

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​Ref: Merleau Pondy/ Phenomenology of Perception (Indiana University)

Photo: On the way to Top Station, Devikulam, Kerala, India. Sebastian Varghese©2015