29 September 2006

Perfection


It's one of those things that fascinates me: perfection. As does beauty.
We Westerners think they have something to do with stasis, a state
of solidity. But. but but but -- aren't they more about catching things
appearing or disappearing? about imperfection, mistakes, things that
may never come together again?

So much of the difficulty and drag of typical photo sites is that folks
think it's about pointing out the flaws. . . . and that kind of thinking
which equates no flaws with perfection.

So much of any art is about seeing how the flaws bring their own life
to what we make.

This is a deeply flawed photograph, but. but but but . . .


5 comments:

F said...

-Oh.

How well you do catch my thoughts Jeanne.

And you are right this is perfection.

/Christofer

F said...

"So much of any art is about seeing how the flaws bring their own life to what we make."

Couldn't agree with your more.

Sometimes the emphasis we put on flaws is truly oppressing. But: we can learn a lot from discussing our, and our work's, flaws. It's not either good nor bad to focus on flaws. It all depends on how we tackle this discussion.

I have always taken great inspiration from Samuel Beckett's words "Fail better". That was I am trying to do. To fail better.

J. S-g.

F said...

I think it is important not to worry to much about failure anyway. History is written by the winner, and who truly decides it is failure? If I set the goals high, I will never succeed, but have I failed then?

I think it is interesting to understand why things "work", when all the rules says it such have "failed", this is claiming "new territory", expanding and liberating.
-C

F said...

but, but, but...
I love it.
And and interesting discussion
here, in words and pictures!
-urbano

F said...

This is something I can relate to Jeanne! Your words so well fit together with the Budda figure in your image.
We often seek perfection, clingin to western linear thinking, as if it is measurable.
No embrase your flaws and invite them into your image, they can even bring about different perspective!
And that process in the end, can be perfection. But not measurably but as a virtue or should I say wisdom.

/Thomas