Gnothi Seauton ( "Know Thyself" )
Created Nov. 4, 2018 for the "Seriously, Selfies" challenge in the "Shock of the New" Group.
The Ancient Greek admonishment "Gnothi Seauton" translates as "Know Thyself" or "Know yourself" in more common parlance. It hung over the doors of Delphic Temples, specifically Apollo's Oracle at Delphi, and was the prime admonition for all who would seek to acquire true and profound wisdom. That self that's to be known is NOT the self of our everyday minds. The ceaselessly chattering monkey that has something to say about everything ... It is something much deeper, ultimately transpersonal and utterly without ego. Not an easy undertaking, getting to know that.
Thanks to Liz Mack for the prompting me to do this image. While I'm not a big lover of selfies or self portraits, that is, doing them of myself, with Liz's nudging I did this one up for her challenge in SOTN.
Other than two versions of my face being used here this is also a self portrait in that all the Photo Artistic practices that I currently do are included: Pano-Sabotage, Layering, Photo Manipulation, Text, Punctuated Bordering, Drawing or "Looping Lines" and Stellated Mirroring, each of which are signature elements in my work of 2017/18.
One cityscape Pano-Sabotage image was used as the base and background on which to build the composition. The rest used two very different selfie photos, taken years apart, one straight but moody, the other in my Mayan Shaman Halloween costume. Two aspects of a self.
There are many selves strewn about this image and one secret image of Ganesh as well. His inclusion adds a very personal autobiographical note referencing my time in India as a guy in his 20's. I have both profound and hilarious stories revolving around the elephant-headed God of New Ventures, Inscriber of the Vedas, Lord of Mirth and Laugher and Blesser of all who show him joy. There are many aspects to ourselves as we are in this very moment, as well as the many selves we've been through our lives.
"To pass beyond the countless worlds,
The Eternal Wheel ...
Ceaseless tides of selves
Ever passing away
Before our eyes"
- Daevid Allen, Gong, "The Other Side of the Sky".
____________________________________________________
Music Link: "Batu Bolong" - Mirror System, from their album "N-Port". Mirror System are Steve Hillage & Miquette Giraudy, both of whom are Classic Gong alumni. I chose this particular piece as it's haunting, entrancing, transporting other-worldliness is very high up on the list of music that gives me shivers up the spine. It also evokes the East, where I feel and have felt much more at home than in the West.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Nbf26wUPJk
____________________________________________________
© Richard S Warner ( Visionheart ) - 2018. All Rights Reserved. This image is not for use in any form without explicit, express, written permission.
____________________________________________________
Gnothi Seauton ( "Know Thyself" )
Created Nov. 4, 2018 for the "Seriously, Selfies" challenge in the "Shock of the New" Group.
The Ancient Greek admonishment "Gnothi Seauton" translates as "Know Thyself" or "Know yourself" in more common parlance. It hung over the doors of Delphic Temples, specifically Apollo's Oracle at Delphi, and was the prime admonition for all who would seek to acquire true and profound wisdom. That self that's to be known is NOT the self of our everyday minds. The ceaselessly chattering monkey that has something to say about everything ... It is something much deeper, ultimately transpersonal and utterly without ego. Not an easy undertaking, getting to know that.
Thanks to Liz Mack for the prompting me to do this image. While I'm not a big lover of selfies or self portraits, that is, doing them of myself, with Liz's nudging I did this one up for her challenge in SOTN.
Other than two versions of my face being used here this is also a self portrait in that all the Photo Artistic practices that I currently do are included: Pano-Sabotage, Layering, Photo Manipulation, Text, Punctuated Bordering, Drawing or "Looping Lines" and Stellated Mirroring, each of which are signature elements in my work of 2017/18.
One cityscape Pano-Sabotage image was used as the base and background on which to build the composition. The rest used two very different selfie photos, taken years apart, one straight but moody, the other in my Mayan Shaman Halloween costume. Two aspects of a self.
There are many selves strewn about this image and one secret image of Ganesh as well. His inclusion adds a very personal autobiographical note referencing my time in India as a guy in his 20's. I have both profound and hilarious stories revolving around the elephant-headed God of New Ventures, Inscriber of the Vedas, Lord of Mirth and Laugher and Blesser of all who show him joy. There are many aspects to ourselves as we are in this very moment, as well as the many selves we've been through our lives.
"To pass beyond the countless worlds,
The Eternal Wheel ...
Ceaseless tides of selves
Ever passing away
Before our eyes"
- Daevid Allen, Gong, "The Other Side of the Sky".
____________________________________________________
Music Link: "Batu Bolong" - Mirror System, from their album "N-Port". Mirror System are Steve Hillage & Miquette Giraudy, both of whom are Classic Gong alumni. I chose this particular piece as it's haunting, entrancing, transporting other-worldliness is very high up on the list of music that gives me shivers up the spine. It also evokes the East, where I feel and have felt much more at home than in the West.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Nbf26wUPJk
____________________________________________________
© Richard S Warner ( Visionheart ) - 2018. All Rights Reserved. This image is not for use in any form without explicit, express, written permission.
____________________________________________________