Had the wonderful opportunity last night to attend Arthur Ganson’s talk at September’s Long Now lecture. He spoke about machines and art and the process of creation. Beginning by asking us to forget everything he says—continuing on explaining that the intricate, mechanical sculptures he builds are as much about what the viewer brings to the experience, as they are about the individual components. Which seems more just about the general human condition. People bringing their own life knowledge to every encounter and trying their best to unravel the meaning of interaction with others—a wonderfully complex series of algorithms running on this giant computer we call a planet.
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It has been a long, inner battle whether I should caption or explain for my photography. Years ago, I started posting Flickr photos with minimal or absent descriptions. But, recently it seems the discourse is necessary—if not to explain the meaning behind a particular image, but as an expression within itself.
I don’t remember exactly where this snapshot was taken. Quite possibly an art exhibit at the de Young… but clearly that is not the point. Within the context of my experience from last night, it transformed into some sort of mechanical, Earth-gear. And as I was leaving the lecture last night, this image stuck with me. As often the case… the photo chose me.
Thank you for entertaining my daily ramblings, and I hope you’re able to forget them in that same breath of time.