Invisible Statues
So the assignment this week involved "synthetic selfies", which to me is a very interesting title, because when I think of synthetic I don't think of statues. I guess Netflix is to blame, with all the different shows I watch (Altered Carbon at the forefront of my mind), but that's besides the point. I liked the quote used by Osman in her introduction (by Robert Musil), "there is nothing in the world as invisible as monuments", because when I think about it, how many times do I walk by a statue or monument and not even stop to look? The statue I chose to take these synthetic selfies of was inspired by that quote, because it was tucked back in a little nest of trees, almost hidden from the world.
Here's what I mean
Look at his hair! So curly. I like the expression too, like "look at me, I'm trying so hard to carry this rock".
Honestly this picture makes me cringe. Like why does my face look like that. I thought I would help him carry his little thing. Anyways, moving on!
So there wasn't any particular reason they got the statue, they just really like gardening and when they moved into their house they thought they should add a little design aspect. They believe it was put here about 5ish years ago, so it's had a little time to settle in. I'm not sure if the statue is supposed to represent someone, or if it was just a decorative piece when whoever created it did so.
This is what the monument sees. He sort of looks down a little, so the view is mostly dirt, which is a little depressing, although it looks pretty with all the petals right now. Because he's so tucked away, there's not any interaction with humans--although I can't say the same for animal interaction-- even at different times of the day.
I think in the 5ish years that this monument has been here, the biggest thing to have changed is just the growth of the trees. The trees are the main focus in the view of the monument, and in 5 years trees (especially younger ones like these ones) can do a lot of growing. I know the statue has also seen kids running around in the front yard, and maybe even the occasional dog too. I could imagine that this statue has fantasies about being able to run and play with the kids, or carry his rock to whatever destination and finally be done with holding it above his head. I think the main difference in the point of view from me to it is that I've seen more, so I know that this view isn't really all that interesting. I know that if you turn around, there's much more scenery and people to see and watch. I would never think to stop and stare from this particular angle when there is so much more to see from somewhere else.
Responding to the line from the George Oppen poem, "there are things we live among, and to see them is to know ourselves", I would have to say that the biggest thing this made me realize is that I really don't stop to see what is around me. With two kids in tow I'm always in such a hurry that i don't ever slow down to look at anything, especially something that isn't overly interesting, like the view this little monument has. I think it's a good reminder for myself to slow down, because enjoying life and life's moments is really what it's all about.
Here's what I mean
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| "Tourist Perspective" |
You almost can't even see the little guy. He's carrying a flat stone with some shells on it. And if you can't tell, there's another one of his little friends right beside him. So cute.
Okay, so physical description. It's stone, so it's heavy. It's about 2 feet tall, and is definitely weathered from being in it's location--you can see a little moss growth on the back. There's not any writing or dates, but there is a little base, so that he's standing flat on the ground. It looks like he's carrying a rock on top of his head, although I'm not sure why, or where he would be going with the rock.
As far as the physical context, or where it's located, I found it at a friend's house (sort of near Lane actually), in their front yard, in the small section that's filled with small trees. It almost feels like an accidental placement, like they put it there intending to move it somewhere else but then they forgot. There's plenty of foliage, as you can see from the picture, and humans definitely DON'T move among it, because I had to kind of awkwardly crab-crawl to get here to take the pictures.
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| "Gaze Capturing" |
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| Selfie with the Monument |
So there wasn't any particular reason they got the statue, they just really like gardening and when they moved into their house they thought they should add a little design aspect. They believe it was put here about 5ish years ago, so it's had a little time to settle in. I'm not sure if the statue is supposed to represent someone, or if it was just a decorative piece when whoever created it did so.
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| The Monuments View |
I think in the 5ish years that this monument has been here, the biggest thing to have changed is just the growth of the trees. The trees are the main focus in the view of the monument, and in 5 years trees (especially younger ones like these ones) can do a lot of growing. I know the statue has also seen kids running around in the front yard, and maybe even the occasional dog too. I could imagine that this statue has fantasies about being able to run and play with the kids, or carry his rock to whatever destination and finally be done with holding it above his head. I think the main difference in the point of view from me to it is that I've seen more, so I know that this view isn't really all that interesting. I know that if you turn around, there's much more scenery and people to see and watch. I would never think to stop and stare from this particular angle when there is so much more to see from somewhere else.
Responding to the line from the George Oppen poem, "there are things we live among, and to see them is to know ourselves", I would have to say that the biggest thing this made me realize is that I really don't stop to see what is around me. With two kids in tow I'm always in such a hurry that i don't ever slow down to look at anything, especially something that isn't overly interesting, like the view this little monument has. I think it's a good reminder for myself to slow down, because enjoying life and life's moments is really what it's all about.
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