a post trying not to be about beauty, or even the lack of it, in an attempt at honesty

first pic of shadow, observed whilst sitting on the loo
 in our shower room 

edited version: with lace curtain drawn more open,
so the pattern becomes more visible
trying for more beauty!!











led to thoughts on beauty after having read days 31, 32 and 31 part 2 over at Grace's; beauty is in the eye of the beholder, beauty might have to do with context, it might even change with light, in just a few moments disappear altogether. An object or person could become beautiful, just by the sheer act of looking, of looking with intent, with the intention of seeing something, without prejudice, just looking with no thoughts no wanting no desire or need to compare. Beauty can be found and seen everywhere and nowhere. Beauty is nothing, it's a word like ugliness and hatred and happiness, dog mankind tree butterfly and yet we associate the word with the thing, the emotion, with ourselves and our place in the world. 

hairs and unnameables caught in comb

We went for a walk in the woods after dinner this evening, the dog and me, the evenings are gradually lengthening, I'm smiling on the inside whilst I write this; with Grace's posts in mind, I had made a conscious decision before I left not to take any pictures of beautiful scenery, not of the light of the setting sun, which was breathtaking, nor of the golden glow on the fields. I wasn't trying to capture any of this on camera, just walking and enjoying it despite myself, ha, looking for non-beauty -  a label, it can't be helped when trying to explain in words what I sought.

what I found: a bit of plastic fluttering in the breeze and because of the fluttering, the fact that it was caught and helpless: the bravery of the fluttering plastic.........beautiful, I'm sorry 


a yellow plastic disc stuck in the mud: a bright sun, more beauty. 


There is no escaping the possibility of finding beauty where you least expect it. And yet, and yet, why the need for labeling it 'beauty-full', perhaps it is a way of seeing the world that surrounds me, emphasizing what feeds me and perverting that which is out-of-place into something I can uphold? Maybe I notice a speck of beauty where others see only ugliness and vice versa? Who knows what the other sees? In a strange way I also find solace in the ugliness of life, of my life and the struggle living can often be. With headaches, small irritants and major disasters and always the unforseen and at times the unwanted.....

On our way out of the woods we saw a roedeer and I was relieved I didn't have to try capturing it on camera, because the animal is beautiful and my phone/camera cannot catch it...haha so I could just stand there and watch and be there with the roedeer jumping through the underbrush and past the naked trees and follow the white bum with my eyes, just breathing in and out with Tungsten sniffing the scents nearby.

I'm not sure I have found an answer here, it is as it is.




Comments

Julie S said…
love this reflection on beauty, Saskia...perhaps it is there in anything that gets singular focus and attention? Impressed that you had your camera in the loo, too!!!!
Saskia said…
for honesty's sake I must admit I didn't have the camere at the time I saw the shadows, but made a mental note to go get it and take the pic afterwards

yes I do believe that anything that we look at with attention can become beautifil, then again the word 'beautiful' can go many ways, thanks for dropping by and leaving your comment Julie, much appreciated!
Mo Crow said…
perhaps that is the role of the artist, to bring the inherent spirit of each observed thing out into the light...
Saskia said…
o Mo, could it be?!

well that is one hell of a reason to be here, as an artist!!
Anonymous said…
I suppose that is why the saying 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder'
I have also learned to see beauty in things that others would shun and call ugly.
I learned this lesson early from my son, who would as a very young child point out to me things that I never would have thought to look see as beautiful...I only had to look through his eyes.
Since meeting all of my 'Cloth Mates' I feel that I am working on my Phd. in accepting the truth in beauty.
Saskia said…
yes to not look away from what at first glance might repel me, or not be to my taste, just looking at the world as if through a child's eye is an excellent way to see the world
Nancy said…
When you say - "yes to not look away from what at first glance might repel me"...it reminds me of how hard I have worked recently to do just that, especially with things that 'creep' me out...insecty, gooey things in large numbers...
It's very hard for me to look. But I've been trying to see the magic there, even if only for a moment.
Saskia said…
I suppose for me it also means looking at myself and learning to like what I don't like about myself, on the inside and the outside; as well as observing things in life I would overlook thereby missing out on so much, the journey continues Nancy!
Nancy said…
Saskia~ I'm way too hard on myself, both inside and outside :) Oh well, the journey Does continue, thankfully!

tungsten

tungsten

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