artwork 2014 - part ii The Rest and the Carp

It's late and she sits by the pond, in the middle of the night.

The days are exhausting, learning all the time and practicing her

shamisen, she's still a mikado ...

The carp at his feet is nearly dead and she's looking at the fish as

enthralled. Death and intense colours, all together, in a singular

mixture. A red carp, bright and beautiful as life itself, as herself... The

fish jumped out of the water and it'll live no longer ... and there's a

strange connection between the two.

Both are "out of their element" ... She feels immersed in another life,

that does not seem to be hers, gasping as carp does.

She undoes her kimono and feels the cold of the night on her skin...

Is it all a dream? no, crickets still sing and sing ...

see this picture you feel a sad feeling.

I will pretend I didn't read your description of what is presented on the picture: I see a wonderful night, summer night and a warm nook where I seat and dream a romantic dream, one of my dreams when I was sixteen and was seating and inventing stories of love where I was in the main role and some girl I was meeting almost every day and wasn't courageous enough to approach her and simply get to know her, on the other hand it wasn't romantic enough for me! Life was before me including that developing love of mine! Crickets? Yes, I always loved the song of the crickets! I was only looking on the stone wall and stars above, the old traditional house which slept and I was the only person (and object) awake! The hen were sleeping, the dog was sleeping...only me in the warmth of the night, me and my dreams!

Your story is quite different, I can feel death, disappointment, failed life and a desire to sleep maybe the last time on earth! That would be my impression in short!

Why do we see quite a different stories on the same picture? Someone said on the picture is what you see on it!

I'm waiting for your answer to this riddle, dear Laura

PDE

Dear Sue, thanks for your feedback and your nice visit.

It's very kind to know about the sensations that can stir this photo, and I feel very glad to see that the same image can spark off opposed feelings in different people, even can evoke varied thoughts as well.

Kindest regards. LM

Dear Pierre,

I'm convinced that there's no such a riddle, any contradiction either... because we constantly try to reflect ourselves in the things that surround us and try also to assimilate all inside ourselves; like a stream flowing in both directions. And I feel very glad to see that the same image can spark off opposed sensations in different people, even can evoke varied thoughts as well. I'll finish by thinking it 's not a cold and distant image at all, it has a content and a story to tell you.

This photo makes Sue Dawen be sad , however to you Pierre , it's the opposite : it appeals to feelings of sweetness, the warmth at summer night, that is: you and your sweetest dreams! I'm glad that it makes you feel in a good mood. As for me, it's already a success to be able to make others feel different sensations. I often look for parallels in reality between things that surround me. What do things suggest me? for example, it's like when we seldom go to the cemetery burial, it reminds us of death, the idea that we may like or not, death is present every day. In the composition, the carp will die out of its natural element , it makes me wonder if I live in mine, am I living everyday in my element or I'm just making efforts and struggling to go on?. Nothing is for sure .

A known philosopher said : "It is not healthy to be well adapted to a profoundly sick society." This line always makes me think about. Pierre, I'd invite you to talk about these issues sitting in the shade of a good tree .... listening to the crickets :) And there, try to find answers ... why the same thing is strangely different for each one? and finally we'll gather some ideas to express life in these photos. Many people go through life running, without knowing how nice it 's to sit and look at it.

Thanks for your comment, for reading me, for visiting me. It's a pleasure!

Kindest regards! LM.

I'm not a philospher nor a wordsmith , I don't look for hidden messages or the meaning of life . I've read your and Pierre's words and I understand where you are both coming from . To me it is a beautiful image , a bit like a Diorama or scene from a theatrical production . At first I thought it was a montage , but the reflection on the wall gives lie to that ! I think the red carp and rug was a mistake and could be toned down , they draw the eye away from the main subject ( you ) . The square format suits the composition perfectly . I do hope that you print your work , they deserve to be displayed . Regards , Bill

Dear Bill, thanks for your kind words and worthy feedback.

I'm glad you like this image and the fact that you see it as a kind of small theatre, really amazes me. I was surprised to read about that detail.

I feel I agree with you that the focus is the woman (me)... and that I should have toned down a bit the carp and the soil, anyway I did not want her to be the center of all, to be the only focus of attention, but only as another miniature model of the Diorama, where there're more things, to move and locate.

Thank you for your comments, you've taught me a lot and for your nice visit and sincerity.

I've not printed any work of mine yet!.

Best regards. LM