(The Phenomenology of Spirits §§ 120 )įor me this has led me to think that the material is a microscopic variant of a universal, incomprehensive truth. it possesses intrinsic being and what is in it, is there as the Thing´s essence, and not on account of other things and for other things, but in the Thing itself. Hence the thing is true and any difference rendered to it, goes back to human perception, expressions and opinions.įor, in the first place, the Thing is what is true, i.e. If the material and the thing seem to promote it self as different, the difference is outside of the thing. The surroundings reveal and communicate the attributes of the thing / the material, but is also containing in it attributes not recognized by the observer or not captured by the surroundings. The same movement happens as the crafted piece is presented to others. Because the material is a fixed item with given possibilities and limitations, the perception of alienation and variations rest with me. I experience that my body is present in the irrational, the immediate and that the material, being a mouldable, fixed and predictable item, translates the unconscious to the conscious. To me these pairs of terms suggest the necessity and relevance of a sensual work method. The immediate always must undergo a mediation it must be reflected upon by being related to something else. That something appears to the consciousness as immediately known or true, always turns out to be an acknowledgement to be verified. The other set of terms – “Immediate” and “mediated” relates to the continuous movement and change of the conscious mind. To be “in itself” and “for itself” is to become aware of what the consciousness or spirit already is in itself. To be “in itself” is to be non-articulated and unconscious, and to be “for itself” is to be conscious. “In itself” and “for itself”, and “immediate” – “mediated”. In The Phenomenology of Spirit, Hegel introduces to pairs of terms which I find important in order to understand my work process and the artefacts I create. According to Hegel one may speak about two forms of truth the solid, observable thing and the fully abstract definition of it, «which is also what it is not», the absolute.
There Hegel presents ”the thing” as true, and describes the movement of consciousness from sensing, via perceptions towards the pure, abstract and true thought. This experience guided me to Hegel and his book "The phenomenology of spirit". To me this was for the first time in my life quite all right, because the experiences and perceptions of my piece of work did not change “the thing”/object in itself.
#Backdrop definition free#
They appeared - to me - without meaning, free and inviting to be coloured by its surroundings and the associations of the observer. The objects I created were detached from my mental assumptions and perceptions, intents and associations by the physical movement and force in my craftwork. I could not ponder myself out of my own reasoning I had to physically work my way out of it, and the material made visible to me something different, something I had not seen previously or had been able to imagine prior to the experience. The more resistance I faced in the material, the more body I had to be - the more abstract became the visible result and expression. The profoundness of this argument or reasoning became apparent to me as I 12 years later took a Master’s degree in media and material based art at Oslo National Academy of the Arts I started forging and the resistance I met in the material and the technique opened up to me a room of experience, which uncovered the role which physical movement and sensuousness may have in and for abstract reasoning. My interpretation at the time was that «the thing» carries with it the contradiction of language, and consequently may uncover illusions, neutralise pairs of expressions and point towards a prismatic truth The “thing” is true in itself, the difference is in us.
I found that «the thing» - perceived as physical elements and characteristics of the building meant to support an intent of openness between employees, also pointed to the adverse – containment or closeness. A I wrote my master thesis in business on marketing I explored in what ways a physical building and its architecture influenced the behaviours of employees and the brand of a leading multinational. Something which is something more and beyond human thoughts, perceptions, definitions and values. As a child of post-modernism, the age of the free market forces and a church minister for a father, I have longed for and sought something solid and true.