Representation as a Construct

“Representation as a construct for a different reality” [as spoken of by Harvey Shields in his review of Paul Hopmeier’s Past Modern Madonna Exhibition] is a heady concept, yet, it crosses the line with neither fear nor trepidation as if it were the most natural thing in the world to do, to ‘rejuvenate’ something and still have it look like its true self I mean. And yes, while the concept is heady, it’s not a new one, perhaps simply a new and recent discovery in Hopmeier’s experience of life.

It is the same discovery made by C.S. Lewis’ characters in The Last Battle which recounts the end of Narnia. So when the stable door is closed finally for what seems forever, imagine their surprise when “those WITHIN discover themselves in the real Narnia of which the other had only been a copy.” Lewis wrote The Last Battle in 1956 and here precisely 50 years on Hopmeier draws the question of this ‘different reality’ to our attention again.

Why is that do you think? Perhaps we have become so literal we need to be reminded that life is shades of grey no matter how we live it. And I like that we can also attribute new value to things, that, previously we were apt to give no value to at all. I like that attributing a new artistic value to something shakes us from this malaise.

I realise as I write this that my life is represented like an open dune, and I look forward to a time when there is a shift in the sands and with that shift, an altering of the imprints left there by an incipient wind of change. Change is mine to embrace or not. What will you do with it?

Do you look forward to such times? You should … such changes are life-giving, life shaping and life affirming. And the mirage in the distance may indeed be a mirage but what if, when we get there, it’s more than that? Much more. Don’t you think it would have been worth the journey? I’m enjoying the sunsets along the way so I’ll let you know when I get there.