Walking the Gray Area

Hello Eduardo,
Thank you very much for taking and posting the close up pictures of your -Offering of one second for the Virgin-. What I thought to be religious medals are the outlines of the static images of the virgin taken from one second of film. I like it to have a closer look and also to read your thoughts behind it, because yes, we all form our own ideas around the images that reach our brain through the light waves that fall upon the lenses of our eyes. It is a miracle in itself when we all perceive those images as more or less the same concept, like in this case of the Virgin of Guadeloupe. Who, you tell, must have had a major contribution to the unification of what is now called Mexico: the Virgin is considered to be the mother of all Mexicans. The practice of having each part of this installation going its own way in the end in the form of an individual brooch beautifully corresponds with what you tell about the way each of us fills out what happens to us in daily life in a very personal way.

We humans can have the tendency to try to place phenomena that happen around us and which we find hard to understand into the realm of the supernatural. In a more or lesser extend we all do that. It is especially the case where large amounts of people find one another in the mutual adoration and belief in a divine being. I wonder why the story of the Virgin of Guadeloupe in particular turned out to have such a great recognition by the majority of the Mexican population.

Very clever those Spaniards to impose their religion upon other peoples by incorporating the ‘pagan’ sanctuaries and worship into the official faith. The church of Rome has also done this in christianizing this part of the world. I think all major world religions have done this in order to extend their influence. That explains the many regional differences in the practice of Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism. And they all may need these exceptional places of eternal beauty on this earth to have their centres.

When I was in Mexico I bought a small image that I have in my studio. I see it daily. I bought it because in some way it echoed the idea of a purgatory I grew up with and also because it tells about liberation. Nevertheless I had never seen a picture like this. The woman in the picture doesn’t seem to be hurt or tortured by the flames. I find it a strong image. Now the picture is on the wall near the kiln I fire my work in: the little purgatory where my objects turn from something out of loose powdery river clay into firm and lasting ceramics. Which is also a miracle in itself.

As you may have seen I love to work with ceramics, I just find the material beautiful. I started experimenting with it in 1994, and as a matter of fact I still am. I was not educated in ceramic design which may have its disadvantages in technical know-how, it also gives me a quite open approach of using it in jewellery. I like the plastic property of the material next to the often rigid materials like metals and stones we usually work with in the field of jewellery. With each collection I try to find new solutions in making vulnerable and breakable ceramics wearable. And in each new collection I am introducing new techniques. This way I keep learning about the material and this way working on my jewellery doesn’t become boring. Because I am trying out new ways of using ceramics in jewellery, during the experimental stages it is a surprise often what the work will look like when I open the kiln door. Did that glaze turn out okay? Was it the right temperature? Are these types of clay compatible? Etc, etc. Sometimes days and days of work may be completely destroyed in just a few hours of firing. So yes, I need a small saint next to my kiln! 
Also in my work for WGA I would like to use clay.

During the years I have been working as a jeweller I often heard the remark that my work looks like ethnographic jewellery. But when you ask people where they think it originates from then, they find that question very hard to answer. Which makes sense to me, because I can’t tell them either. It is something that is in fact not ethnical, because it has been made in the here and now. In that sense it is fully contemporary jewellery. That is looks ethnic undoubtedly has to do with the fact I am interested in the utensils of other peoples and often find amazement in the function they have and beauty in the way they were made. I use my own form elements however to achieve a similar eloquence. Repetition a major one of them. Natural materials and techniques used by peoples over thousands of years also one. And ceramics sure is!

I am thinking about making a necklace that looks like it may have been made by a Mexican (jeweller). Will Mexican people seeing it embrace it at something of their own of won’t they? This could be the same issue people have to deal with when they move somewhere else and try to adapt to their new environment, no matter how hard they try. Will they become part of the new land/identity or will they in some way always stay foreign? I tend to think the latter, because of not shared history together. In this way our dialogue is a great contribution to the work I am to make. You make me aware of a new history that is not mine. Thank you for that.

I am also curious what direction your plans for a piece of jewellery will go in our dialogue. Hope to hear from you soon. In the meantime be well. Peter

Hola Peter.

Disculpa por no enviarte antes detalles claros sobre esta pieza.

Esta idea surgió como consecuencia de una exposición conmemorativa sobre la Virgen de Guadalupe celebrada en Diciembre hace 4 años, en el 2006

A mi me atrajo la idea de establecer un juego con la misma relación que existe, entre un segundo de película de cine y sus imágenes estáticas para formarlo.El poder extender un segundo y revisar lo que sucede dentro de este, des configurar en  subpartes que pasando veloces, le dan  forma  a esta imagen. Partes estáticas  que pueden no ser semejantes a la que conocemos como la  imagen de la Virgen de Guadalupe.

La Virgen de Guadalupe es la imagen religiosa con el mayor número de feligreses  en México, existen  otras representaciones de La Virgen Marial relacionadas a su lugar  y modo de aparición, prodigios etc.  : la Virgen de la bala, la  Virgen de los Remedios, la Virgen de San Juan de los lagos, la Virgen  de Zapopan etc.   También existen representaciones de Cristo  como: El  Cristo del veneno, El Cristo de Chalma, etc. En todos los casos  estas imágenes están enlazadas a la narración de algún acontecimiento excepcional milagroso que relata su origen  y al que se le van sumando prodigios y milagros a lo largo del tiempo para con sus feligreses, esta participación  por la  devoción en  la imagen y lo que simboliza, es una puerta muy rica hacia la individualidad de las  experiencias y una  interpretación muy personal  de la realidad en cada caso.

Tanto los españoles como los diferentes pueblos prehispánicos siempre tuvieron gran devoción por sus dioses y en este encuentro violento  le fueron dando forma a estas imágenes.  Gran parte de los santuarios religiosos están localizados sobre antiguas poblaciones prehispánicas  y en específico sobre lo que fueron sus centros ceremoniales. Se establecieron  en este lugar los santuarios para evitar la orfandad como consecuencia de las cruzadas evangelizadoras, unifico  a pesar de  muchas diferencias que aun persisten,  a casi  toda la población en un solo culto católico

No todas estas imágenes han gozado de la misma adoración y su abandono en algunos casos se debe, a que la población devota se  desplazó a otra parte   como en el caso de la transición de la Nueva España al México independiente. Gran parte de la atracción que poseen aquellas muy fuertemente queridas como la Virgen  de Guadalupe se debe a la particularidad de ese relato milagroso que hace participe a un número grande de población.

Los  iconos religiosos son imágenes  que tocan el extremo de lo imposible posible, que uno vive a través  de su relato, en el que se evoca la esencia de lo divino, presencia de un tiempo eterno  detenido en esta realidad , protegen, estabilizan, pero también  limitan, evitando la sorpresa ante lo imposible posible más inmediato del presente.

Creo que lo que percibimos en el mundo, tiene que ver mucho con la relación que se establece entre los acontecimientos y el tiempo. Uno es lento para entender los acontecimientos. En muchos casos se sobre entiende la realidad en la que uno fluye. Existen momentos especiales en los que, lo que se supone, no es lo que sucede y, esto, sorprende,  espanta,  puede obsesionar, o ampliar nuestra atención, destrabando la mecánica de nuestras  suposiciones. Extender los límites del mundo que nos rodea. Ser más objetivo ante las diferencias del  mundo.

En el inicio los objetos dentro de la caja se dispusieron para formar toda la serie cerrada, pero con el tiempo he pensado que su uso como broches, extendería dentro de  la práctica, las  posibilidades del objeto en su conjunto,

Yo no me considero cristiano católico aunque parte de mi formación siempre tuvo una influencia en ese sentido. Por parte de mi abuela materna conocí en algunos períodos de mi infancia asistir a la misa. También me a tocado estar ,en alguna boda o acontecimiento excepcional. Ella si era católica y nos invitaba de pequeños a participar de estas  experiencias.  Eran momentos especiales en los que jugaba con mis primos también reflexionar en el evangelio algunas veces doloroso siendo niño sentir el vivir tan extremamente.

Los templos y santuarios siempre son imponentes  y como bien dices, su localización casi siempre es  extraordinaria, cerca de manantiales, con vistas  excepcionales, como si parte del reino de lo eterno aterrizara aquí en la tierra. Es muy atrayente conocer la historia de estos lugares y entender  la dinámica de su función y formas. Tal vez es necesario construir sobre una estructura sólida de reglas ideales.  Si yo  dijera que no creo que  dios  existe me sorprendería mas al  verme aquí, viajando en este planeta hacia algún punto del universo junto  todo nosotros y los demás seres vivos en condiciones tan sutiles como tan solo unos pocos kilómetros de biosfera junto a miles de millones de kilómetros sin vida   y con nuestros 36.5 º C de temperatura  corporal  arriba en un coche o en un avión a 800 Km /h, Pero también sentimos  por medio del cuerpo tenues vibraciones como lo que vemos en la luz. Y probablemente más de lo que podemos suponer.

Peter, tratare de ser más conciso y rápido en los siguientes correos, Gracias por los buenos deseos de navidad y año nuevo. Yo también te deseo lo mismo y que todo sea grandioso  en el futuro.

Hello Peter

I’m sorry for not send you before clear details of this work.

This idea come as a consequence of a memorial exhibition for the Guadalupe Virgin  celebrated in December, four years ago, in 2006

My attraction was to establish a game with the same relation that exist between one second of a movie picture and their static images that give form to it. To extend a second and revise what it happens inside. On configure sub parts that go fast giving shape to this image. Static parts that could not by similar to what we know as the image of the Guadalupe Virgin

The Guadalupe Virgin is the religious image with more number of worshippers in Mexico, their exist other representation of Mary related to their place and way of appearing, prodigies etc : La Virgen de los Remedios, La Virgen de la Bala , Virgen de San Juan de los Lagos, La Virgen de Zapopan , etc. Also are representations of Christ: El Cristo del Veneno, El Cristo de Chalma, etc. In all cases, this images are connected to the narration of an exceptional miraculous happening that relate his origin and to whom his prayers add miracles and prodigies along the time, this participation for the image devotion and what it means, is a very rich door to the individuality of the experiences and a very personal interpretation of the reality in each case.

Many of the religious sanctuaries are located upon the ancient prehispanic populations and specifically on where it was their ceremonial center. They established the sanctuary in this place to solve the orphanage as a consequence of the evangelist crusade , this unify ,even a lot of differences that still persist , almost al  the population in one catholic cult  .

Not all this images enjoy the same worship and his abandon is because its prayer population goes to another part, like in the period of transition of the New Spain to the independent Mexico, when the Spanish population born in Spain goes.

The attraction of the very well loved images as Guadalupe Virgin, is because the particularity of that miraculous narration that gives enter to a big number of population

The religious icons are images that touch the extreme of the impossible possible that is inside the narration in which is evocate the divine essence, presence of an eternal time in this reality, they protect, stabilize, but also put limits  to avoid  the surprise and the impossible possible more close of the present.

I think that what we perceive in the world has to by very much with the relation that is established between the happenings and the time. We are slow to understand the happenings, in many cases the reality were we flow is super understand. There are special moments in which what we suppose is not what it happens , and this cause  surprise , frighten , could become an obsession ,or unfetter our attention of  the mechanic of our suppositions. Extend the limits of the world that surround us, being more objective to the differences of the world.

In the beginning the objects in the box were disposed to form a closed series, but by the time I think that they can be use as brooches, extending in the practice the possibilities of the whole object.

I don’t consider my self as a Christian catholic, even though parts of my formation always have an influence in this way.  From the part of my grandmother mothers, I know what it was to be in the mass during my childhood, also in other time during wedding or other occasions .My grand mother really was catholic and invites us to participate of these experiences. There were special moments to play with my cousins, also to reflect about the gospel, sometimes painful being child, feel to live so extremely

The ancient temples and sanctuaries are always imposing and as you well said  their locations are always extraordinary ,near spring of water , exceptional views, as if part of the of the eternity  reign ,land here on the earth. Very attractive know about the history of this places and understand the dynamic of his function and forms.   Maybe is necessary to built upon a solid structure of ideal rules,

If I said that I don’t believe that god exist, I will be more surprise to see me here traveling in this planet to some point of the universe altogether with other kind of life and within so subtle conditions as being just in a few kilometers of biosphere next to thousands of millions with out life   and with our 36.5 ºC degrees of corporal temperature up in a car or an airplane at 800 km/h, But also we feel because of the body tenuous vibrations like what we see on light and probably more than what we suppose.

Peter, I will tray be more concise and fast on the next posts, thank you for the good wishes of Christmas and New Year. I also wish you the same and that every thing will be great in the future.

Hi Eduardo,
We are travelling into the grey past here talking about the histories of our countries. Uncertain about what the future will bring, the past has its mysteries as well. Educated here in mainly the Dutch part in the era of colonisation and decolonisation, and less about the Spanish annexations and losses on the worldly stage in those days, I am surprised to hear about -New Spain-. I didn’t know Mexico was called that during Spanish colonization and it even more surprised me that an archipelago as distant as the Philippines belonged to that very same viceroyalty as Mexico. When you look at it that way, Mexico and the Netherlands have been neighbouring countries over 300 years! Mexico as a part of New Spain and the Netherlands with its extensions in the Dutch Indies. Strange huh, to realize that nowadays? And you are right: how very, very different that tropical archipelago is from our misty swampy low countries here. How very different the lifes of the inhabitants.

The work on the photo you sent me intrigues me and attracts me. Like you (probably??) I was brought up with the catholic religion. In my case in quite a severe way: the weekly obligatory church visits, lots of sins to ask forgiveness for and nevertheless never ending heaps of mea maxima culpa! And that devil always lurking around some corner. Even my high school was led by Franciscan monks, some of them still in their brown robes and a piece of cord around the waist. As an adolescent I grew more and more rebellious against the official church with all its prejudices and dogmas. Finally I had myself unregistered as a catholic.

Statistically a non believer now I still do visit places of worship. I am that kind of person that visits churches when abroad. Temples, mosques, synagogues, wherever I am allowed I enter and participate. Not only for the cultural aspects, but also for the positive energy and mystic of those places. For the good intentions of the visitors that have been coming to these places for centuries often. They often are very inspiring places in special and beautiful locations. I still light a candle in church and there is that part from my catholic past that will never go away I suppose. (Guilt not the least of them…)

When in Mexico I visited quite some churches. I saw quite some images of the Lady of Guadeloupe. And it is only now that I learn that “Guadeloupe” is not some town far away from Mexico City. If I had known that it actually is very near to the city I certainly would have gone there. I will keep that in mind for a future visit to your country.

I wish I could have a closer look to your work on the photo. Do you have a close up? Can you tell a bit more about it? It now tells me a story about the growing distance between hasty people and their religion. The medals are in a box on display and cannot be touched and used anymore. It is a long box and you walk passing by the small images of the Virgin. The title tells me this only takes a second. You may have meant something different, I don’t know. Anyway I like to see it and it makes me think and wonder. Tell more about it please.

I haven’t had a look at the slides I made in Mexico yet. I am trying to find my slide projector. I must have that pre-historic device somewhere. I hardly ever use it anymore in this digital era. During my travel through Mexico I used my analogue camera for the last time before switching to digital.

Talking places of worship and talking seconds: I will this time include a link to a movie of an Indian temple. It is in the South of India in Tirumala. It is the only place in India where non-hindus are allowed into the inner sanctum of the temple grounds. It took us hours and hours waiting in line before we reached that golden roofed inner temple, even in that faster queue you had to pay extra for. I don’t know if it was the heath, or the chanting of the devotees around us that contributed: reaching the statue of Lord Venkateswara fulfilled me with awe, some kind of ecstasy. Among endless numbers of people we were all allowed to see the statue for only a few seconds, then we were blessed and directed and pushed onwards to the exit by the priests. I remember us being allowed to watch a few seconds longer which was real nice of them. Maybe because we looked different or had come from far away. I also remember some disenchantment stepping into the noise of rows of rattling teller machines immediately after leaving the sanctum. Without stopping counting the coins donated by the pilgrims.
Here is the link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze_e0ZMsgLM
It is an old movie, but when it would be in colour, it would just be like when I saw it. Time seems to have been standing still in those old temples still in use.

This I found on the internet:
The temple is the richest and the most visited place of worship in the world.[1] [2] The temple is visited by about 50,000 to 100,000 pilgrims daily, while on special occasions and festivals, like the annual Brahmotsavam, the number of pilgrims shoots up to 500,000, making it the most visited holy place in the world.[3]
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirumala_Venkateswara_Temple

It sure was crowded and did hear lots and lots of coins! But many hot hours and a few blessed seconds never to forget. Let me wish you a wonderful Christmas on this Christmas eve. Will you attend mass? All best to you and till soon again.
Peter