Comments | burgunder: Taoism: The Uncarved Block

burgunder

Taoism: The Uncarved Block

Mar 11, 2004 12:44

A great carving is done without cutting. - Lao Tzu (28: Le Guin)
I choose a block of marble and chop off whatever I don't need. - Auguste Rodin
Trying to be is limiting. - Boo Tzu ( Read more... )

travel, europe, tao

Comments 15

burgunder March 11 2004, 21:31:03 UTC

I saw a Yin-Yang carved in

I have to give the artist some shit, however. The yin-yang is all in the brown area, and did not quite so naturally belong in this figurine as it would have had the yin-yang mapped to the white jade and brown. Nonetheless, I like how it seems so very much to say "I Get the Uncarved Block. See?"

metalmensch March 12 2004, 02:58:34 UTC

'I get the uncarved block, see?' That is interesting.

Why not the artist is the uncarved block? The impressive artist brings the image out of the medium, they do not force the medium to become something, yes? The artist returns to the state of waiting for requirement after a task has been done?

burgunder March 12 2004, 03:08:27 UTC

This is one of those times where I have no idea what you're trying to say ;)

metalmensch March 12 2004, 04:22:14 UTC

I'm trying not to go over the threshold into more words. Any more added and I feel I'd have to drag you off to a dark corner to discuss it and play chess.

danaid_luv March 11 2004, 22:15:05 UTC

*nods* I like it. Nice break-down. Sometimes, artwork changes in my hand mid-way, but I usually chalk it up to lack of skill...*s*

(*pssst* Rodin is where I came up w/ my 'name'...I always smile when I see his name mentioned)

burgunder March 11 2004, 23:34:44 UTC

I'm curious - have we met?

danaid_luv March 12 2004, 22:29:30 UTC

Um..well, no. But I figured you wouldn't mind a reply... AtticTroll & I are twin cousins...*s*

Pleased to meet you? *extends hand & winks*

burgunder March 12 2004, 23:12:18 UTC

Ah, excellent, I believe I've heard of you :) Hello! Perhaps I'll meet you if you get to Seattle and visit the Merc.

Thread 8

cynickal March 11 2004, 22:21:01 UTC

In Taoism, the uncarved block has infinite potential.

Especially when flung at someone's head. >:)

the art and the flow staxxy March 12 2004, 01:53:10 UTC

the art that flows comes faster and smooth than the art that is forced.

which is why I will set pieces aside for years. Sometimes the flow just stops for no apparent reason. It is better, I have found, to let the piece wait for the flow to return than to try and find the flow again.

it doesn't really matter to me if the art is poetry, sculpture, music, literature, drawings, paintings, or photography (while there are other arts, these are the ones *I* do the most).

This is also why I play a lot of video games, oddly enough. it is a good rest period for me and is very meditative. It clears my brain and I can refocus anew on things after that. :)

vulture23 March 12 2004, 09:16:08 UTC

m_cobweb and I just watched My Architect, and there was a segment where someone was talking about Louis Kahn's work. According to this other architect, Kahn believed in taking whatever happened with the materials, and emphasizing that, making it your own. If there's scars and ridges in concrete, say, then instead of trying to hide them, he'd make sure that they were everywhere, that they were part of the design. M and I looked at each other at this point, and said "How Taoist" -- it made me think very much about the uncarved block. (Kahn was apparently quite noted for emphasizing that one must "respect the materials", and use the right forms for the materials that had been selected...)