Mimesis
1. TheTerrace_TheMET (27), 2. TheValleyoftheNervia_TheMET(1), 3. The Forest at Pontaubert, 1881, 4. Dover Fantasy3
Back in my undergrad days, in my first year classical English lit class we studied Keat's Ode on a Grecian Urn. The discussion about the poem was wide ranging, but strangely, a couple of throw away comments the Professor made - in total - four or five sentences, are the things I remember most clearly - the way he looked framed against the pale winter light, the clothes he wore, even the sweater another student he was engaged with was wearing.
He said something like "The poem is an example of 'mimesis'* and is also ut pictura poesis - poetry inspired by art."
From there, the conversation was wide ranging as we discussed themes, but over the years, I have spent a great deal of time thinking about mimesis (the imitative representation of nature or human behaviour) - in fact I couldn't begin to tell you how often I have turned these two concepts over and over - in circumstances where one might expect it (visting the Metropolitan Museum of Art, for example); or in more prosaic circumstances - staring out the window of the streetcar as I go to work.
The idea that ALL art is a representation of nature or human behaviour is arguable of course (but it is one I agree with); but what fascinates me constantly is how many different kinds of ways we find to make those represenations.
And I often think that quilts - not only "art" quilts, but even the humble Sunbonnet Sues or the sunflower quilt that someone tried to commission from me recently - are yet another form of mimesis.
There's no question that the quilt I'm working on now is the most direct translation of mimesis in quilts that I have yet to make (more on that when I make the reveal.)
But what I have spent a suprisingly vast amount of time thinking about in those intervening years is whether ut pictura poesis might not be broadened to include any art form, inspired by another art form. Because when I look at these paintings: all I can think of is how I would interpret them in quilt form As an imitation of an imitation, it's a poor form of mimesis; but it may very well be ut pictura poesis.
If you would indulge me in the pleasant fiction that a "poem" can also be - a quilt.
1. TheTerrace_TheMET (27), 2. TheValleyoftheNervia_TheMET(1), 3. The Forest at Pontaubert, 1881, 4. Dover Fantasy3
Back in my undergrad days, in my first year classical English lit class we studied Keat's Ode on a Grecian Urn. The discussion about the poem was wide ranging, but strangely, a couple of throw away comments the Professor made - in total - four or five sentences, are the things I remember most clearly - the way he looked framed against the pale winter light, the clothes he wore, even the sweater another student he was engaged with was wearing.
He said something like "The poem is an example of 'mimesis'* and is also ut pictura poesis - poetry inspired by art."
From there, the conversation was wide ranging as we discussed themes, but over the years, I have spent a great deal of time thinking about mimesis (the imitative representation of nature or human behaviour) - in fact I couldn't begin to tell you how often I have turned these two concepts over and over - in circumstances where one might expect it (visting the Metropolitan Museum of Art, for example); or in more prosaic circumstances - staring out the window of the streetcar as I go to work.
The idea that ALL art is a representation of nature or human behaviour is arguable of course (but it is one I agree with); but what fascinates me constantly is how many different kinds of ways we find to make those represenations.
And I often think that quilts - not only "art" quilts, but even the humble Sunbonnet Sues or the sunflower quilt that someone tried to commission from me recently - are yet another form of mimesis.
There's no question that the quilt I'm working on now is the most direct translation of mimesis in quilts that I have yet to make (more on that when I make the reveal.)
But what I have spent a suprisingly vast amount of time thinking about in those intervening years is whether ut pictura poesis might not be broadened to include any art form, inspired by another art form. Because when I look at these paintings: all I can think of is how I would interpret them in quilt form As an imitation of an imitation, it's a poor form of mimesis; but it may very well be ut pictura poesis.
If you would indulge me in the pleasant fiction that a "poem" can also be - a quilt.
Posts
