Monday, November 16, 2009

timeless longing




 just opened a journal from 1989,  the year I settled in Melbourne, having returned from a couple of years in London and time spent travelling. I found this quote taken from "Sculpting in Time", a book on film theory by Russian film maker Andre Tarkovsky*. Whilst in London I'd seen the affecting film 'The Sacrifice' - the last he made, filmed in Sweden in 1986. Ingmar Bergman was quoted as saying "Tarkovsky is for me the greatest, the one who invented a new language, true to the nature of film, as it captures life as a reflection, life as a dream".
I have kept notes of all kinds in journals over many years, some continue to resonate with meaning and this one this morning caught my attention. In the background is a section of a painting 'big river dreaming' from work I was doing in 2005-2006.The  early life of Tarkovsky, and the circumstances he was surrounded by make fascinating reading -click on his name* above to read. The following is from the same text.
    "...in artistic creation the personality does not assert itself. It serves another higher and communal idea. The artist is always a servant, and is perpetually trying to pay for the gift that has been given to him as if by some miracle. Modern man however does not want to make any sacrifice, even though true affirmation of self can only be made in sacrifice. We are gradually forgetting about this, and at the same time, inevitably, losing all sense of our human calling..."
Current art theory generally appears to sit in a different place to the atmosphere and thinking of a person like Tarkovsky. Certainly arguements could be made contrary to Tarkovsky's position, however, I always find going back to read what has been said by those who shaped ideas, and succeeded in bringing forward a new vision, to be entirely though provoking and useful to reflect on. Some ideas are worthy of transcending fashionable ideas of the day - at least for the opportunity they offer to engage with different thinking.

4 comments:

Mlle Paradis said...

The good news is that that which has merit will endure as it always has. And the merely fashionable will just fall away. As you have just proven by your thoughtful post! Here you are still finding value in something that you might have thought was past and over. Thanks for helping me keep my brain cells in shape!

Sophie Munns said...

Mmmm... there is certainly something about that which has merit enduring Mlle Paradis.
Thank you for those thoughts and visiting today.
Keeping the mind ticking over is indeed a worthwhile thing...this post was inspired from visiting various blogs lately who have included words from poets and writers in their posts...for some reason I felt a thirst for this... to read words with a certain beauty of thought in them, irregardless of subject...this way of
writing has a lifeblood about it, the words linger, one's imagination is called to!
best,
S

The Artist Within Us said...

As your previous commenter noted that 'merit will endure . . .' is true but fashion also gets recycled and made new after numerous decades, while things of merit also fall out of temporary favor.

In the end we as individuals need to judge for ourselves what is important.

It should also be noted that what we believed twenty years ago, should also be flexible to adopt to our present circumstances as we do not stand still as artists For we keep evolving, reinventing who we are and it is those ideas that can stay step with us that last forever.

Have a great start to the week,
your friend Egmont

Sophie Munns said...

Thanks for taking time to make a thoughtful comment Egmont.
I do agree its up to us to judge what is important to us as individuals...ideas come and go, as do people, things, times in our lives. But how interesting to observe what has uncannily remained important despite everything.
Its building to a thunderstorm here...so I am about to switch off the computer.
best,
Sophie