the other day my seven month old daughter and I were looking at a picture
daughter and I were looking at a picture
daughter and I were looking at a picture book together and I became interested to
book together and I became interested to
book together and I became interested to see that she was reaching into each
see that she was reaching into each
see that she was reaching into each image in much the same way that she
image in much the same way that she
image in much the same way that she reaches for objects and my first
reaches for objects and my first
reaches for objects and my first reaction to this was bemusement that
reaction to this was bemusement that
reaction to this was bemusement that this misapprehension in a baby but then
this misapprehension in a baby but then
this misapprehension in a baby but then I was given pause to wonder if it’s
I was given pause to wonder if it’s
I was given pause to wonder if it’s reasonable to assume that we ever grow
reasonable to assume that we ever grow
reasonable to assume that we ever grow completely out of this relationship with
completely out of this relationship with
completely out of this relationship with pictures what is an image exactly we use
pictures what is an image exactly we use
pictures what is an image exactly we use the word to identify our particular
the word to identify our particular
the word to identify our particular experience of vision of light but we
experience of vision of light but we
experience of vision of light but we don’t do the same for a hearing and
don’t do the same for a hearing and
don’t do the same for a hearing and sound
sound
sound it might seem a strange question but
it might seem a strange question but
it might seem a strange question but it’s an important distinction in this
it’s an important distinction in this
it’s an important distinction in this age of increasingly visual culture one
age of increasingly visual culture one
age of increasingly visual culture one of the most influential voices on this
of the most influential voices on this
of the most influential voices on this topic that philosopher by the name of
topic that philosopher by the name of
topic that philosopher by the name of villain looser began a 1985 book
villain looser began a 1985 book
villain looser began a 1985 book entitled into the universe of technical
entitled into the universe of technical
entitled into the universe of technical images with a quote warning equal erode
images with a quote warning equal erode
images with a quote warning equal erode I raised the prospect of a future of a
I raised the prospect of a future of a
I raised the prospect of a future of a society that synthesizes electronic
society that synthesizes electronic
society that synthesizes electronic images it will be a fabulous society
images it will be a fabulous society
images it will be a fabulous society radically different from our own seen
radically different from our own seen
radically different from our own seen from here and now current scientific
from here and now current scientific
from here and now current scientific political and artistic categories will
political and artistic categories will
political and artistic categories will be barely recognizable there our state
be barely recognizable there our state
be barely recognizable there our state of mind and even our existential mood
of mind and even our existential mood
of mind and even our existential mood will take on a new and strange
will take on a new and strange
will take on a new and strange coloration in 2017 it seems to me that
coloration in 2017 it seems to me that
coloration in 2017 it seems to me that in many ways flu sir was right let me
in many ways flu sir was right let me
in many ways flu sir was right let me show you how with a few pictures
this is Chung eh on a stream at the
this is Chung eh on a stream at the heart of the metropolis Seoul in the
heart of the metropolis Seoul in the
heart of the metropolis Seoul in the 1950s the stream was paved over to build
1950s the stream was paved over to build
1950s the stream was paved over to build a road a motorway but it was
a road a motorway but it was
a road a motorway but it was subsequently brought back to daylight
subsequently brought back to daylight
subsequently brought back to daylight and
and
and 2005 as part of a massive urban
2005 as part of a massive urban
2005 as part of a massive urban regeneration scheme this was a
regeneration scheme this was a
regeneration scheme this was a complicated and controversial project
complicated and controversial project
complicated and controversial project with a whole range of social and
with a whole range of social and
with a whole range of social and environmental factors but what interests
environmental factors but what interests
environmental factors but what interests me specifically is how the process to
me specifically is how the process to
me specifically is how the process to bring this stream back required a vision
bring this stream back required a vision
bring this stream back required a vision of what the stream did and also should
of what the stream did and also should
of what the stream did and also should look like and this is one way in which
look like and this is one way in which
look like and this is one way in which images become more than they seem when
images become more than they seem when
images become more than they seem when we try to balance the effect of human
we try to balance the effect of human
we try to balance the effect of human populations by constructing or
populations by constructing or
populations by constructing or reconstructing what we call natural
reconstructing what we call natural
reconstructing what we call natural spaces and there are examples of this in
spaces and there are examples of this in
spaces and there are examples of this in every major city on the planet now we
every major city on the planet now we
every major city on the planet now we can’t help but refer to images we have
can’t help but refer to images we have
can’t help but refer to images we have seen as a source for the envisioning of
seen as a source for the envisioning of
seen as a source for the envisioning of them in this way there are an increasing
them in this way there are an increasing
them in this way there are an increasing number of places in the world that have
number of places in the world that have
number of places in the world that have in part evolved out of an image so this
in part evolved out of an image so this
in part evolved out of an image so this river is not only a place it is also an
river is not only a place it is also an
river is not only a place it is also an image when I photograph rivers I see a
image when I photograph rivers I see a
image when I photograph rivers I see a metaphor for interconnectivity Hermann
metaphor for interconnectivity Hermann
metaphor for interconnectivity Hermann Hesse’s story told it beautifully
Hesse’s story told it beautifully
Hesse’s story told it beautifully did you so Siddhartha asked Vasudeva at
did you so Siddhartha asked Vasudeva at
did you so Siddhartha asked Vasudeva at one time did you to learn that secret
one time did you to learn that secret
one time did you to learn that secret from the river but there is no time
from the river but there is no time
from the river but there is no time vasudeva’s face was filled with a bright
vasudeva’s face was filled with a bright
vasudeva’s face was filled with a bright smile
smile
smile yes Siddhartha he spoke it is this what
yes Siddhartha he spoke it is this what
yes Siddhartha he spoke it is this what you mean isn’t it that the river is
you mean isn’t it that the river is
you mean isn’t it that the river is everywhere at once at the source at the
everywhere at once at the source at the
everywhere at once at the source at the mouth at the waterfall at the ferry at
mouth at the waterfall at the ferry at
mouth at the waterfall at the ferry at the rapids in the sea in the mountains
the rapids in the sea in the mountains
the rapids in the sea in the mountains everywhere at once and that there is
everywhere at once and that there is
everywhere at once and that there is only the present time for it it seems to
only the present time for it it seems to
only the present time for it it seems to me that images are two places like
me that images are two places like
me that images are two places like rivers are to the earth they surround
rivers are to the earth they surround
rivers are to the earth they surround each other as elements in a larger
each other as elements in a larger
each other as elements in a larger symbiotic system a biosphere an image
symbiotic system a biosphere an image
symbiotic system a biosphere an image sphere if we look through this
sphere if we look through this
sphere if we look through this reconstructed stream we should see in
reconstructed stream we should see in
reconstructed stream we should see in two images not unlike my daughter with
two images not unlike my daughter with
two images not unlike my daughter with her book Photography is often associated
her book Photography is often associated
her book Photography is often associated with the past even death this isn’t
with the past even death this isn’t
with the past even death this isn’t surprising we have a basic agreement
surprising we have a basic agreement
surprising we have a basic agreement with media of all forms that recordings
with media of all forms that recordings
with media of all forms that recordings are in the past but the nature of time
are in the past but the nature of time
are in the past but the nature of time and space as they relate to photography
and space as they relate to photography
and space as they relate to photography is not quite as simple as this in the
is not quite as simple as this in the
is not quite as simple as this in the words of the brilliant artist John Cage
words of the brilliant artist John Cage
words of the brilliant artist John Cage we don’t see much difference between
we don’t see much difference between
we don’t see much difference between time and space we don’t know where one
time and space we don’t know where one
time and space we don’t know where one begins and the other stops physicists
begins and the other stops physicists
begins and the other stops physicists wouldn’t disagree they call it the
wouldn’t disagree they call it the
wouldn’t disagree they call it the space-time continuum the click of a
space-time continuum the click of a
space-time continuum the click of a shutter appears to fracture time as
shutter appears to fracture time as
shutter appears to fracture time as space but we don’t know where time
space but we don’t know where time
space but we don’t know where time begins and space ends and we know places
begins and space ends and we know places
begins and space ends and we know places are partly images why would a photograph
are partly images why would a photograph
are partly images why would a photograph appear to
appear to
appear to solidify anything is it more reasonable
solidify anything is it more reasonable
solidify anything is it more reasonable to think of it as within a flow the
to think of it as within a flow the
to think of it as within a flow the philosopher I mentioned earlier villain
philosopher I mentioned earlier villain
philosopher I mentioned earlier villain flu sir he had a fabulous insight he
flu sir he had a fabulous insight he
flu sir he had a fabulous insight he links photography to cosmology and said
links photography to cosmology and said
links photography to cosmology and said that rather than death
that rather than death
that rather than death we should associate photography with
we should associate photography with
we should associate photography with life specifically he contrasted
life specifically he contrasted
life specifically he contrasted photography with entropy the inexorable
photography with entropy the inexorable
photography with entropy the inexorable expansion of the universe toward evenly
expansion of the universe toward evenly
expansion of the universe toward evenly distributed chaos and eventual heat
distributed chaos and eventual heat
distributed chaos and eventual heat death susur’s thought the act of
death susur’s thought the act of
death susur’s thought the act of photography should be understood as a
photography should be understood as a
photography should be understood as a process of negative entropy because of
process of negative entropy because of
process of negative entropy because of course not everything in the universe is
course not everything in the universe is
course not everything in the universe is moving towards entropy in an orderly way
moving towards entropy in an orderly way
moving towards entropy in an orderly way in certain parts things will excitedly
in certain parts things will excitedly
in certain parts things will excitedly rearrange and create new forms earth is
rearrange and create new forms earth is
rearrange and create new forms earth is one of those situations and our cameras
one of those situations and our cameras
one of those situations and our cameras play an increasingly important role in
play an increasingly important role in
play an increasingly important role in what emerges here so images in a very
what emerges here so images in a very
what emerges here so images in a very real cosmic sense are part of the way
real cosmic sense are part of the way
real cosmic sense are part of the way the universe is coming into being
the universe is coming into being
the universe is coming into being photographs aren’t all about death they
photographs aren’t all about death they
photographs aren’t all about death they are also a reaching for immortality do
are also a reaching for immortality do
are also a reaching for immortality do you ever wonder about the photographs
you ever wonder about the photographs
you ever wonder about the photographs you exist in but don’t know about where
you exist in but don’t know about where
you exist in but don’t know about where could you be resonating immortally right
could you be resonating immortally right
could you be resonating immortally right now
it’s a common complaint in the age of
it’s a common complaint in the age of the camera phone that people are always
the camera phone that people are always
the camera phone that people are always watching the world through their screens
watching the world through their screens
watching the world through their screens so they’ve lost the ability to be in the
so they’ve lost the ability to be in the
so they’ve lost the ability to be in the moment at a concert or in front of the
moment at a concert or in front of the
moment at a concert or in front of the Mona Lisa but I think this complaint is
Mona Lisa but I think this complaint is
Mona Lisa but I think this complaint is too easily made when we photograph we
too easily made when we photograph we
too easily made when we photograph we are participating
are participating
are participating we’re just participating in something
we’re just participating in something
we’re just participating in something new and the time space of the resulting
new and the time space of the resulting
new and the time space of the resulting image can do something amazing it can
image can do something amazing it can
image can do something amazing it can fold in on itself and therefore amplify
fold in on itself and therefore amplify
fold in on itself and therefore amplify how it resonates in life no matter how
how it resonates in life no matter how
how it resonates in life no matter how unplugged the original moment may have
unplugged the original moment may have
unplugged the original moment may have seemed if I reflect on loser’s idea
seemed if I reflect on loser’s idea
seemed if I reflect on loser’s idea about technical images in relation to
about technical images in relation to
about technical images in relation to this generic sunrise at Angkor Wat for
this generic sunrise at Angkor Wat for
this generic sunrise at Angkor Wat for example is almost as though the cosmic
example is almost as though the cosmic
example is almost as though the cosmic resonance of this place in time as an
resonance of this place in time as an
resonance of this place in time as an image requires that a multitude of us
image requires that a multitude of us
image requires that a multitude of us stretch at our hands to confront it we
stretch at our hands to confront it we
stretch at our hands to confront it we don’t need our cameras to experience it
don’t need our cameras to experience it
don’t need our cameras to experience it that’s true but our cameras need us the
that’s true but our cameras need us the
that’s true but our cameras need us the image sphere expects us when we reach
image sphere expects us when we reach
image sphere expects us when we reach into this place the images we find are
into this place the images we find are
into this place the images we find are not just a reflection on the past
not just a reflection on the past
not just a reflection on the past looking back on the evolution of culture
looking back on the evolution of culture
looking back on the evolution of culture they are the evolution of culture in
they are the evolution of culture in
they are the evolution of culture in this way we may not just be recording
this way we may not just be recording
this way we may not just be recording the past as improbable as it sounds we
the past as improbable as it sounds we
the past as improbable as it sounds we may be recording an echo of the future
how would we decipher the future in an
how would we decipher the future in an image many images appear to reveal an
image many images appear to reveal an
image many images appear to reveal an uncertain future in what’s being called
uncertain future in what’s being called
uncertain future in what’s being called the age of the Anthropocene a term used
the age of the Anthropocene a term used
the age of the Anthropocene a term used to describe a proposed new geological
to describe a proposed new geological
to describe a proposed new geological era defined by the impact of human
era defined by the impact of human
era defined by the impact of human activity there are increasing pressures
activity there are increasing pressures
activity there are increasing pressures on the course of the evolution of
on the course of the evolution of
on the course of the evolution of culture as humans see more and more and
culture as humans see more and more and
culture as humans see more and more and vision more and more and build more and
vision more and more and build more and
vision more and more and build more and more we paired paradoxically witness and
more we paired paradoxically witness and
more we paired paradoxically witness and apparent threat to the equilibrium of a
apparent threat to the equilibrium of a
apparent threat to the equilibrium of a system that makes it all possible what
system that makes it all possible what
system that makes it all possible what role do images play in this change in
role do images play in this change in
role do images play in this change in his influential essay the question
his influential essay the question
his influential essay the question concerning technology Martin Heidegger
concerning technology Martin Heidegger
concerning technology Martin Heidegger suggested that the essence of a tree is
suggested that the essence of a tree is
suggested that the essence of a tree is certainly not itself a tree that can be
certainly not itself a tree that can be
certainly not itself a tree that can be encountered among all the other trees
encountered among all the other trees
encountered among all the other trees this particular tree as it happens began
this particular tree as it happens began
this particular tree as it happens began its encounters 847 years ago it has
its encounters 847 years ago it has
its encounters 847 years ago it has quite a few more today
quite a few more today
quite a few more today Heidegger linked his idea about a tree
Heidegger linked his idea about a tree
Heidegger linked his idea about a tree to technology the essence of technology
to technology the essence of technology
to technology the essence of technology is by no means anything technological he
is by no means anything technological he
is by no means anything technological he said this is a perplexing thought the
said this is a perplexing thought the
said this is a perplexing thought the idea that the essence of the thing is
idea that the essence of the thing is
idea that the essence of the thing is not the thing itself
I suppose we should infer that the
I suppose we should infer that the essence of an image is not itself an
essence of an image is not itself an
essence of an image is not itself an image
but then I wonder what the essence of an
but then I wonder what the essence of an image is and when I do I imagine it
image is and when I do I imagine it
image is and when I do I imagine it vibrating out of sight in the space-time
vibrating out of sight in the space-time
vibrating out of sight in the space-time continuum
of course it’s apparent that not all
of course it’s apparent that not all images flow against entropy when alexei
images flow against entropy when alexei
images flow against entropy when alexei de tocqueville traveled to america in
de tocqueville traveled to america in
de tocqueville traveled to america in 1831 and sailed up the East River into
1831 and sailed up the East River into
1831 and sailed up the East River into New York he saw from the boat what he
New York he saw from the boat what he
New York he saw from the boat what he thought were little white private marble
thought were little white private marble
thought were little white private marble palaces in the distance only to discover
palaces in the distance only to discover
palaces in the distance only to discover up close that they were in fact much
up close that they were in fact much
up close that they were in fact much simpler houses made of whitewashed brick
150 years later Jean Baudrillard
150 years later Jean Baudrillard declared that such simulacra had tilted
declared that such simulacra had tilted
declared that such simulacra had tilted the machine he does not illusion that
the machine he does not illusion that
the machine he does not illusion that conceals reality he declared it is
conceals reality he declared it is
conceals reality he declared it is reality that conceals the fact that
reality that conceals the fact that
reality that conceals the fact that there is none there’s a lot to learn
there is none there’s a lot to learn
there is none there’s a lot to learn from Las Vegas for those who may not
from Las Vegas for those who may not
from Las Vegas for those who may not have been there this assemblage of
have been there this assemblage of
have been there this assemblage of buildings is not photoshopped it was
buildings is not photoshopped it was
buildings is not photoshopped it was imagined image and no doubt referring to
imagined image and no doubt referring to
imagined image and no doubt referring to images and then built this way the power
images and then built this way the power
images and then built this way the power of images such as these is in full
of images such as these is in full
of images such as these is in full effect right now we have recently seen I
effect right now we have recently seen I
effect right now we have recently seen I would suggest what flew surf or saw the
would suggest what flew surf or saw the
would suggest what flew surf or saw the collapse of at least two prior image
collapse of at least two prior image
collapse of at least two prior image categories those differentiating between
categories those differentiating between
categories those differentiating between politics and entertainment a picture
politics and entertainment a picture
politics and entertainment a picture recently appeared in the popular image
recently appeared in the popular image
recently appeared in the popular image sphere a picture of a Manhattan elevator
sphere a picture of a Manhattan elevator
sphere a picture of a Manhattan elevator the interior of which is clad in solid
the interior of which is clad in solid
the interior of which is clad in solid gold it rises to Heights that we should
gold it rises to Heights that we should
gold it rises to Heights that we should all aspire to but never really hope to
all aspire to but never really hope to
all aspire to but never really hope to reach you know the one I mean I have a
reach you know the one I mean I have a
reach you know the one I mean I have a short true story about making this
short true story about making this
short true story about making this picture while driving to this place
picture while driving to this place
picture while driving to this place without really knowing why I was going
without really knowing why I was going
without really knowing why I was going there but certainly following images I
there but certainly following images I
there but certainly following images I approached a particularly massive
approached a particularly massive
approached a particularly massive a station on the highway outside of town
a station on the highway outside of town
a station on the highway outside of town and on the side of the road as I got
and on the side of the road as I got
and on the side of the road as I got close I saw a woman in a Statue of
close I saw a woman in a Statue of
close I saw a woman in a Statue of Liberty costume holding a sign to
Liberty costume holding a sign to
Liberty costume holding a sign to encourage drivers to pull in and buy gas
encourage drivers to pull in and buy gas
encourage drivers to pull in and buy gas it was hot with full Sun dusty and windy
it was hot with full Sun dusty and windy
it was hot with full Sun dusty and windy the side of the highway was a brutal
the side of the highway was a brutal
the side of the highway was a brutal place to be but the site that made this
place to be but the site that made this
place to be but the site that made this scene so arresting I would ask you now
scene so arresting I would ask you now
scene so arresting I would ask you now to include in your imagining of this
to include in your imagining of this
to include in your imagining of this scene that the woman in the costume was
scene that the woman in the costume was
scene that the woman in the costume was unconscionably elderly
the image of the golden elevator is
the image of the golden elevator is entropy we can envision something else
not far from where we are here in
not far from where we are here in Vancouver there is a forest Valley
the biologists Yeoh wilson has pointed
the biologists Yeoh wilson has pointed out that essentially non-human spaces
out that essentially non-human spaces
out that essentially non-human spaces like these forests old-growth forests
like these forests old-growth forests
like these forests old-growth forests are vital to the future of life to a
are vital to the future of life to a
are vital to the future of life to a dynamic equilibrium that makes evolution
dynamic equilibrium that makes evolution
dynamic equilibrium that makes evolution possible
possible
possible he has also suggested that we have
he has also suggested that we have
he has also suggested that we have reached a unique watershed moment in
reached a unique watershed moment in
reached a unique watershed moment in human history a point that he calls
human history a point that he calls
human history a point that he calls volitional evolution and it means that
volitional evolution and it means that
volitional evolution and it means that with our new technologies we are able to
with our new technologies we are able to
with our new technologies we are able to evolve by choice at will Wilson is
evolve by choice at will Wilson is
evolve by choice at will Wilson is referring to bio technologies but I
referring to bio technologies but I
referring to bio technologies but I wonder about it in the context of
wonder about it in the context of
wonder about it in the context of electronic image technologies the way
electronic image technologies the way
electronic image technologies the way that flew Sur encouraged us to
that flew Sur encouraged us to
that flew Sur encouraged us to understand them this picture of the
understand them this picture of the
understand them this picture of the whole growth forest I plan to show it to
whole growth forest I plan to show it to
whole growth forest I plan to show it to my daughter one day I then hope to
my daughter one day I then hope to
my daughter one day I then hope to travel to the forest it depicts so that
travel to the forest it depicts so that
travel to the forest it depicts so that we can reach through that place back
we can reach through that place back
we can reach through that place back into this image and then I’d like to
into this image and then I’d like to
into this image and then I’d like to make another picture together perhaps
make another picture together perhaps
make another picture together perhaps looking forward into a future a future
looking forward into a future a future
looking forward into a future a future in which she will flourish thank you for
in which she will flourish thank you for
in which she will flourish thank you for you
”
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