A different tale

Tags

blur, elementary, haze, historic, inconspicious, inside, photography

The day of December two thousand and twenty, started with haze and drizzle, that kept some sort of lock over the day.

Still, face covered with mask in the train, we went to the city of Amsterdam, to visit the museum of photography ‘Foam’. Rarely do I make photos of photos. But there are other elements. My photos taken in the museum are given below, together with a few from the journey back home.

stubborn element (detail)

stubborn element (whole)

Now more than in earlier times, there is the need for refreshment of air within buildings.

grate for air vent (one)

Grate for air vent (two)

The artist Jan Schoonhoven might have found inspiration.

Grate for air vent (detail of one, B&W)

Somewhat hidden, there is a call for connectivity, dating from more than half a century ago.

electric wire and plugs

A crack in the window captures the focus.

crack in the window, museum Foam

Outside is different, but the view is still influenced. And strong light placed near historic facades of homes deviates the focus.

two lights near historic facade

While looking outside through the train windows, images are mirrors of movement.

speeds blurs the view outside (one)

There was no storm, just a train passing.

speed blurs the view outside (two)

• abstract
• archeology
• art
• Art competition
• assemblage
• creation
• Dada
• death
• Decay
• defense
• demography
• destruction
• development
• Figurative art
• France
• graphics
• Greece
• History
• inconspicious
• inside
• installation
• internet
• kunst
• landscape
• Le Pays
• mental health
• mushrooms
• nature
• natuur
• outdoor
• painting
• philosophy
• photography
• poem
• poetry
• poezie
• retirement
• rocks
• society
• street photography
• structure
• Uncategorized
• Urban nature

Feathers and cones / Veren en appels

Tags

black & white, cones, feathers, Greece, philosophy, photography, poem gedicht

Feathers and cones

What drives the wheel

to move around

to the image

to be seen,

the words

to appear in ink.

Just three feathers

amidst the cones of

cupressus sempervirens.

 

 

Veren en appels

Wat doet het wiel

rondgaan

naar het beeld dat

te zien valt

de woorden die

in inkt zichtbaar worden.

Slechts drie veren

temidden van de appels van

cupressus sempervirens.

 

(photo in Edessa, Hellas, May 2019, poem January 2020, (c) Drager Meurtant)

A house in the mountains

Tags

abandonned, bergen, Decay, departure, fotografie, Greece, Home, landscape, Macedonia, mountains, quiet, remote

There was someone, who built a home.

There was a home, built by someone, once.

Friends helped at times, I’m sure.

Someone is no more, at least not here.

(Perhaps this someone, is now in a senior home elsewhere)

The home gradually, becomes less, and less.

A view from the kitchen window

 

Outside, flowers grow.

(Travel in Macedonia, Greece. West of Orma, in the mountains, May 2019.)

(c) Drager Meurtant

Ensemble de Creatures and l’Autre Ensemble de Creatures

Tags

assemblage, collage, creation, kunst, painting, philosophy, poem, poetry, recycling-art, schepping, surrealistic

In 2014, and again in 2018-2019, artwork came into existence, that may be seen as ‘Ensemble de Creatures’

In 2014, en opnieuw in 2018-2019, ontstond een kunstwerk dat gezien wordt als een ‘Ensemble de Creatures.

(1) Ensemble de Creatures (2014)

Some creatures / placed behind glass and it’s double / others in front / all take their place / that is determined / by the other.

The house is a dream / which is within reach and / the cage protects against breakage.

Wings need a starting – or resting point.

The cadre / points to the space / outside.

Sommige creaturen / geplaatst achter glas en wel dubbel / anderen ervoor / nemen ze ieder een plaats in / die bepaald wordt door de ander.

Het huis is een droom / maar binnen bereik en / de kooi beschermt tegen breuk.

Vleugels hebben een start- of rustpunt nodig.

Het kader / duidt de ruimte / daar buiten.

(c) Drager Meurtant, 2014 (mixed media, wood, metal, glass, ‘objets trouvés’, paint, 75x53x27 cm)

 

(2) At the start of the next ‘ensemble de creature’, this panel – having been used to separate the doghouse and dog run – was taken.

Aan het begin van het volgende ‘ensemble de creatures’, dit paneel was gekozen – eerder gebruikt om hondenhok van – ren te scheiden.

 

l’Autre Ensemble de Creatures (2018-2019)

Already, the flamed / pattern of the wooden panel / held the design of this painting.

The nails of the dog / (think it was a bouvier de flandres) / added scratches, that were given company / by the cutting effects / of an angle grinder.

The fields that surfaced / became creatures of some kind / as colors were applied.

Het gevlamde patroon / in het houten paneel / bevatte al de opzet / van dit schilderij.

De nagels van de hond / (denkelijk een bouvier) / voegde krassen toe / die gezelschap kregen / door het bijtend effect / van een haakse slijper.

De velden die / aan het oppervlak kwamen / werden creaturen van enig soort / toen kleuren werden aangebracht.

Painting / Schilderij, winter 2018 – 2019. Poem / gedicht 6 Augustus 2019.

Alle text and images (c) Drager Meurtant.

http://www.meurtant.exto.org

Judges Report Final Round Figurative Art in Three Dimensions

Tags

3-D, abstract, Dada, decision, fotografie, installation, instruction, jury, kunst, nothingness, photography, ready-made, report, Spain, subversive, three-dimensional, wall

XXth Competion at Art Center VIMOMUX, year 2019

After thorough deliberation, trying to reach consensus and equal imput of the members of the jury, a final decision was reached on the three submitted art-peaces created by Drager Meurtant (NL, 1951)

During the process, the five members from the jury weighed the pros and cons of artistic protuberances, by applying the elementary principles prescribed for separation of figurative versus abstract (Instruction Report #A12B-567, 1983).

“Sorry Jean”

Art-peace One: “Sorry Jean” (2018)

Comments: the raw, primitive nature of the semi-figurative concrete relief, associates firmly with the wall and hence, the placement creates an actuality in addressing contemporary trauma. The integrative character expressed by the circumstantial placement on pre-existing background, makes the art an holistic event. The wholeness further enhances the pertinent relation with contemporary queries into the genesis of soul as sole force feeding eternality.

Decision: accept.

“Solitary Traveller”

Art-peace Two: “Solitary Traveller” (2018)

Comments: this ready-made, sculptural figuration really transpires the solitude, as the title implicates. By referring to the multiple miniature quadrants, the depth of research is enhanced, for the validity of use of objects – that in their history served a different role – in art practice, as this was first employed by Marcel Duchamp (Bicycle Wheel, 1913) or even earlier by the DaDa artist Elsa, the Baroness of Freytag-Loringhoven, with her Enduring Ornament (1913).

The blackish color reflects the loss of relevance of this art-medium for many art-historians. The use of one-sided lighting anguishes the perception by the viewer, in it’s ineluctable blow of the flow of time towards the end, without escape. In this way, the figure announces death, as already can be derived from the two title words.

Decision: accept.

“The Triangle”

Art-peace three: “The triangle” (2019)

Comments: the narrow margin lifting this work from two- into three dimensions serves a function as to elude from fixed barriers, frames and borders. The material applied, and the colors that follow at (superb) lighting are enchanting the spectator. With experience, however, the true meaning comes into vision: a play with prejudice, superstition and ordinary judgement. The host – when placed oppositive this well-crafted work, becomes a graft not able to suppress the primary reaction of being placed in a hostile environment. This conflict deepens the experience, since doubt opens the mind.

Decision: accept (special honor).

Members of the Jury:

Jacques de Santo Torres (chair)

Anna Viltan Navon (secretary)

Karl Hütting Wltack (member)

Vladimir Brosvokic (member)

Faith Runungongo (member)

The directorate of dreams

Tags

abstract, assemblage, dreams, dromen, gedicht, grafiek, graphics, kunst, lino-cut, monoprint, philosophy, photography, poem, poetry, street-view

When dreams arrive, the content is not indicated on the envelope

(Jacques de Santo Torres (1888-1972)

A first dream:

Sitting in the backseat of a car, with increasing speed going down a steep slope and then, the gradual discovery that the driver is asleep, or dead?

Next, a second dream:

Walking through corridors that resemble my former school, realizing that preparations for exams at the end of this year have been poor, that time and perseverance is lacking, always being too late for class and ill-focused…

Then, a third dream :

People are waiting for me, to take charge. To deal and treat conditions of defect, of suffering. Yet, I don’t know the password and I’m not dressed to the occasion. I’m simply not instrumental…

These are dreams that threaten with defeat, that reflect one’s inner perception to be doomed to failure. I do not have a subscription to such dreams. But, once in a while, ill-managed delivery makes these land on my doorstep.

« – »

Can a dream be a memory?

Dreaming Cubistic, Drager Meurtant, August 17, 2017

Can a dream

be a memory

and if so

depends the format

on the shape of the display?

« – »

From dreams I turn to the real world. That is, if the creation of art is part of the real world, and not (more so) placed at the border of the dream-world and the dreadful daily circumstances of life. Some time ago I recited a poem standing opposite of a statue which I had made, and surrounded by spectators and listeners. That time I chose the position of the creator, and the statue was obliged to listen.

« – »

Poem for a statue

Rudimentary, Drager Meurtant (2016)

Statue, you look at me

with your fool’s eyes,

that are no eyes.

Statue, your mouth swears

my imperfection

to tell the truth.

You suck me empty

you drown my power

you feed yourself

with my imagination

and leave me hollow.

« – »

Streaks on the window

Streaks on the window (Drager Meurtant, December 4, 2017)

The streaks on the windows

don’t say nothing,

such as “when do

I see you again?”

at the exit

of the supermarket.

« – »

Bridges are encountered in several forms of dreams. As stated by an expert in dreams: “The bridge often has the significance of crossing or moving from one phase of life, activity or emphasis to another” (reference: Tony Crisp, http://dreamhawk.com/dream-dictionary/bridge-2/).

What if a bridge?

What if a bridge?, Drager Meurtant, lino-cut, 2017 (ed. 1/3)

What if

a bridge exists

only in your dream?

And the abyss

before you

is real?

« – »

Passage

Untitled (Pyrenean landscape 1983, monoprint, Drager Meurtant, 2017

The other night

I ran down a gentle slope

my feet not touching ground

just kicking air

holding my breath from expiring

to continue this state of floating

as long as could be…

 

Parque Tématico del Granite, Los Santos

Tags

abstract, fotografie, installation, kunst, landscape, photography, poetry, Salamanca, sculpture parc, Spain

In the province of Salamanca in Spain, close to the village Los Santos, there is the amazing Parque Tématico del Granite de los Santos.

Driving small and quiet road from Salamanca to Bejar, the parc is on the left. Huge blocks of granite, derived from nearby quarry, are placed as installations (see photos).

“if you are able / to put stones together / likes tones in a composition / the wind will whistle compliments.”

 

“The stand-still of stones is a dream that moves at a speed, unvisible for the human eye”

 

“The clang of rocks, hit by a hammer, produces a pain that can be tolerated by sculptors”

 

The artist puts a metal figure on rock: stone age preceded iron age.

the last sentence I leave to you…

Moment

Tags

abstract, condition humaine, coping, Dada, essential, fotografie, gedicht, kunst, philosophy, photography, poem, poetry

When emotions no longer

are stirred by elements

that pass.

When anger is frozen

by lack of a proper

target.

Then comes the moment

to turn the page.

Wanneer emoties niet langer

worden opgeroepen door elementen

die langs komen,

Als woede is bevroren

bij gebrek aan een geschikt

doel,

Dan komt het moment

de bladzij om te slaan.

(c) Drager Meurtant, text & photo, March 1, 2018

Water – H2O

Tags

assemblage, collage, Dada, fotografie, gedicht, kunst, nothingness, painting, philosophy, photography, poetry, poezie

Let us linger on the state of water, as fluid.

Laat ons stilstaan bij de staat van water, als vloeistof.

 

(1) Barges on the River Maas

Barges flatten the water / till waves / roll aside / from the prow, /

take distance / and break upon the river-bank. //

Reeds move / and dampen the billows. //

On the river /  the distance is crossed by foam /

that separates left from right, /

there, where the goal / has been passed. //

With eyes looking ahead / steers the skipper / the vessel /

towards another bend / in the counter current. //

Crawling crosspoint / in going / passed the mill-point.

(poem 2000, photo 2012)

(1) Aken op de Maas

Aken varen water, plat / tot golven, / uit de boeg / opzij rollen, /

afstand nemen / en breken op de wal. //

Het riet beweegt / en dooft de deining. //

Op de rivier / streept schuim de afstand door / scheidt links van rechts, /

daar, waar het doel / is voorbij gevaren. //

Ogen vooruit gericht, / stuurt de schipper / zijn vaartuig /

naar weer een bocht / in de tegenstroom. //

Kruipend kruispunt / in het gaan / voorbij het maalpunt.

(gedicht 2000, foto 2012)

 

(2) The Face of the stream

“The face of the stream / changed with the seasons . . . now it wore a gentle face”

 

(from: Morris West – The devil’s advocate)

(Het gezicht van de rivier / veranderde met de seizoenen . . . nu was het aanzicht vriendelijk”)

(uit: Morris West – The devil’s advocate)

(painting / schilderij, 21×29 cm, 2017)

 

(3) Currents

Still, I don’t know / whether to swim / against the current / or to drift along. //

For the time being / I watch what / happens to others.

(3) Stromingen

Nog steeds weet ik niet / of ik tegen de stroom in / moet zwemmen /

of me mee / moet laten drijven. //

Voorlopig kijk ik toe / naar wat anderen overkomt.

(Assemblage-collage, 2016, 30x21x3 cm)

 

(all texts and artworks by Drager Meurtant, unless stated otherwise)

Doubt – Twijfel

Tags

Dada, Decay, direction, found-object, gedicht, installation, instruction, nothingness, poem, poezie, temporary, verval

Doubt

‘Don’t follow me’
the guide said, and
disappeared around the corner.

An instruction needs
critical examination
full of doubt
before being left
behind,
unused.

Twijfel

‘Volg mij niet’

zei de gids, en

verdween om de hoek.

Een aanwijzing dient

steeds kritisch en

met twijfel onderzocht

te worden,

vooraleer deze

ongebruikt achter te laten.

 

<Image and text (c) Drager Meurtant, 2017>