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May
9 to May 16 (Eight Days) We walked 90 Kilometers : N.Y.C. streets |
May Contain Some Mature Audience Material
the theme of human identity within the impersonal
world of New York City is explored in this work
images processed with GIMP and edited to: 2015 06 30
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my text is used as graphical signs arranged aesthetically
formal gramatical / punctuational considerations
are subordinated to visual text shape structures
living in new york city
two people
sitting on a small corner park bench
in new york city core
talking to each other
in spiritual harmony
through
the language of music
evolving their identity
through music
evolving their togetherness
through music
night in New York City: 2015 May
two young smiling women
stand
amongst the crowd
their bodies painted in the nations sacred colors
stand
planted in high heel shoes
shoes
the traditional
vaginal symbol
of venus
high heel
the traditional
penis symbol
of mars
their bodies sense the crowds secret thoughts
from eros hiding behind each glancing eye
thoughts of
mars and venus
swirl through the crowd
the moon begins its journey
it is early in the night of the city
NOTE: we humans live in two worlds
the physical world of the body
the spiritual world of the mind
ever separated
always trying to unite
our nightmares result from not knowing
which world we are in
our death
sometimes results from not knowing
which world we are in
NOTE: the girls look like cut-outs but this is an actual scene
taken on my phone camera
and highly computer processed
their love world
within the city world
of reality
they - we
live in two worlds
an emotional world
of our imaginings
and
a physical world
of our happenings
sometimes they are in sync
sometimes they are not
sometimes
we think we know
what is real and what is not real
NOTE: Identity is the product of belief
and
the truth or reality of belief
is another belief
love is seen
in the most unlikely of places
street people
no home no job no nothing
little childs comfort toy rests its head
on their donation box
birds
ancient messengers
from the gods
wait to be recognized
to tell
their future
love hate fear
riches poverty
all of the above
some of the above
none of the above
my cameras eye finds
their moment of love
beside a street garbage can
in new york city
NOTE: it is irrelevant that if in reality
they are
addicted to alcohol or drugs
and during there addicted condition
attack each other viciously
in destructive hatred
this is their human moment
to explore tenderness
it is our human moment
to realize
hope for their future
and our future
may exist
through the window
old symbols
filled with memories
of home pride status country
painting of a young woman with phone
old framed painting of central park
expensive pedestal ashtray
expensive large brass stork
expensive brass nude-dancing-figures
expensive tiffany lamp
thousands of items bought and sold
memories of yesteryear
to be seen through the window
mixed with
reflections of buildings cars people
create the symbolic image
of then and now
old and new
me with my cameras eye
search then and now symbols
for bits
of an other me
NOTE: layered images of past temporal identities
expressed through physical possessions
to nurture
to be nurtured
but
some cannot nurture
and
some cannot be nurtured
and
they become
the living dead
NOTE: nurturing: the physical expression
of two separate identites merging in spirituallity
mannequin in the window
reflections
from the outside world
merge
illusions of real
and not real
my cameras eye
is my childhood
real eye
for rightly or wrongly
it is with my adult eye
that I selectivly
view the world
NOTE: reflection on the dress was not added
it
expresses the concept of our identies bridging
both mental and physical aspects of our being
spray can is my power
I don't care about you
"I EXIST"
I don't care if I have nothing to say
"I EXIST"
I don't care if I am nothing
"I EXIST"
when you see what I have done
you will know
"I EXIST"
through my spray can
NOTE: my identity is not strong enough
to be seen by others
you will see the expression of my identity
but you will not see me
for i fear others
jesus is my power
"I TELL YOU"
jesus is savior
"I TELL YOU"
jesus is lord
"I TELL YOU"
please don't go to hell
"I KNOW"
"YOU DO NOT KNOW"
"YOU ARE NOTHING"
without jesus
NOTE: you must be like me
but subordinate to me
whatever i choose to be me
an act of god
the role of god
is portrayed
by
jim parsons
comedian
some may be offended
some may be seriously offended
others may not
be offended
NOTE: god always a touchy subject
"I" and "WE"
art lovers
sitting standing walking photographing pondering
"I and WE : EXIST"
through graphic art
NOTE: the arts provide individual identities
within a spiritualesque community
the daily show
three floor
poster image
of a serious
well dressed
news personage
standing beside
"larry flint's
hustler club
go one block
down and
take a right"
a modern approach to news
for a modern identity
explores
serious topics
through a blend of
intellect and humur
Weekend
train yards
row upon row upon row upon row
shiny empty people containers
waiting
thinking
of monday morning madness
shoving yelling
anger fear hate indifference
but
bits of human tenderness
sprinkled here and there
makes early morning
in the day of the city
there in the window
my real me
cool
debonaire
sexy
confident
how much is that
me me
in the window
the one with
the
cool cool shoes
"THE REAL ME"
mr. cool
out
into the city night
I'm great
no doubt
as I waltz
in my shoes
through the crowds
of the city night
NOTE: mr. cool from the store window
makes the real world look shoddy
but
the real world of community
is the expression of our individual collective
internal worlds
3 for $99.90
says the sign in the window
she sits alone
on a plastic milk carton
in front of the window
her story
attentivly listened to
a thick soft covered book
lays by her side
pen in hand
note pad on knee
7 months pregnant
says her sign
anything will help
says her sign
I see her
my camera captures her image
she is part of the continuum of life
I do not interfere
I wonder why
what ever gods there are
have made me
there but not there
here but not here
NOTE: life has given her challenges
she keeps going day after day
a quality i consider noble
two older stately buildings
frame
the giant
cognitave matrix
of glass pixels
machined to modernest perfection
in efficency
aloof modernism
looks
down on the
humanesque remnants
below
new york of the modernest destroyer-builders
new york of the historical comunity-protectors
both
struggle constantly
within the democratic process
until the destroyer-builders
win once
then there is nothing to protect
musicians play music
but they are also a group
their personal identities
must integrate
with others
it is the group
that give form to music
it is the dynamic
of groupa individual identies
that I have chosen
to present
NOTE: the coming together of individuals
creates a spiritualesque expression
that joins us to the universal experience
of wholeness with all life forms
answering the problem
of collisions
driverless cars
to keep us save
driverless bicycles
to keep us safe
driverless skateboards
to keep us safe
driverless wheelchairs
to keep us safe
is collision
part of our identity
sharon
imprisoned
within this graphic
presents
barnett newman
identity
zip
painting
a painting that prevents
entry
into itself
to another world
it
keeps us here together
as dual subject
enclosed
within the whiteish imaginary
world
of this graphic
to become
stored artifacts
of current
recent
and distant
pasts
NOTE: is this the high point of modernist art
or is it just a stick
my wifes friend insists it is a stick
my only defence in favor of barnette newman
is the possibility that it is
a magic stick
our selfe
no stick
to hold our image
a black classy New York City Van
stopped
at the red light
its shinny door like a carnival mirror
added to the fun
everyone short and stubby
no exceptions
i see a me
that is part me
part not me
now
i see only me
i have erased
the other me
i would like to look better
i could look better
could look like mr. cool
but its ok
for now
NOTE: my flexable identity thoughts
maybe i should consider
modifying my appearance image
my wife has this single bag
filled with things she is forever trying to find
i have my camera stuff pocketed security vest cargo pants
including medications and emergency toilet paper
maybe mr. cool only exists
in the store window
or
some day in my coffin
i could look like
mr. cool
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the famous flat iron
building
she escaped
the destroyer-builders
she was
saved by new yorkers
outraged
at their past being destroyed
she lives on as a great
New York City
landmark
reminding new yorkers
vigilant
to the return
of the destroyer-builders
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cellphoners
have cellphones
or
cellphones
have cellphoners
easy
user friendly access
to your virtual identity
instant access
friends books maps news television
and camera
in the palm of one hand
young or old
rich and not quite poor
an instrument
of cultural
exchange and exposing of
secrets
it lies bullies steals and helps
it hides the faces
of both
friend and enemy
it is an innocent looking
image machine
in the colour of your choice
everyone
wants one
NOTE: people forget that modern cellphones are computers
and computers can be hacked
identities may be stolen
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neglected
remnant of 19th century
new york
darkened by
smoke from
the 20th century
burning times
arson raged
through numbered blocks
for decades
fire fighters helpless
before the never ending fires
until
the landloard
wars ended
great cities
like great people
are defined by their
human struggles
between
good and evil
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new york city water supply
is gravity pressurized
using
thousands of water tanks
perched hight atop buildings
some hidden inside
made from cedar planks
or a variety of metals
3 shown above
tanks last 25 to 50 years
are inventoried
maintained
replaced
top section of tank water
is for drinking
bottom section of tank water
is for fighting fires
and
street usage
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lost dogs
$ 1,000 dollars reward
$ 10,000 dollars reward
wow!
wonder how many people
people
who don't have access
to that much money feel
feel
while reading this post
kids to feed
landlords to pay
just lost my job
no money
my kid is sick
no money
is it fair
life is not fair
NOTE: rich peoples world of want and poor peoples world of need
intersect on these public posters
small indicators of how much easier life is for the rich
and yes
life is illness
life is wealth
life is poverty
life is confusion
life is anger
life is love
life is birth
life is death
life is not fair
life never was fair
NOTE: this photograph has not been adjusted
preservation of buildings
in new york city
is a serious business
and builders must comply
look up at the top two floors
they have window airconditioners
fire escape stairs
but
the upper two floors of
the side wall are missing
the front wall is the facade
of an older building
it is appropriate that
this part now part old
part real part unreal
building
very close to the new
light blueish grey
whitney gallery
in the distance
with dozens of tiny people
seen standing out on its
exterior
balconies and stairs.
NOTE: (2): this building graphic fits with my identity theme in relation to the
reality of real and the reality of unreal
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the great bull
of the new york stock exchange
or
the sacred bull of capitalism
transformed
into a play structure
by fun loving
children
parents
grandparents
friends
tourists
the desire to make life
enjoyable
for all
may be suppressed
by evil
but never destroyed
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bit of 1900s New York
the hand rail
now part of a walking path
was
an elevated street train
at 3rd floor level
weaving its way between buildings
the rumblings can only be imagined
on hot august nights new yorkers
would escape carrying their childern and bedding
to the roof
hoping to catch the slightest breeze
to fan their sleep
sheets hanging from clothes lines
gave moments of privacy
such a scene was painted
by new york artist
john sloan
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25 years in space 2015
photographed the hubble
duplicate on display
in the space museum
photographed the large universe poster
separately
put the two images together
as a symbol of
human sturggle
to answer the big question
existence
of beginning
of ending
of alone-ness
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can you see me
she said
as i
photographed her
through the glass
enclosed
artifact
we play
the age old game
of
peek a boo
now you see me
now you don't
NOTE: point and shoot
digital cameras
do not have good depth of field control
the photograph was computer processed
into the artifact part
which was sharpened
and
the non artifact part
which was blurred
then merged
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our reflected togetherness
photographed
looking through
a glass enclosed
jet engine
displayed
on the deck of
the decommissioned
aircraft carrier
uss enterprise
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new york citys
symbolic
spiritual mirror
we must be more
than
born to die
all life
all death
must have a reason
it is so easy to die
so hard to be born
if there is
i am
there must be
i was
far better i believe
in the magic
of illusion
than the reality
of nothing
but
i am human
and can
believe
the reality of illusion
the illusion of reality
as one
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in the heart of
new york city
a small
old cemetery
reminds us
a person with an identity
died in 1761
it is a certianty
that
most of his beliefs
that defined his identity
are no longer considered
valid
identity
an ever changing reflection
in the mirror of life
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this simple
constructed expression
transformes
belief
into image
and
through image
is trasnformed
into reality
and
through reality
is transformed
into identity
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reality
the new the next
transformations
into
identity
but
ornimation is only part of identity
ornimation
is the cover
that hides the book
of
temperament
as related to social
disposition
as related to genetic
disposition
bestowed upon us
by
what ever gods may be
to exist between
the world of body
and
the world of mind
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new york city woman
her persona caught my eye
she stood out from the crowd
stylish sensual
and feminine
without being erotic
i was in the right place
at the right time
a quick snap
captured her fleeting image
my composition
did the rest
NOTE: painted images of active women for womens rights
introduced this series of photographs on indentity
i wanted to finish the series with the image of a woman
who would sum up new yorks dynamic energy
SUMMARY NOTE: my selected images are ment to to illustrate the human struggle with identity
identity is neither completly real nor completely imaginary
neither completely logical nor completely illogical
it functions in another dimension
that is part here and part not here
just as quantum physics does not always obey the conventional laws of gravity
peace is part war
war is part peace
man is part woman
woman is part man
we think the part is the whole
we think the whole is the part
we don't know that we know
we know that we don't know
there is only identity
part body
part mind
These are my preliminary "Summary Comments"
written during the formulation of this project.
I mention above that this project contains mature material. I question
the beliefs which I was taught as a child. The questioning of these
beliefs may cause some emotive concern to those who have never contemplated personal existence.
This project is my personal
exploration of belief and identity concepts
as they define my relationship to existence of self and other. Why am
I, Who am I , Where am I, What am I is the essence of my personal
exploration.
As I search through my thousands of New York City photo-images the
general theme of personal and group "Identity" begins to
emerge. Thoughts such as: the relationship between group belief
and personal identity : the role of group belief and personal identity
in the the domination of one group over another. The role of culture as
part of and or separate from identity factors.
Finally: questons concerning the mysterious ever present underlying
concept-awarness of my personal existence creeps into mind.
I recall a story told of: Cardinal Richelieu 1545 - 1642. He
presented a well formulated policy argument to a Pope and gained the
Popes approval for action. Some time later he presented a well
formulated contrary argument to the previously approved policy and
gained the Popes approval for the change. The story illustrates that
Cardinel Richelieu possessed a talent for such well formulated reasoning which allowed him to argue
successfully that good was evil and evil was good and totally confuse
the listener.
Cardinal Richelieu had an instinct for what could be termed modern
propaganda. He had access to the decision maker. He had influence over
those consulting for the Decision maker which, allowed him to control
the information flow from others. He implemented his dictatorship in
unifying France and destroyed many lives in the process which, in
the end may indicate that we, as a social group, make our own
good and evil conditions on this earth.
To me the Cardinal derives such emotional pleasure from his ability to
manipulate the beliefs of others that this personal pleasure becomes an
addiction that replaces the need to understand.
That is my dilemma. If language structures thought - then language may
be used to structure truth and anti-truth therefor there may be no
absolute stability in the use of language. Since we use language
then our decision processes are unstable. If the language is unstable then the human
conceptualizing condition is
unstable. This positon my be
extropolated to argue the universe is unstable or at best
incomplete, which has been argued
by the philosopher: Slavoj Zizek b1949 . Physicst Werner
and Heisenberg (1901 - 76) seems to have arrived at a similar conclusion:
Reality may be incomplete in the sense that it is ever changing.
If this is correct then in terms of constructing an identity within
social and historical references may yield an imaginary identity of
lthe moment . We
all role play to a greater degree than we would like to believe. That
famous quote : "the world is a stage and everyone in it is an actor",
has more than just a grain of truth.
Zizek argues that there is no freedom in a finished Reality. I agree
conceptually that freedom cannot exist within a deterministic or
completed structure. The traditional idea that
a believer must pledge his or her soul to god contains the implication
of moving oneself from free to unfree. Implying the further implication
that we were born free and are submerged in environment of language to
either stay free or become unfree. Interestingly the believer believes
himself or herself to be free within the rule based god structure. I am
free but I cannot do this or else I will not be free.
The interesting contadicition in the christian god / devil system is that
god originally argued for human freedom and lucifer - the fallen angel - argued
for human submission to god. Baptism symbolically removes the original
sin which may be interpreted as god given freedom which must be removed in order to submit to
lucifers idea of submission. We can not give our soul to
god because he represents freedom. We can give our soul only to the
devil because he represents submission.
If the devil represents submission and god repersents freedom then how did they ever get reversed?
The obvious answer is that the language used to define god and define the devil is unstable / incomplete ever changing.
Therefore the big quistions of ones existence can never be definitively
explored because language is an inadequate tool and there is no other. It is quite possible that the
basis for belief is the intutive understanding that language is
incomplete. Therefor belief is an attempt to complete language as a conceptualizing tool.
Thomas Acquinas refused to define god as the prime mover of his natural
law because a definition is only used in place of a proof and he was attempting to prove the existence of god. Unfortunatly
later German philosophers became frustrated in their attempts and defined the prime mover
as god. Much like defining belief as the equivalent of god.
Thomas Acquinas is in my opinion is partially correct in
defining god as the prime mover because the prime mover has the
connotation of doing, whereas the act of conceptualizing the beginning
of everything is the equilavent to conceptualizing the unknowable.
I can survive understanding the concept that there is no conceptual
answer to the big questions but, why there is no answer is
quite facinating. There is an incredable aesthetic to cognitively
experiencing the concept of the unknowable as being unknowable. Mainly
because it places the percieved certainty of belief, ( as a naming
word, which gives it existence), in doubt.
I have struggled through this project of exploring identity and arrived at my
personal satisfactory answer. It may not be quite the theory of
everything but as for myself it is a good start. It has taken me until the age of 75
years to get this far in my thinking.
Conclusion:
Identity in general has in my opinion a strong genetic component within
the identity system of family, friends, cultural etc. Sexual identity, a major identity
component in terms of male female concepts, appears to be based more upon brain genetic
reproduction than superficial body reproduction. That brain formation approach moves sexual
identity from the absolute appearence based male / female concept to
brain spectrial concepts. Sexual identity and General identity
like language and like quantum uncertainty within physics forms an incomplete system. There can be no absolute
definition which includes everyone.
In terms of recent social strugles this conclusion places me on the
side of those who argue that the "sex"designator should be removed from
birth certificates. The term "sex" indicating male or female is a form
of discriminaton much like skin colour designation.
The slow but steady removal of identity differences from official
documents indicates to me that society is moving back towards our
original concept of interconectedness with all life forms.
keith@75
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