Eucalyptus and Bumble Bee
Eucalyptus are very common in this country still not well known with it’s flowers.
This one bloom every year on their hedge of one of neighbours. And when it bloom,
the Bumble Bees are frantic, literally as busy as bee. Never pose to a camera. 😀
Eucalyptus only came from Australia. In the same extent, Protea only came from
South Africa. —– Still, such as Tree fern or Cycad can come from both countries.
Because those living fossil plants spread all over one big continents called Pangaea
which was separated to Africa, Australia, America etc. together with their plants.
(then their own peculiar plants evolved separately).
( Plants on Pangaea didn’t have flower —– where is the origin of flowering Gene ? ? ? )
—– So, it’s interesting, why the honeys from those plants are still the same ? ? ? 🙂
[]
Images in Hackney / Fish-eye Vision
Those are the photos, which I’ve clicked the camera on the street of Hackney.
As the default of the optical design, the image was heavily distorted.
Which people dubbed as fish-eye lens effect.
Some people hate this effect saying too unnatural —- ? is it ?
Everybody knows perspective. If you see a thing in distance, it looks smaller.
Assuming, you are standing on front of a huge building, 50m tall and 100m wide.
You are standing from the central door abut 25m or so distance, facing the
building straight. = From this stance, you can just see whole building in one picture.
The building spread side to side about 120~140 degree in angle on your view.
The center of building looks so high on front of you. —– yet far away, you can see
the end of building = it looks not as high as in the center, because of perspective.
While you are standing and able to see whole building in one picture —– Don’t
you think something wrong ? = Despite the building was built with straight lines
both end of the same building looks smaller in the same time. = ONLY a conclusion
is “You are not able to see straight line as a straight line = it’s bent down in both end”
In fact, as the eyes are ball-shaped, we never see straight line in our optical image,
except the one run straight in the center. All the straight lines are in the imagination,
or “Re-construction” in our visual cortex in the brain.
So, I would say, this is our natural vision. = only the center of our eyes shows
straight line, and the both end of image, lines are converging = above, down ward,
below, up ward = you see —– or ARE you still clinging your illusion ?
Ha ha ha. I’m kidding. 😀
(In real life, if you see a straight line looked carved, you got to see a doctor.
Despite we definitely having blind-spot in each eyes, no body see any blank in
our vision, our brain re-configuring the visual signal perfect (well, more or less)
we see the straight building straight — in fact, what is “to see it as it is in open eyes”
a good question. 😀 )
[]
Hackspace
There is a gathering place and their work shop for the electronic hackers called
Hackspace in Hackney, London. —– Why Hackspace in Hackney may not have
any connection and I’m not interested in pun. 😀
And this evening, a group of enthusiast of Arduino (ready to use programmable
controller) demonstrate what he has done.
(A guy in the photo right was going to demonstrate how he programmed an
Arduino device to control his industrial robot)
(They got quite hefty collection of books which may cover all the question ! )
To deal with even the same electronics, there are hundred of different approaches.
Some are purely pursuit how the electronics work, others are to achieve the
purpose, by utilizing the electronics, electro-mechanics —– and to use it in
likely way to the most unlikely way etc etc. the possibilities are literally endless.
Other group, Dorkbot is a group using the electronics, electrics in rather strange way,
or they may say, more artistic way 😀 —– And I’m saying my sculptures are often
happen to move —– to make it, it often need to have a mechanism and its controller,
in most of the case it was done by the electro-mechanics. (It could be done with pure
clock-work as well though, it would be more time-consuming to make)
One of the largest group, this Hackspace are having 700 members and two floor
huge space in a building, of which basement is for storage and a GOOD workshop.
It seems, quite few heavy machineries were donated by the academic institute such as
Imperial College (when they got new one, old one has to go somewhere, anyway 🙂 )
And the place is 24 hours open for the members to use the space and work shop,
otherwise just come and chat ! —— for a monthly pay of £5 ~£15 depend on
how often you suppose to use. (Can you believe ! )
Their website is —– Hackspace (link)
[]
Beach Rose
I don’t think I need to show whole plant of this Rose as you can find them just round
a corner of street — with a sweet fragrance but having such dense sharp prickles.
I thought this rose, Rosa rugosa is a common rose in any sea coast in the northern
country though, it seems it was originated from east, and once introduced to the west,
it spread everywhere since, even they were classified as “Invasive plant” in the US.
[]
The reason why I thought they are common was that I was thinking their seed pod
(some people calls them “Sea tomato” ) was carried by the sea stream and spread
to other places. —– When I saw them first time in the northern Japan, where people
call them as Hamanasu or Hamanashi, I was overwhelmed by its impenetrable bush
spread on a sea side as far as I can see. Then, its sweet fragrance was embedded to my
subconscious alongside a Song “Shiretoko-Ryojo” (知床旅情／A memory in Shiretoko)
Since, I was on the way to Shiretoko Peninsula with the botanists who wants to see an
unique species of Violet only grow in a remote corner of that Peninsula.
[]
So that, when I saw this rose again on the shore of Helsingor, Denmark, just outside
of Kronborg Castle (famous for Hamlet) 33 years ago, its smell instantly took me
back into its old memory. ( Sigh ! How far, we have drifted —— 🙂 )
Though, in reality, her ancestor didn’t come riding on the wave, but travelled in a box.
( Not so romantic. How shame. 🙂 )
[]
Rare Earth Gig or Party ?
Last night, there was a gig or party in a corner of north London, somewhere
undisclosed address, having had 100 of the visitors. —– In fact, the place was
a disused office building occupied by 40 of the Artists or Musicians —– it was
said to be 37 people are living though, always having their friend etc staying,
so about 70 is the population there.
The performance was Experimental Jazz kind of live music and many
live DJs, mostly rather experimental techno kind —– still some were
quite danceable good beats, not just an out of rhythm loud noise.
So, I had an opportunity to have some rapid steps. 🙂
Those photos are for those who participated the performance, to download
and use for their own promotion, hence I didn’t put their names here.
Any how they are my friend’s friends etc.
The place is not only undisclosed, but officially not exists, hence it’s a kind
of a vacuum in the society = more likely in other planet. Some of residents
might have found a freedom and a free studio, free rehearsal, performance
space and some are just having a gap time in their life.
And as the Artists respects each others, despite its chaotic looks, it’s quite
relaxed nice atmosphere there ( — and the kitchen looks very clean !)
—– So, I might go back there again.
[]
Spanish Art
Last evening there was a PV of Spanish Artists’ Exhibition in Lewisham,
south London. —– Since when I was captivated by the Surrealism Art,
the images and the extraordinary creativity of the Spanish artists were
almost an enigma to me. I never be impressed by a twist of thinking kind,
but Spanish often conceive utterly inconceivable vision in their
subconscious, long before it become clear image.
So that, when I saw Sacra da Familia Church of Gaudi in Barcelona,
before my jaw dollop, my hair stood. = where imagination came from ? ?
—– The photo above is the typical sample of that kind. = What a hell !
(It didn’t resort any known figure or style still, utilizing the character
and the possibility of the material to fully express the image = if it was
a stone or wood carving, such wired distortion couldn’t be created !
— So, I bought one of black piece, second from the left on the photo 🙂 )
Photo left is a tree made by colourful fabric, so, it has flowers
and a bird on top and so on. = Rather stale staff though, as
it is colourful nice decoration, at least it was photogenic !
(Still, real tree in the nature teachs us 100 times more. 😀 )
Photo right was created by the same artist of top photo, Maria.
Strangely, I felt quite strong spirituality here. M m m m ???
(Something common with their traditional religious paintings)
As many of familiar faces there, some were not seen years, so, lots
of talking as well — they said there is a good Spanish wine though,
I don’t drink alcohol or plastic bottled water, —- I rather wished to
pick a grape or strawberry kind. 😉
Nevertheless, it was an interesting evening, worth visiting there.
[]
This is their Info’ :
—– The exhibition “Take It Or Leave It” organised by SAL
(Spanish Artists in London)
at the Art House Gallery, 140 Lewisham Way, London SE14-6PD.
Private view on the 29th of May from 7-9pm.
The exhibition opening dates & times are the following:
Wednesday-Sunday from 10-6pm
Friday 31st of May from 6-7pm special event with
invited musician Iggy Rathmann
Maria Alvarez Echenique, Trinidad Ball, Marisol Cavia,
Loli Cardenoso, Silvia Ramona Estevez,
Manuel Noguera & Natalia Rivero.
Curator Manuel Noguera has written about the exhibition:
“Their creations explore the incredible possibility of what their artistic
voices can say to others. They celebrate the diversity of the many ways
that creativity and artistry can be revealed to those who view them.
A voice that expresses our feelings through the work that we produce.
This voice is unique to each one of us. Our creations are expressions of
our concerns & beliefs, our fears, or our deepest hopes.
They represent a personal journey through life that uses a
universal language, art. —– Take it or Leave it.”
[]
Last event on Stubnitz
While I’m putting this post, the Ship Stubnitz is leaving Canary Wharf and taking
a voyage to Normandy, France.
So, the last night, there was a kind of noisy farewell party on the ship.
(I went there with my Sound-reactive Flushing Pendant. = one of my disco regalia. 🙂 )
It was called Algorave. And the Info’ here was copied from their web site.
[ Featuring Cursor Miner making dance music in the frequency domain, Ardisson augmenting his tb303
and tr606 acid house with gamelan, Alo Allik twisting his audio/visual algomusic into beat-driven techno,
Alexandra Cárdenas live coding minimal techno from supercollider impulses, Martin Klang making
Euclidean acid with hybrid digital/analogue algorithms, Shelly and some Mandelbrots uniting
Birmingham and Karlsruhe with three-way live coded house, and Meta-eX leading us into the night by
live hacking an extended build up with code and controllers..
plus algorave residents Slub (with guest Elvi$ Ca$h) and Sick Lincoln. ]
Some of their music creation were quite experimental (hence, not necessary natural to
a body to dance, or even impossible to follow.) 😀 and some were quite aggressive, still
good to dance. (Loud drumming doesn’t necessary mean strong beat. The matter is the
syncopation and minute gap, which gives instantaneous tension to the body movement.)
Live means, lots of adjustments, conjuring, connecting / disconnecting cable,
moment to moment on the spot, etc. etc. —– looks messy business. 😀
Any how, it was a very enjoyable vibrant evening.
(May be I was the one, dancing most.) 😀
Good luck to Algorave and the ship Stubnitz.
ZEN Photography
There was a very tricky question, what is Zen Photography.
Before talk about photo, what is Zen is harder enough.
Still, in few occasions, to see a photo — m m m ? !
THIS must be the Zen !
[]
The Matter is, how the visible image contains beyond of what it shows.
= How invisible, unknowable element has been captured in the photo !
Not a mere suggestive image but has overwhelming power of existence !
Which has been seen by the clear-eyes of Zen, and captured in Mushin.
= Mushin mean without a manipulative intention.
It is even better if it was in Ichijo with the subject, or the photographer
was completely absorbed by the subject.
And such photo starts to shows its own “raison d’ etre” as strong as the
existence of the subject itself, because the Dharma of the subject and
the Dharma of the photographer has been fused together, or in Ichijo.
[]
There are some different approach among the so-called Zen paintings.
Some did symbolical approach, such as a drawing of a Potato.
—– Humble, ubiquitous, utterly insignificant object, still, because it is
utterly insignificant, this could be the Universe or the Dharma.
But this is a very intellectual approach, expecting the viewer to see it
in Zen context. —– To convey this concept, may be it’s even better to
leave a paper blanc, hence, [nothing] could mean everything =
the whole Universe.
In the same time it would save a ink and a time, bother to draw anything. 😀
—– Something similar but different approach is, just one straight line or
a circle on the paper = in this case, it is not only a superimposed idea in
a drawn-line but the action to draw it, was the Zen.
[]
In the photography, the same symbolical approach wouldn’t necessary work.
A photo of one potato would leave little imagination of anything else.
It is just a potato = “Is this a symbol of Universe ? You got to be Joking” 😀
In the other-hand, photography is very easy to make an ambiguous
confusing image, by just make it out of focus, burred image or almost
disappearing over-exposure, under-exposure, even with multiple exposure,
and those vague image makes our brain to abandon to read the
meaning of the image, we were left in the blanc mind, wordless.
[]
Intellectual symbolism works in a way = “It shouldn’t be just a boring
Potato. It must be something behind, otherwise the painter wouldn’t have
worked to draw this”
In contrast, it is very difficult to see a meaning from a photograph,
since even in a photo with intentionally placed potato looks the same as
an accidental photo of potato. (Drawing wouldn’t be made without
intention, still, even an accidental click makes one photo. :-))
Unless the meaning was clear, we wouldn’t go behind and the graphical
digital manipulation of a photo would rarely convey this meaning,
because we see it only as a graphical purpose in after process, not in an
original meaning, unless the effect match the subject naturally.
[]
—– in the time of film photography, high-temperature development of
high-speed film created rough-grain photo which showed harsh reality such
as in Sebastiao Salgado’s photo, though, to mimicking the effect with digital
manipulation in high-contrast only creates irritating harsh image =
photo looks harsh but not necessary make the reality looks harsh !
In other words, superficial graphical effect doesn’t affect much to the
meaning of the photo, let alone in its spirituality. (In Paintings, spirituality
is relying on mostly in its narrative subject and our subconscious connect
it to a spiritual legend or feeling of owe = it’s in our imagination.
But in photography, it also emanated from its atmosphere or enigmatic
air which makes our perception suspicious.)
[]
Spirituality in the photography lies in either overwhelmingly
strong reality of the subject which provoke our imagination, or
ambiguous depth of air in the image which strikes our emotion.
Therefore, the Zen photography (visual, not a wishful conceptual photo,
which can hit a subconscious of the viewer, before reading brah brah)
exists in two different direction.
One is finely detailed photo of overwhelmingly heavy subject.
Other is a hint of rather humble object still having full of
ambiguous air. —– Either case, the photo will hit the viewer
straight, with the former, facing with overwhelming reality, owe
to the Dharma, the later, with its unknowable field of infinity.
In either case, we just abandon the thinking, standing alone
naked, dumbstruck.
This is the Zen Direct transmission.
[]
Spoooooky !
Last night I was invited to see huge art event somewhere in the south London
though, I can’t give any detail or location.
I only know this installation was created by an artist called Tea.
—— may be I can show a bit more photos and the details some time in future. 🙂
As a big event, many familiar faces are there. And an added surprise, I bumped a man
and a woman after 20 years rasp ! He was yet another disco-king in a local night club
where I was dubbed as ” Dancer in residents” 😀
And I knew the woman, also in there. They are married and now they are the mum and
dad of three boys —– It’s 20 years ! (So, they are the people who knows my dancing and
with an admiration to the Japanese spirit, they have chosen the name of their kids after
Japanese words ! ) —– I like this kind of sheer coincidence, with a smell of spookiness,
which can be described as an intervention of the Karma. 🙂
[]
Orange Blossom
This is a common garden plant / shrub, [ Choisya ternata].
Commonly known as Mexican Orange Blossom or just Orange blossom.
I don’t think I saw this in Japan when I was a kids —– seemed to came
there in the 70s and I have no idea when this plant came to England.
When I saw this flower first time, I wondered why this one got a name “Orange” ? ? ?
—– Flower looks similar to other Citrus plants though, I haven’t seen its “Orange” like fruits,
not only that, the leaf is completely different. ( Citrus has single leaf, not compound leaf).
Then, I remembered what Professor said = “To distinguish Citrus family is, whether the leaf
has oil-spot or not”, when I needed to take picture of Japanese [Sanshou] and not mistake it
with looks very similar plant [Inu-sanshou] (only genuine [Sanshou] has oil-spot on its leaf)
= like the yellowish small dots on the leaf = on the photo right.
[]
The oil-spot in Citrus family ( Rutaceae, in exact ) contain typically smelled chemical,
hence they has been used as a seasoning or flavouring in many countries. (On this occasion
I looked into Wiki and found that amazing spread of this “Spice” in many many region in the
world but very little in the west ! )
[]
Even in the same [Rutaceae] family, [Sanshou] or more commonly known [Szechuan pepper]
is completely different looks plant ( I never seen it in this country hence, no photo. — Wiki
got only a photo of the seeds ) — any how, in Japan, [Sanshou] is strangely exclusively used to
serve with eel ( Wu-nagi no Kabayaki 🙂 ) and such as in Thai cooking, I think their
“Tom-yam” and its distinctive flavour were given by this spice.
[]
The insects, especially the butterflies, their larvae eat exclusively one plant.
In Japan, Yellow Swallow-tailed Butterfly only eats this [Sanshou] leaves.
(And when those larvae of Butterfly was disterbed, they push-out a kind of tentacles out of
their body to spread the concentrated chemical they accumulated from eating the leaves
(and its oil-spot) to repel the attacker. (The smell is diabolical. It’s a chemical weapon. 😀 )
So that, when I saw Yellow Swallow-tailed Butterfly in this country (though, only once),
I astonished ” What a hell, where the [Sanshou] plant grow in this country ? ? ?”
—– I wonder is there any Butterfly who eat this Orange Blossom leaves in this country ? ? ?
[]
Yoshizen's Blog 
8 comments