Musings, and more tea.

I have been doing what i do best: drinking too much tea, tossing thoughts around like confetti.... idle musings that will somehow, more often than not, eventually transform themselves into something quite magical and productive. We hope.

My Tuesday musings:

. The photography of Lewis Carroll (or The Rev. Charles L. Dodgson, whichever you prefer)

. Rabbits; the loss of, the art of, the love of all things bunny.

. The music that infiltrates my imaginary worlds.

. A book, of magic.

. And Tea.

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So, i will begin with the Carroll Photographs, and the book that i still need to buy.

My thoughts?
I love them, of course. And yet i am somewhat disturbed by the controversy that occasionally surrounds this mans work and his adoration of children.
Do i think that there is anything essentially wrong with these images?
Certainly not.
To me, they are extremely beautiful, innocent, precious, and insightful.
When viewing Dodgson's images of children, i get the feeling that i am truly looking into another world, regardless of the date they were taken, the distance in time between my perusal of them and the actual events and 'scenes' depicted.
I sense a quest, a search for what it truly means to be a child. No banal smiles adorn the faces of his subjects, nor do they appear to delight in the fact that they are being photographed (ie. playing up for the camera). They are quite unlike any other portraits of children that i have ever seen.

His subjects appear almost detached from the photographer : as if they are just a little too relaxed, disinterested, perhaps, or simply so used to his presence that they have almost forgotten he is there. Their poses are often dramatic, romantic, whimsical....surreal. The children seem to have secret understanding of what the photographer seeks to capture...the ethereal, fleeting, and above all - the mysterious nature of childhood itself.
The children are seemingly introspective. They appear to have secrets, a storehouse of knowledge that they do not intend to share. They allow us to take a peek into their curious, private little worlds, only to withdraw immediately, coinciding at that very point where our adult understanding has reached its own, paticular limits. For this reason, they fascinate me, endlessly, almost as much as his stories.

I may very well be wrong in my 'reading' of these pictures, but this is how they make me feel, just my own particular interpretation, so feel free to disagree, of course!

And thankyou, kindly, to the wonderful creator of the Curiosities for scanning and sending these images my way:)
And i know that i have surely mentioned it before, but you really must see this site, not least because Lord Ogglesworth (a rather dapper owl in a top hat) will personally answer all of your burning philosophical questions via email request. I tried him just last month, and i can proudly report that my life has taken a decidedly knowledgeable turn for the better:)

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The Rabbits.
They're everywhere. I didn't quite know just how everywhere they truly were until somebody mentioned it to me, like

"Hey, Louise, what's with all the rabbits, hoh?"

My answer could be taken like this -

My Rainy Day Rabbits

 

They just happen.
And i'm mighty glad they do!
I particularly love the little one at the back here. She seems to be the only one who has any concern for the absconding umbrellas.
A little secret - their eyes are all my own. Except ultra blue, because mine are merely a basic kinda blue. I keep doing this; putting images of my own eyes into my collages. Surely there is a psychobabble-able theory about this lying around somewhere, but if you find it, i don't wanna know!

The first and last time that i actually shared my life with a real rabbit was when i was eight years old. We lived on a farm, so there was a menagerie going on, much to the consternation of my poor mother, who complained eternally about us never having the free time to take proper holidays, like 'ordinary' people. Well, my rabbit, Misty she was called, came to a horrifyingly untimely end between the jaws of our semi-domesticated tom cat, kitty (originale!). I used to have an old Polaroid image of me holding her on my knee, which was very dear to me, but i lost it some time ago, sadly.
But no, i dare say my rabbit obsession does not spring from unresolved grief.
We had so many animal friends that i was quite accustomed to their lamentable short-gevity by the age of about four.

So perhaps it came from elsewhere.....the great elsewhere that i use to explain pretty much most of my strange art. But as long as it keeps me happy......

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The music that illustrates my imaginary worlds?

Try this, and im rather partial to a bit of Saint Saens too, especially his Danse Macabre.

And speaking of the musically inspired....

Twilight Symphony 1 & 2

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And finally, the book of magic!
This, poorly translated, involves my collaboration with the beautiful Marinkel (Maren), a sweet (yet darkly) illustrated book of fiction, Tapestries.

A painfully haunting yet perfectly beautiful story about a young girl called Aurelie, and her curious relationship with Chione, a forgotten, antique doll that Aurelie accidentally discovers whilst sneaking around inside of her mothers old armoire.
Why should you read it?
Well, Chione is actually conscious, endowed with perfectly tuned vocal chords, and has something to reveal to Aurelie that will change her life forever.
And also you should read it because it is a damn fine work of art!

Oh, and i am 'Estrella' by the way:)

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And now, the aforementioned Tea.
I must go and make some!

This post turned out to be ever-so-slightly longer than anticipated. 
I apologise to each and every one of your eyeballs in advance.
When i start to waffle, i really do waffle.

Enjoy your evening!   

xxx

My favourite work by Julie Morstad.

Comments

[Your Gracious Host]

To carry over a theme from your last post, I don't think you can read those Carroll photos wrong--whatever they mean to you, they mean to you. I agree with your interpretations, regardless. Obviously, it must be something to do with the era...the general nature of the children of that time, not to mention that photographs weren't something you simply tacked on your refrigerator. They were like paintings and probably accorded a more serious disposition than snapshots do today (like, say...outrageously happy children posing with Christmas presents...). But, primarily, the thing that shines through more than anything else is the inner life of these children! Especially when you look at the whole collection, you see this amazing capacity for introspection and a willingness to not "ham it up" but to commit to the idea of whatever Carroll is trying to capture. And, I agree that it says something about the childrens' comfort with him and their ability to be as natural as possible in his presence. The commentary in that particular book is interesting for what it illuminates about Victorian photography and the Victorian mindset which could bring a sense of imagination to the photographs...filling in the blanks where modern minds often need to have the blanks filled in for them. I don't know, I feel you've already said it all much better.

Those Twilight Symphonies are amazingly evocative! Speaking of Dodgson, I'm sure it wouldn't be far-fetched to imagine him conjuring up like visions in a laudanum-induced reverie.

Conrgats to you and Maren! I will most definitely have to make my way over to lulu and grab a copy for myself in the near future. Oh, and Lord Ogglesworth would like to state that he is not to be held responsible for advice-taken-but-gone-bad. Soothsaying is not an exact science.

[Gillian]

What a wonderful post! The Lewis Carroll book has been on my wish list forever. Luckily the art college had a copy in the library. It was a real inspiration for my costume design project for 'Cautionary Tales for children' by Hilaire Belloc. I adore victorian and edwardian photography of children. The sullen and serious faces which seem to have a life time of wisdom behind the eyes. That is how I always interpreted them.

The book looks incredible, I shall have to consider a purchase. Your post reminded me of a book I has as a child - 'Bella' about a couple of children who find a doll with a tragic story behind it's history, the doll appears to come alive and the whole story is so terrifying it really used to give me nightmares! So my parents gave it away. Now of course I would love to read that book but I can't remember the name of the author and I simply have not been able to find a copy. Oh if only I had kept it!

[juju]

I love your work! I'm linking to you in my blog today!

[Marjorie]

I love Lewis Carroll's images....I also love, love, love Julia Margaret Cameron...have you ever seen her work? Pre-Raphaelite photography ...oh my! For a very long time ( in my late teens and early 20's I was ALL about the Pre-Raphaelites and they are still close in my heart, like a group of familiar uncles...and aunts, we mustn't forget dear Lizzie and Jane!) : )

I have a tendency to drink far to much tea, as well...my only problem is that I always feel tea should be accompanied by a chunk of dark chocolate or a cookie! : )

[stilettoheights]

I want that Tapestries book!!! ok, I need to save up for it...congrats it looks and sounds wonderful, wonderful!!!!!!!!

xoxoxoxoxoxo

[KiWi]

Like Diane Arbus' work, there is something disquieting about Carroll's pictures of those sisters. You can't put your finger on it exactly but there is something there...something haunted.
Your work has a similar quality.

[Maren]

you must be the goddess ostera is all, in her hare-y disguise. she is very fast dashing across the fields in spring. maybe sometimes she stops to smell a tulip or something if she has the time... :)
and thank you so much for promoting our collaboration and the beautiful description of the story. i could never quite summarize it! if i ever buy the isbn number thingie you will have to write our press release!

that drawing is wonderful i agree, and so perfect, haha, must be you and your friends after all those cups of tea! and could be me too, cause i love to collect tea cups. big ones with pretty decoration on them and a handle that is big enough so my finger doesn't get stuck in it!

i love your musical illustrations of how the moon jumped over the tree and the umbrella flew over the house. though this blasted pc doesn't have a speaker i can imagine the sounds...

xoxo

[Kim Wlassak / Garden Painter Art - gnarly-dolls]

Now I'm a little confused. I was sure that I posted here earlier today, but alas, I can't seem to find it.

Basically, I just wanted to say thanks for stopping by my blog today and that I love your new rabbits. The eyes are chilling!

I also wanted to let you know that in my Monday, April 16 post, I introduced you as one of my "groovy artist friends". I hope that's okay. I linked your blog also. I just thought I should tell on myself. Hope you don't mind the link.

Thanks:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls

[Museum of Fire]

Far more musing than my poor head can follow! But let's try...

Your reading of Carroll's images seems eminently insightful, and far more eloquently rendered than I could muster. It seems somewhat perplexing that controversy would follow, but such misunderstanding seems so often the case when adolescence is involved.

Artists still seem to find it a difficult area to explore without some fairly heated reaction - a recent discussion [www.flickr.com/groups/utata/discuss/72157594569346677] I came across about the work of Australian photographer Bill Henson [www.roslynoxley9.com.au/artists/18/Bill_Henson] a case in point. That so much vitriol can arise with such little interest in understanding intent or considering the actual artwork itself is quite saddening.

And bunnies! I think they've always been everywhere, it's just a case of how much one then notices (or conjures) them. I recently decided to give in and, in the space of two days [www.flickr.com/photos/benjaminmillar/sets/72157600060829724]... well they certainly ain't shy. None nearly as cute as your Rainy Day Rabbits mind.

And then... such uplifting music the Twilight Symphony promise, rasberry kisses and cellos afloat.

I'm a little afeared as to a tale that twists Maren's wonderful words with Estrella's imageristic delights, but in a goodly way that makes it a must to see and devour, bit by bit.

About tea there's little to add but a quiet and satisfied slurp.

*And sorry about those ugly links, apparently html is a comment no-no.*

[LuLu]

Your incredible words and images have torn me out of an a creativity drought which has been hanging on far too long!!! Could it perhaps have been the collision of two bunny muses? There is something otherworldly about these little creatures... Many thanks for your push of inspiration.... and i've already ordered your book....LuLu

[Marie]

Oh I do love visiting your world. Wonderful imagery, beautiful thoughts. Your book is on my wish list!

[sadira]

I love the Carroll pictures, and must check that book out soon...And the rabbits? How can one have too many sweet dressed rabbits? That is why I am giving one of your lovely prints to my mother for mother's day...she is dearly in love with bunnies in clothing...And your Twilight Symphonies? Just amazing!

[esta sketch]

Someone already mentioned Bill Henson but another couple of artists this post reminded me of are Sally Mann and Polixeni Papapetrou. They both use their own children as subjects and have some really beautiful images. Some can be seen as just photographs of children innocently playing, and some seem a little more complicated than that, a bit like Carroll's work. Polixeni has some really great ones... there's one series based on alice in wonderland, where she uses her daughter to play the role of alice. it's fairly innocent and playful, then there's another series about stories of missing children, where she's again used her own child but to portray children who went missing without a trace and who probably met some really dark, horrible end. spooky, but interesting nonetheless.

anyway, sorry if you've seen all these before but i can't resist a bit of art theory!

[dollseye]

I enjoyed reading your thoughts here. There's no chance of me having any issues with Carroll's images as two of my favourite artists are Gottfried Helnwein and Trevor Brown. Helnwein most of all, though I find Brown's work interesting too.