Abstraction: a New Wild Web
Shin Swirl, Peg Elefant. Postcard size.I am exploring the world of abstract art. The MINIS! are a beginning. Portraits and landscapes have been my thing for years. The question: what can be different? Hebrew letters, as symbols intrigue me—each letter has a story. How do the letters compel us – to thought? To deed? What a shin ש or dalet ד is for me might be merely a representation of sound for someone else.
The Hebrew letters are becoming a series, a focus.
What is shin ש? The ש draws me in while I paint. What a particular ש does for the viewer, who knows? A ש can be many things.
One Rabbi says, “The three lines of the shin may be interpreted as three general dimensions of a human being: Kesser (will and pleasure), the intellect, and the emotions. In addition, the entire shin can represent just one of these dimensions, with each of the three lines symbolizing a subdivision of that dimension. In the case of Kesser, Kesser is that which exists beyond the intellect—the dimension of the suprarational; the will and pleasure of the King. The gematria of Kesser is 620. When the shin is represented as Kesser, 620 rays of light are imparted to the world through the three literal lines—or channels—of the shin. These rays are bestowed on the world through the right line, which is kindness; the left line, which is justice; and the centerline, mercy.
What’s next? How about the Dalet ד ?
What is ד? A door frame. To what? To whom? To where? What is on the other side? Which side? ד can be many things.
One Rabbi says, “The Talmud1 tells us that the dalet represents the poor person. Thus the phrase gomel dalim: the benefactor who gives to the beneficiary.The Talmud also tells us that when we observe the shape of the dalet, its single leg stretches toward the right—in the direction of the gimmel. This teaches the poor person that he has to make himself available to receive the charity of the benefactor. Similarly, the small extension on the right-hand side of the dalet’s horizontal bar looks like an ear, for the pauper must always be listening for the presence of the wealthy man. However the left side of this bar doesn’t confront the gimmel, the giver, but faces left, toward the letter hei, which represents G‑d. This instructs us that we must give charity discretely and not embarrass the poor person. The pauper must put his faith in G‑d, Who is the ultimate Giver of the universe.”
Because I am intrigued by symbols, multiple interpretations, innovations, and possibilities, I’m going to continue down the abstract spider web for a bit.
Some abstract art I hate and love; sometimes both:
Jackson Pollack intrigues me, just not his art! His work makes me dizzy.
I love Linda James’ abstract landscapes. I want to melt right into them.
Hilma Af Klint: until the 2018 Guggenheim exhibit, SHE was overlooked. I won’t ever imitate her, but she’s intriguing. Watch this video from the Guggenheim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHdud9km7bQ
