It was here that I saw in person some of the most incredible art I had ever seen...the photographs of the German photographer Karl Blossfeldt. What made it so incredible was that it was simply close up photographs of nature, showing incredible structure and beautiful lines. Even more incredible was the homemade techniques he used way back in the day. Some of the shots for you...
For more images follow this link...
What struck me was something I often think about when strolling in the park or more often than not driving along, is just how beautiful the natural world can be without our intervention. As a bonsai artist, sometimes it strikes me as very arrogant to think I can improve on what is naturally incredibly interesting and aesthetically pleasing. Other times it strikes me as very reassuring to be in constant contact with the natural world, just being in the garden and looking at the day to day development of the trees is plenty to please the aesthete in me.
Makes you think doesn't it...and as some other German bloke once said...
"We have to remember that what we observe is not nature herself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning"
Musing on beauty - a fine way to spend sunday. I wonder if all that is London acts as yin, to bonsai as yang. If true, the Londoner has an advantage over his northern cousins in developing trees in interesting and beautiful new directions, until the pollution kills them :)
ReplyDeleteVery interesting and nice gallery website.
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