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Sun Tzu-Nami
is about the plight of the modern day craft artist (among other purely
aesthetic aspects and ideologies). Sun Tzu is the Chinese
philosopher who compiled the book that is referred to as The Art of War,
which is a collection of the writings of many Chinese martial artists. I
take the liberty here of adding parenthetically my thoughts to some quotes
from the book as they may apply to my way of thinking about craft art over
a period of thirty years of practice.
…It is a matter of life and death, a road either to
safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry, which can on no
account be neglected.
…Earth (water, air, and fire) comprises distances,
great and small; danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; the
chances of life and death (the possibilities of wonder or missed
opportunity, etc.)…
…The Commander (artist-craftsman) stands for the
virtues of wisdom, sincerity, benevolence, courage and strictness
(discipline of craft, etc.)…
Tsunami is the second part of the title's neologism.
Tsunami refers to the awesome, beautiful powers of nature. Therefore the
title Sun Tzu-Nami , referring to the strategies of working
with the material and the attitudes/ideologies which must be applied and
respected.
I've always admired Reuben Nakian's sculpture titled
Olympia , which deals with other subject matter but is related
formally to this piece, offering inspiration regarding balance and
proportion in sculpture. |
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