Friday, June 26, 2020

the poetics of space

We think we know ourselves but all we know is a sequence of fixations in the spaces of our being.
In order to analyze ourselves we need to put our important memories on the plane of daydream.
Memory is a strange thing.
Memories are motionless.
The more securely they are fixed in space, the sounder they are.
Space - not time - is important.
The unconscious is housed in the space of its own happiness.

Think of your intimate inner spaces as if a map.
Like a drawing that is not exact.
Psychic weight is dominant in this domain.
The real houses of memory are not able to be described, they are so intimate
Just mention them and you are set on the threshold of your daydream.
You find repose there.
All we communicate to others is an orientation towards a secret,
without ever being able to tell the secret.
The great function of poetry is to give us back the situation of our dreams.

Gaston Bachelard

8 comments:

Mo Crow said...

(((Judy))) these well wrought words combined with your beautiful textures are the best soul food

Els said...

love how it ripples on and on and on

Camilla G. said...

And I love the soft colours. And the word “repose” in the text. Is this one continuous quote Judy?

Judy Martin said...

Camilla, no it is not one continuous quote. When I read a book, I take notes along the way by quoting exact words, but I leave out a lot. So this is abbreviated and in one place, paraphrased. I found it in a 2008 journal, and it seemed to resonate with the large empty yet full spaces within this new work. The Poetics of Space by Gaston Bachelard, a book I return to often. Xx

Judy Martin said...

It’s a large square, Els, and is the size of my home studio design wall. Nearly 80” . I put it aside for two months and brought it out again to finish. Xx

Judy Martin said...

Thank you sweetheart. A new title is emerging that includes the words divine and earth. Xx

Camilla G. said...

Thanks. Will look for it. I’ve copied this text for further pondering.

Mary Ryan said...

Very beautiful written thoughts. Thank you for sharing