Notes from Visual Diary
I did some research and made some notes in my visual diary to prompt some ideas.around making forms (abstracted ones). Thinking of ideas of ancient relics and/or vessels and symbology associated with water and if there is anything I might find to influence something I make. I wanted to explore the idea of the human body being a vessel. I thought about Venus figurines because of their ancient origins as representations of humans. This seemed relevant because water is ancient and algae is ancient so perhaps it makes sense to draw from something ancient of humans. I wondered if there was a way I could abstract the shapes of the figurines to create forms that embodied the connectivity of vessels through water over periods of time.
Venus figurines
Probably considered quite “snore” to look at but I have been fascinated by Venus figurines since seeing them in Claudia Pond Eyley’s work when I was in high school, namely her work Shield For Ancient Mothers (1983).
One of the Venus figurines I looked at was Dolni Vestonice, a ceramic statue dated between 29,000 BC and 25,000 BCE. It was found in the Czech Republic in 1925 and is one of the oldest known ceramic pieces in the world. Numerous figurines have similar traits, such as large breasts, wide hips, rounded buttocks and abdomen. Some of the figurines have quite exaggerated genitalia. They have largely been thought to be symbols of beauty and fertility. However, more recent studies have suggested that they may have been created to bring abundance or bring hope of abundance with their representation of a well-nourished obese or pregnant woman. A means to provide strength in motherhood and surviving extreme adverse situations. The abundance would have required water for crops of food. Sources to bring about nutrition for such a figure. One that is healthy and the perfect vessel to grow and nurture new life in a time when glaciers were advancing, and food was scarce. There is connectivity with females being sacred vessels and again that the human body are vessels which are made up of approximately 80% water.
I then wanted to establish if there is any connection between water and the Venus figurines in any symbology. My research about Venus figurines and water lead me to artist Raissa Bailey. Bailey’s work focuses on human evolution and consciousness. She explores connections between spirituality and the I-Ching (Book of Changes) and palaeolithic Venus figurines. Bailey noted links with symbology such as the way the water symbol, Kan, could become the abstraction of the Venus of Hohle Fels. Kan is a symbol made up of Yin (2 short lines), a Yang (a long line) and Yin (2 short lines). This matches the two breasts (Yin), stomach (Yang), Legs/genitalia (Yin).
I Ching
I Ching was developed in ancient China. People sought guidance through observing signs, interpreting symbols and consulting oracles. I-Ching dates back to the 8th century BC in the Shang Period and after oracle bones. Based on Yin and Yang which are two natural forces which are complimentary and contradictory. Yin are female energies and Yang are masculine energies. Yin is receptive and Yan is action.
Water Glyphs
I also researched the water glyphs that are carved into rocks in the American Southwest. They are thought to be approximately 2,000 years old and are usually 48” long and 24” wide. They are usually comprised of an ellipse, a line and a dot.
Deuterium notes
Deuterium is a stable isotope of hydrogen. It is found in water and is called heavy water. It is made up of a proton, a neutron and an electron. It is used to identify the origins of things and migration patterns. It is like a fingerprint and can be traced by concentration levels. “Living beings ingest water molecules which have a natural deuterium signature or “fingerprint” reflecting the water source. The isotope signature makes its way up the food web and can be found in the organic materials of different species” (Data, 2023)
Screenshot Note
What is Deuterium? (2023) Puja Daya. Retrieved 4 August 2023from https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/what-is-deuterium#:~:text=Living%20beings%20ingest%20water%20molecules,organic%20materials%20of%20different%20species.
*Format reference
Water in different altitude have different levels of deuterium (higher altitudes are lower in Deuterium. I find this quite and interesting molecule.
Studies suggest 30% to 50% of water on earth predates our solar system and the sun and it's thought that deuterium is responsible for enabling water to exist on the planet. I don't understand that science but studies of planet and its creation by scientists test say this may be the case. This is something I can research further if I include the deuterium in some contextual aspect of my work.
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Claudia Pond Eyeley
Shield For Ancient Mothers.
Acrylic and paper collage on canvas
1983. 1020x1003
https://www.claudiapondeyley.com/shields.htm
