Still Water

This is from a short article in today's newspaper.

"In this exhibition of photographs, 'Waterborne', Vivek Mathew reveals a discerning eye which brings to focus things which are ordinary, yet beautiful. As the title of his current show suggests, Vivek tackles the theme of water in an absorbing manner. In here, one sees still as well as smoothly flowing water in tanks and ponds, besides some interesting moments of monsoon."

"Reflections of trees, houses, railings, electric towers, and stonewalls; diagonal and circular ripples, and criss-crossing pathways in open fields are not missed. In a stark street scene, the rear wheel of a bicycle casting its shadow on a soggy road tells its own story."

"'In these pictures shot in and around Bangalore, Kolkata, Srirangapatna, and the Nilgiris, I have tried to weave interesting stories,' says Vivek. Sighting ripples, patterns, reflections and refractions, I try to turn very mundane situations in to moments of rarity."

Vivek illustrates the following points in my previous post (just minutes ago ... I was amazed to see this right after I posted that!):

When we experience at this level, each event marker and object have the potential to be priceless. We will not run after events and objects but focus on improving the experience of the events/objects that comes along and also the events that we create.

• Experiencing the space in a room, not the wall/things on the wall
• Experiencing the space in the music, not just the notes (get in to the same space as the composer)
• Looking through the window, than at the window
• Realizing that to hold a prisoner we need the bars in a prison cell, but more importantly the space between the bars (if the bars were too close together, there will be no cell)

You can only point to the space, not grab hold of it. Space is deeply personal and experiential, you can't describe it fully ... just some attributes. We may not be aware of all the dimensions of the experience ourselves, let alone describe it to others. When we find and connect to this space, the whole Universe comes alive ... we experience everything as if for the first time ... in richer and more vibrant color. (as in Vivek's photos)

This "space" is 99% of creation ... our potential ... and the events, just 1% ... our current reality. Just like the bars in a prison cell occupying 1% of the space and the space itself occupying 99%.

This then is the (invisible) secret to creativity, innovation and a joyful life.

If you see this post by Nov 29 2007, you can catch Vivek's exhibition at Industree, 16 'C' Main, 4th Block, Koramangala, Bangalore. Ph: 4121.7516, 93413.12147 Also, here is a link to Vivek's website: http://www.vmimages.org/fine02.htm