Make / With

 "A mans power to connect his thought with its proper symbol, and so utter it." R.W.E

Make/ With is the first of a series of 'doings'. Generating modes of entering, engaging and responding to theory, it becomes a way of mediating by way of making. A way of looking both inwards and outwards simultaneously by engaging with both tangible and intangible worlds.

The world of appearances, materials, symbols, things,

                                                                                       the world in which we,

                                            

                                                                        as intangible beings,

                                                                                                exist.

And the world of thought,

                            feelings and attractions, instincts and nuances.

                                                                                                And how the two feed into one another.

We use the outer/ exterior world to embellish and articulate the invisible laws that construct the essence of life. Or rather, the intangible becomes tangible through the manifestation of an embodied symbol. We use this materiality to converse with, to engage with the spiritual truths that inform the appearance of life.

The world is but a language.

"It is not only words that emblematic; it is Things which are emblematic.

Every natural fact is a symbol of some spiritual fact. Every appearance in nature corresponds to some state of mind, and that state of mind can only be described by presenting that natural appearance as its picture.

An enraged man is a lion, a cunning man is a fox, a firm man is a rock, and a learned man a torch. A lamb is innocence; a snake is subtle spite; and flowers express to us delicate affections... Man is an analogist, as he studies relations in all objects." Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays on Language and Nature, 1836

Using this study of relations between material facts and symbolic facts, the exercise unfolds as follows.

Assignment:

- Draw up a list of intangible concepts or ideas (for e.g. Purity). This must be autonomous, flowing freely from your immediate memory.

- Draw up another list alongside the first intangibles, quickly using simple associative linkages, list a tangible material that could be used to metaphorically represent/ reproduce these ideas or concepts in more concrete form ( for e.g. Purity = the colour white).

- Cut up one of the lists and place the ingredients in the box of chance.

- Draw out one tangible per intangible. Place the words alongside one another, creating a new list of pairs. They will/ should be completely dissociated, the more awkward the better.

- Select a handful and attempt to make (the intangible) with (the tangible).

P.s. I would absolutely LOVE it if anyone had the time to do Make/ With. It would be really interesting to see a variety of responses to this exercise. Please contact me if you want to participate and I'll send you a tangible/ intangible to make... x