February 28, 2004
Stephen David Ross Interview#9
The nineth part of the interview with Stephen David Ross conducted by Rick over at Artriftis a series of quotes about beauty and judgement. I did not really understand them, other than tograsp ay that beauty is at odds with making distinctions.
What came into my mind when I read the Ross quotes was the new Parliament House in Canberra. Why? I'm not sure. Maybe because it is a beautiful place.
It is full of fluorescent light, vast spaces, long corridors punctured by light galleries, vast parquetry floors in canyons of space. it is lifeless but beautifully designed. Art works are everywhere and these are not just the row of portraits in oils of past male politicians. There were some Bill Henson' similar to this moody romantic image:
Bill Henson Untitled no 99, 1983-84
It is supposed to be a beautiful place. Ross's words 'beauty knows nothing of estimating judgment' made no sense. This beautiful place was dead---the emptiness of the avoidance of human contact and interaction. The only place of human communion as a coffee shop. You cannot help make the judgement and compare it to the human life of old Parliament House.
Should not beauty affirm life? Is not what affirm life good and what stunts life bad?
Posted by Gary Sauer-Thompson at February 28, 2004 11:58 PM | TrackBack