ID ENTITY: Birth of the individual
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The Evolution of the Color Blue and Its Cultural Significance - exhibition text
Blue's Emergence
In the 12th century, blue became a color accepted on a similar footing with red, yellow and white. Previously, it had been less popular and had an ambivalent relationship with people in different areas of the world. The various pigments azurite and lapis lazuli could now be ground finer and finer.
Historical Transformation of Blue: Previous Ambiguity
Whereas blue had previously been a color associated with Celtic barbarians, who painted themselves blue when they went to war, or with the Nordic infidels, with the blue eyes, blue now reigned as the most popular color in art, and within clothing. It was now associated with the noble, fidelity, and peace. Blue also became the color that came to represent sadness, as can be seen, among other things, in depictions of Jesus' mother Mary's robes, in religious paintings.
Personal Experience
As a child, I repeatedly traveled to Ethiopia because my father lived and worked there as a restoration architect. Among other things, he was involved in the restoration of St George's church in Lalibela, a large church carved out of the ground, an experience of and with architecture that I associate with the most sacred in my upbringing. In these churches, I was also met with frescoes and icons in the early Coptic image and language tradition. It is this unique, standing face-to-face with something completely foreign, both linguistically and figuratively, that constantly fascinates me, and which invites me to build bridges between then and now.
The Renaissance and Beyond
The love of blue continued through the Renaissance, and it was the pigment Indigo that came to Europe in the 18th century, referred to as 'Indigomania', "crazy for blue".
In the 18th century, a German thinker wrote about the individual human being. He argued that human understanding is the source of the general laws of nature, as well as the structure of all our experiences. He also believed that human reason provides itself with the moral law for our basic belief in God, freedom, and immortality. Also, in the 18th century, several important works on color theory were written. Many of these works were written by people with backgrounds in the botanical world and showed their observations of the importance of color in pollination, attraction, and repulsion.
Exploring Innovative Concepts: German Writer's Inspiration
However, it is a German writer's thoughts on color polarity (in this case blue and orange) and the concept of 'active darkness' (which, at the time, in a revolutionary way referred to darkness being an active ingredient in the observation of color and not just a passive absence of light), which I have allowed myself to be inspired by.
19th Century Poetry
This 'active darkness' first described in the outer world is described in a different context by an early 19th century English poet in the inner world as a 'negative capability'. It is when one can be with uncertainties, mysteries, and doubts, without irritability reaching for 'reality and reason,' as aids or means of escape.
Symbolism of 'The Blue Flower'
Another German thinker and poet, with love for both the near and the far, described 'the blue flower' as a symbol of poetry which further became a characteristic of the early German romantics. Furthermore, the blue, as in sky and sea, is associated with the eternal, all the contradictions that structurally underlie the structure of this exhibition.
Diverse Concepts and Materials
I have found these different and poignant concepts, texts and materials, photography and photo-transfer, lime, wax, poetry, sound, repetition, braille, etc. attractive, as a platform for the images and the sound installation as a preparation and execution of ID Entity, but also for future exhibitions. In all the concepts, I keep finding more nuances that help me understand and deal with our times.
Exploring Contemporary Themes: The 'Selfie' Phenomenon
In addition, for the iconic aspect, I have used the term "selfie", which according to several studies - but not all - is connected with more or less extreme narcissism. This 'active darkness', to use a term that has already been described, is perhaps the tool needed to understand what happens between good and evil narcissism. This myth of Narcissus and Ekko, and especially Ekko's capacity for repetition, I have allowed myself to explore both visually and auditorily in the construction of the installation.
Balancing Complexity and Accessibility in the World of Art and Thought
Exploring the history of blue and its cultural significance reveals the eternal challenge of balancing complexity with clarity in art and thought. From its humble origins to profound symbolism, blue's journey mirrors the intricate interplay of ideas within the history of thoughts and art.
In the 18th century, German philosophy pondered human understanding, while 19th-century English poetry spoke of 'negative capability' and 'the blue flower,' bridging inner and outer worlds. Personal experiences, like encounters with Ethiopian architecture, fostered connections between my past and my present.
In the contemporary realm, 'selfies' and the concept of 'active darkness' prompt reflections on narcissism's spectrum. The myth of Narcissus and Ekko, with its echoes, or repetitions, engages both sight and sound.
Diverse concepts and materials enrich creative expression. From photography to poetry, these nuances illuminate our modern era, challenging us to find meaning in complexity while embracing art's power to illuminate the human condition, individually and on a collective level. In the world of art and thought, it's the delicate dance between contrasting forces that seems to yield profound insights.
©️ Camilla Howalt
>> Detail of ID identy, 2017 - Photography / Stickers / Paint / Wax / Poetry / Soundscape Installation View of ID Entity by Camilla Howalt - Installation view photos by Anders Beier Photography
