Thinking about locations specific and/or personal to me. Where do i feel most connected? Most present? Most at peace? Or most at conflict? What locations give rise to strong overwhelming emotions or thoughts?
When seeking solitude, rest, regeneration.. I always go to the beach. Not a specific beach, any beach, anywhere. There is something about the expanse, the sounds of the ever moving water- still or chaotic, that calms me. It is almost like a cleansing or detoxification, allowing me space to reflect and think clearly about anything. It gives me head space, and space to breathe. Ive always found this sort of environment therapeutic: the sounds, smells, sensations, views- it makes me feel alive and free.
Thinking deeper about this, why I am so drawn to this location, why it makes me feel this way, I embarked on an investigation. Jumping from word to word, using automatic writing, discovering myself- in a sense- through this journey of writing.
I began thinking about the word EXPANSE- what does that really mean? What does it signify? Why is it relative? My point of focus became the Horizon- the line between sea and sky, the distinct difference between places, spaces, and elements. This line helps us to differentiate and make sense of what we see in the distance. It gives us a sense of location, a sense of belonging to where we stand in that particular moment.
Going deeper, the horizon is technically both a place, and a non place. It exists but doesn’t. It’s a structure created in our minds to understand our perception. In our brains it exists as a place, it is a location because we can see it in the distance. Without it we would not be able to differentiate between two places, our view would continue infinitely. No distinctions, just a blur of colour.
I began thinking of words that relate to the horizon… SEMPITERNITY, EXPANSE, INFINITY…
Thinking about this visually, I proceeded to play with photography- using my body and movement to demonstrate these words. In such a way, these photographs also demonstrate my relationship tot his place, my belonging and my connections to the location, and the horizon.
Sitting in my location of choice for a series of early sunrise mornings, I wrote whatever came to my mind.
29th October 2019, 7 am: cold sharp biting breeze waves crash and lap and dance millions of white horses stallions racing morning stillness interrupted crashing movement in stillness calm yet manic continuous movement peace reassurance memories dreams
30th October 2019, 7:15am : biting cold, waves washing onto the shore, distant rattling up close up thigh dangling legs waving bantering boxing gloves boxing ears Boxing Day spreading cold spreading icing sugar dancing grass waving planted in sand howling battering stone cold.
The place at the end of the city, end of the tracks, between land and sky. Horizons beyond infinity.
Experimenting with sandblasting glass as a new creative method, I took inspiration again from the horizon. Producing three pieces of glass that each demonstrate the horizon, the sunset/sunrise in simple blocks. Put together, these pieces resemble an abstract painting potentially inspired by the likes of Picasso or Klee. Separately they became tools. Looking glasses through to the horizon. I took these pieces tot he same location, and places them in line with the line of the horizon. There are two versions of each image, as during the time i was there the sun was setting, drastically changing the effect of light in the photographs. I personally like this surprise change, as it demonstrates how the horizon line remains constant in an environment that is ever changing. Every second the wind blows the sand in a different direction, the waters of the sea are constantly moving, waves are crashing, clouds are moving… footprints are left and washed away, fires are burned and turn to ash, which is in turn blown away. Through this constant change, there is a fixed line. I like to see this as a metaphor for life- more specifically the idea of time within life. Our lives are constantly changing, and nothing stays the same in any sense. Time is a continuum, yet time remains constant. Days, weeks, months and years show us many different events, relationships, meetings, experiences- yet we will always have that calendar structure, our own timeline.
Caitlin Noble 