""Unknown desires""
That expression flashed across my mind when I wrote the invitation for the open-house days at my studio.
"From what remote days of yore, unto me comest thou ever closer ." wrote R. Tagore.
How long the patience and unknown the desires I had to thrust my way through : my sculpture,
but a never-ending and noiseless dance, but a frail rejuvenation of my living aspirations, a burning,
the very moving move of life itself .
As for the exact context of my expression : I had read it in a poem by Lorand Gaspar, and had in mind
poet Philippe Jaccottet's confession in his book of collected poems ("Ce peu de bruits"):
"The older I get, the more ignorant I become; the longer the life I had, the lesser my knowledge
and the lesser my reign."
With age, growing knowledge means growing ignorance; desires themselves are gradually dug into pits
of unknown, and wrapped with mystery : contrary to what they are in infancy and youth,
desires cease being focussed on such need, such missing thing. |
d'une nuit sans fond h.36cm 97
salves d'avenir L.37cm 82
|
|
Indeed they still cling to such or such presence, such or such beauty, such an object, a place;
but although such focuses and polarities go on being developed, it must be acknowledged that the share
of the "indefinite" amplifying my desires, my aspirations, my dreams, my memories etc
grows in importance and intensity.
We might, for instance, speak of absolute in the field of knowledge and in that of desire
(after the pattern of the saying : "if youth but knew, if old age but could") :
youth will believe in the existence of God or will decide on the contrary;
old age will be beyond such cleaving. Youth will indulge in an absolute or reject it;
old age will relish on life's being so much broader and complex, hence so much more precious.
An other example : whereas old age will get attached to such or such face, it will yet avow
that the latter cannot be grasped and remains beyond reach. Old age's liking for that presence
grows with its guessing the share of unknown in it and with its longing for it.
(Translated by Michèle Bustros) |
