First heard David Byrne & Anna Calvi's version on KCRW, found out it is a cover of Keren Ann. And not of Marianne Faithfull's "Strange Weather", which is beautiful too...
David Byrne & Anna Calvi:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylBZmqY0Oag
Marianne Faithfull:
http://grooveshark.com/s/Strange+Weather+Live/3jrLql?src=5
Keren Ann:
http://grooveshark.com/s/Strange+Weather/4MC1o4?src=5
Monday, 23 February 2015
Sunday, 22 February 2015
Michael Ondaatje - "Anil's Ghost"
"Coomaraswamy points out that before eyes are painted there is just a lump of metal or stone. But after this act, "it is thenceforward A God." ... There is a ceremony to prepare the arficer during the night before he paints. You realize, he is brought in only to paint the eyes on the Buddha image. The eyes must be painted in the morning, at five. The hour the Budha attained enlightment. The ceremonies therefore begin the night before, with recitations and decorations in the temples.
"Without the eyes there is not just blindness, there is nothing. There is no existence. The artificer brings to life sight and truth and presence. Later he will be honoured with gifts. Lands or oxen. He enters the temple doors. He is dressed like a prince, with jewellery, a sword at his waist, lace over his head. He moves forward accompanied by a second man, who carries brushes, black paint and a metal mirror.
"He climbs a ladder in front of the statue. The man with him climbs too. This has taken place for centrueis, you realize, there are records of this since the ninth century. The painter dips a brush into the paint and turns his back to the statue, so it looks as if he is about to be enfolded in the great arms. The paint is wet on the brush. The other man, facing him, holds up the mirror, and the artificer puts the brush over his shoulder and paints in the eyes without looking directly at the face. He uses just the reflection to guide him - so only the mirror receives the direct image of the glance being created. No human eye can meet the Buddha's during the process of creation. Around him the mantras continue. May thou become possessed of the fruits of deed... May there be an increase on earth and length of days... Hail, eyes!"
"His work can take an hour or less than a minute, depending on the essential state of the artist. He never looks at the eyes directly. He can only see the gaze in the mirror."
Wonderful book. Dream like, at times, though its subject is at times horrifying. High up the general reading list, and definitely high up the reading-for-writing list. The momentum that was lost, was due to my own fault of reading too many things simultaneously.
"Without the eyes there is not just blindness, there is nothing. There is no existence. The artificer brings to life sight and truth and presence. Later he will be honoured with gifts. Lands or oxen. He enters the temple doors. He is dressed like a prince, with jewellery, a sword at his waist, lace over his head. He moves forward accompanied by a second man, who carries brushes, black paint and a metal mirror.
"He climbs a ladder in front of the statue. The man with him climbs too. This has taken place for centrueis, you realize, there are records of this since the ninth century. The painter dips a brush into the paint and turns his back to the statue, so it looks as if he is about to be enfolded in the great arms. The paint is wet on the brush. The other man, facing him, holds up the mirror, and the artificer puts the brush over his shoulder and paints in the eyes without looking directly at the face. He uses just the reflection to guide him - so only the mirror receives the direct image of the glance being created. No human eye can meet the Buddha's during the process of creation. Around him the mantras continue. May thou become possessed of the fruits of deed... May there be an increase on earth and length of days... Hail, eyes!"
"His work can take an hour or less than a minute, depending on the essential state of the artist. He never looks at the eyes directly. He can only see the gaze in the mirror."
Wonderful book. Dream like, at times, though its subject is at times horrifying. High up the general reading list, and definitely high up the reading-for-writing list. The momentum that was lost, was due to my own fault of reading too many things simultaneously.
Into the Wild (2007)
Finally watched it. Very impressive film about a guy following Thoreau's advice.
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