A Box and Its Lid
Posted June 7th, 2009 by adminThis photographic show by Caryn Shudo Silberberg is the first part of a poem in images about the relationship of the ordinary and the sacred. It is the result of long training in Zen as well as the photographic tradition that runs through John Daido Loori Roshi and Minor White to us.
- Doen
“Within light there is darkness
But do not try to understand that darkness”
from the Identity of the Relative and the Absolute
Please click on each image to view.
Tags: arts, john daido loori, minor white, photography, zen
Filed under:Zen
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7 Responses to “A Box and Its Lid”
June 7th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Looking at these photos slowly pulls me into the moment of the photo, as if I were there. Thank you for capturing the beauty and silence.
June 7th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Seeing just a detail of the whole gives an entire different perspective. Everything is a beautiful mystery.
Wonderful photos, Caryn.
June 8th, 2009 at 6:50 am
Caryn, these are incredible. It’s like something is wriggling and on the verge of coming out in each of these small worlds being born. Thanks for posting them.
June 9th, 2009 at 7:23 am
Beautiful photos Caryn. I especially like the first one. Gazing at it in silence, I can’t help but forget myself and become immersed in it’s universe.
Gurdjieff talked about “conscious art” in which the art evoked a realization of “higher consciousness” in the viewer. This photo certainly seems like an example of that to me.
They all touched and moved me. The second one… the bones of the earth… And the 4th one (yes, I recognize it)… a universe of stars in the daytime… As Gertje said… everything is a beautiful mystery.
Thank you for your wonderful work Caryn. I’m looking forward to seeing more.
June 22nd, 2009 at 1:03 am
@Caryn – It took me quite a while to discover that I’ve been trying to understand the darkness within the light. I found your pictures to be fascinating and beautiful from the first sight, but somehow it felt as if I didn’t really see them. I’ve just started to try learning to just watch your fotos. Thank you for this experience. I’ll keep opening the files again and again.
July 5th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Dear Caryn,
you beautifully retrieved patterns with your lens that tell a story. I like to call these kind of artistic representations, “vignettes” or mini-sketches. Sensei pointed out that this Art follows years of Zen practice. I tried to be aware and sensitive to the time you have put in as I had a chance to look through your eyes.
This was a cool experience! The images are absolutely poetic. I’ve enjoyed viewing the series a few times before I decided to write a comment.
In the first, I love how the edges of the frame captured “essence” for me as the Green is bold and striking in the center. However, the edges actually lassoed my curiosity the most.
In the second, I love how the roots are somewhat exposed on the surface yet mostly hidden from the naked eye.
In the third, I love the contrast of snow with the hardy grass, which somehow seems as delicate and fragile as the specks of snow that appear to be turning back to water.
In the fourth, I love the texture of this photo and the way the shades and elliptical shadows blend among the sparkles. It is very nice.
The last is a very peculiar pattern. I wondered to myself, “How cool that you noticed this!” I enjoyed gazing at shapes without my mind being able to make anything of it. I found it to be a fascinating sandstone relief.
Peedee
July 21st, 2009 at 12:21 pm
The second photo (with the roots) reminds me somewhat of the works of H. R. Giger. It’s currently my computer wallpaper. These are clearly the bones of some creature that was unexpectedly trapped in the earth.
It’s time to change my wallpaper to another photo and stare at that for a while…
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