032 - Of all things which one can know...

De omni re scibili…
De utopia…
De Philhelmi monogrammate…
Et quibusdam aliis… !

Of all the things we can know ...
On the utopia ...
From Philhelm monogram ...
And even many more ...!

Or "it is impossible to make everyone happy in a dream world! "
ART GALLERY / Text translated by Google /
From Homer to Plato, the great precursors of utopia in our Western civilization, many humanists have sought in vain to theorize and / or implement something for everyone on earth. Why, they all sought to return again, the Platonic philosophy mentioned in the "heaven of ideas”. In fact, the perfection of the creation God made cosmogonic (if any?) Could not be the only example to emulate. The problem is to solve the roots of these ideas into reality. We know that in the Middle Ages all gone to the Italian Renaissance and spread at high speed in all Europe. We're in the sixteenth century, we return to old and you begin to think differently: the birth of humanism!
In London, February 6, 1477, Thomas More was born. He became a great admirer of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, he will write the biography. He is also a contemporary and friend of Erasmus of Rotterdam. It was during a stay in London, the home of Thomas More, he was invited, he wrote his famous book "The Praise of Folly". Thomas More all wish to write the following, namely, the consideration of wisdom. Our two friends are in this epistolary relationship and are in Latin. They finally agree that this wisdom in question is nowhere. (Or "nusquam" in Latin.) Thomas began writing his book Nusquama "using gradually fables, and because this country is wisdom nowhere, he decided to invent one with imaginary characters he invents names he draws from Latin and Greek. Thomas decided that it will be an unknown island (actually a peninsula at the beginning!) His name is Utopia. The capital called amaurotic, who comes from a Greek word meaning distorted eclipse. It is traversed by a river without water: the Anydre. Neighboring countries are without land: Anchor. The neighboring cities are without civilization: Alaopolecie. It is, of course, that our new world is not corrupted by or civilizations. Therefore Utopus, the founder, immediately remove the strip of land connecting the peninsula to the land. About the writing of Thomas More, he suddenly changes language and continues his work entirely in Greek. The revelation appears with the translation of final Nusquam in Utopia, but especially Thomas adds a final version that consolidates its research is the "Eutopia" or "eu + topos" in Greek, (the quality, the well + applicable) is: the right place ... nowhere. It remained for him to write his book. This he did while he was in Flanders as ambassador. It was there he wrote his famous book "Utopia" or "How to make sure everyone is happy? . His book appeared two years later simultaneously in London, Paris and Basel. To finish quickly with Thomas More, we know he was three years of terrible Chancellor Henry VIII, and notwithstanding that he should keep a faithful friendship after his break with the Pope, he refused to attend his marriage to Anne Boleyn . It threw him into prison, and there he wrote his book "In Praise of wisdom" before he died beheaded a year later, July 16, 1535, by order of Henry VIII.
Why recall this story? Because I decided to make this table on utopia.

Let us enter the world of utopian image library: If Utopia is happiness for everyone, who better than innocent children can represent as much?

I-TOP OF THE SPHERE / left / rear plane: "animals learned"
They say animals are stupid, ... in reality they are scholars and learn, before Latin, ancient Greek! Thomas More should certainly be something to do! We note that the master's stick stopped on the letter "?, its symbolism could not be higher, due to its mathematical meaning and geometric. They are certainly very literate because they are the only ones to read large books. Are they finally, since it seems that the open pages of one of them are completely white? Also, remember that they are animals dressed as humans that we do consider them more for what they are. In addition, the clothes are yellow, this is not innocent, for two reasons, one in the symbolism of the color, the other in harmony as we see every time you open! They already fully spun cotton. We can already reveal that apart from them, the only people who are fully dressed, men are said to be insane and who are dressed in ... asses! What could be the reasons? Is there a link or links? Who will find them on?
II-TOP OF THE SPHERE / center / rear plane "astrologers".
Virtually, they are the highest in the sphere! (Actually they are two musicians who seem to be missing, and their musiquent pinnacles on the edge of a door wide open!) If the astrologers seek the solution of their problem in the stars, is that they found the major answers ... Their presence is of utmost importance! In fact, Plato had already created its "ideal city" in the sky where the space was perfectly circular, made from its center! The obsession with geometry taken from the cosmos will be the main source of the utopians. It contrasts the perfection of the cosmos to the imperfection of nature! We seek to duplicate the cosmos. It is the dream of a static society, where everything is repeated indefinitely, where everything matches and looks the same! A happy society assumes a geometry unchanged. Utopians will therefore planners, architects, they are restructuring, and cut criss-cross all. The sky astrologers reflects a much larger scale, the human world with its passions, its vicissitudes, its conflicts and anxieties. The stars love, hate, mate, fight, continue,” s'assiègent”, burn each other! Also, all our dear astrologers have they not only all possible tools for their endless task ... but also the material most noble, which could be gold? To better approach the cosmos, two of them will carry the world in the form of armillary sphere, to arm carrying over their shoulders!
III-UP OF THE SPHERE / right / rear plane "friends of nature".
The peasants are friends of the earth, we can also call them "vegan" ... No happiness is possible without the land that sustains us, that happiness is obviously rationalized by specific codes and rigid for harmony can become universal. Utopia is not the friend of nature, but it can not do without! But nature did not need it that the force it can give us more than it gives us naturally? The abundance and the results seem to be there! Here we are clearly the indigenous peasants from a distant country for some, necessarily close to other ... but we are not "nowhere"? There is no need to merge to see how centennial millennium is the laborious work of the earth? You noticed that the top exterior flap was used for crops, the wheat field is encircled by “plessis”, so that wheat can grow flap closed and all the other plants are in pots: and the winter garden could very well be inside! Of course, our friends are like seven whenever possible. In wanting it that always absent complement this rigorous mathematical. Are they more numerous? The logic would explain it to them again in a multiple, including absentees, so that the artist can not lose face. Need I remind you that the main color is yellow corn, its proportion should be sufficient to identify all other openings lit inside, so yellow!
IV-TOP OF THE SPHERE / right / front plane: "animals and their friends";
In reality, we are exactly on the same plane as the three preceding and the next two! First observe the animals on top of the pane: they behave exactly like men, they are clearly the race and one of them, long-tailed monkeys or monkey, may have signaled the start and control officers arrived ... In good utopians, all animals of nature are carefully parked inside. A Noah's Ark is no different? All look outward, as if nothing was happening inside! In memory of old Germanic tales old, some are perched on top of each other ... There were two animals roam on bridges circular: the lion, king of the animals representing the earthly world is dry and the crocodile, the lord of continental fresh water so wet. The first is assembled by the wren children who keep the monogram Philhelm in his left hand, the second is held in balance the little queen, whose white cloth crescent-shaped bed has to mean something subliminal, unless the be a vulgar trick? Note that both are of mixed blood, cosmopolitan fusion of our civilization!
V-UP OF THE SPHERE / middle / central plan "protectors of the city."
How come they do in a dream world where peace alone governs the life of society? They are the defenders of our society, violently attacked from within and outside ... Sparta and Athens both the philosophical treasure is inside and it must be protected against any attack from whatever source, physical or cultural? We can consider their strategic importance in relation to their location and number, including prisoners. On the bridge on both sides, sentinels, which is a shame in a utopian city? But is it too careful? All utopian philosophies they have not always been excessive? Have they not always cut all ties to the outside to avoid being infected? The worm is it not often in the bud? The Sentinel left would she seduced by the music? Those on the right, they would worry the rulers of the animal world? Exactly in the middle of the bridge, a bow-it prevents us from coming to look too closely? To his left, the wearer reminder sign recognition induced in the artist's signature: who likes the helmet (phil (bone) + helm). Who really protect us? The artist or society? Opt instead for philosophy within the city. And these prisoners swarthy, kneeling and bound a little higher, who are they? When we know that the neighboring cities are living without? Why paratrooper before time is it the only one able to move around the utopian world?
The defense should it prevail over the rest? Indeed, no other seems Utopian violate the territory of the other? A police the world would she need?
VI - TOP OF THE SPHERE / left / front plane "friends of music".
If there is a universal harmony, is good in music as we can find, since it has always existed throughout the world and the ages, as far may we go, we find everywhere, in all forms! This is our orchestra musicians launched into a stunning and spontaneous music. Nineteen of them are visible, they have invaded all areas of their territory, as if they wanted to be heard and seen all the existing world. Let's look at them closely, they deserve to surprise and be surprised: Everybody has his gestures and his instrument, all are woven into the past ... If they exist today is a spirit, a gesture other music! The accompaniments bellows instruments are inside should give sufficient strength and coherence to our impetuous musicians. Who do they play for us or for them? We watch them, but we have only tried to hear? Go beyond your imagination and a strange sound coming from the distant humming in your ears. Blessed are those who can penetrate the secret causes of things. Of course, if you fail then your harmony is perhaps elsewhere? Everyone has his own.
VII - THE BOTTOM OF THE SPHERE / left / front plane "violent".
Obviously our friends seem to be in perfect harmony with themselves and their fellows to their weapons and their accessories that perfectly match their way of life. One can easily imagine that they have personalized with passion, as it has always done. If one says that like attracts like, we see here an application very realistic. These boys and girls are made to live together, their way of life is ad hoc. We feel that inside, behind the heavy iron gates, the climate must necessarily be heavy. But this is necessarily the opinion of a layman.
VIII - THE BOTTOM OF THE SPHERE / middle / plan before "the cannibals".
No character is present in the vicinity, we can easily guess why, if their reputations are not overdone. Let them best, as within a large book (the edges of the front and back pages are represented by lines of natural wood and visible), the more we look at the details, the more we shudder to discover the horror of this world is totally alien to us ... The interior of a gatehouse, where he was certainly always spent a lot of things! This is obviously the case here, since we are in the extreme that we are able to accept. What we observe in this phalanx is an orgy in which everyone involved seems alive. The infant presented on a plate and eaten by a cannibal, is taken from an engraving by Hans Holbein the Younger, of 'Enchiridion' of Erasmus.
But we can certainly ask ourselves some questions such as who will be next? Is it taken from the inside? If yes, except one that will clearly soon move from life to death, can we predict it will be the innocent little boy who is being refreshed in the back room, right? What can one think of the trophy hanging above the table, where he remains only the entire skin, hair included, is recalling a feast more sacred than others? Is it a memory linked to the importance of character in his lifetime? Was it a corrupt judge? Can you imagine a more scary? Certainly, if we live in a world whose barbarous customs are unknown to us or if we ourselves live in extreme violence? But let us not forget that for some, it was to keep the memory of their ancestors, for others it was taking the strength of their former enemy or boss? We could go on, but go quickly to the following, they deserve our attention and commiseration.
IX - THE BOTTOM OF THE SPHERE / right / front plane "disabled".
They are the outcasts of our society, but often discarded in others where their life is very limited, not only because they have no work or income, but because the look and behavior Other changes to the absurdity of them. Note at once that it is only known physical disabilities, which means that people of sound mind, who have lost one or more members, and thus, have adapted their travel according to their disability. This is important in relation to people suffering, sick or deformed from birth, no hunchback, clubfoot, etc.. As we often encounter in the imagery of the Middle Ages. The only reason is consistency not only graphic but also stronger ties for people with similar disabilities. Any inspiration for this group comes from two old engravings of the handicapped, deformed, or crippled assed bowl, attributed to Bosch and Bruegel Hyéronimus the former. Many attributes have been added, which will easily understand the meaning, although some may appear a priori unnecessary, as the pseudo metal umbrellas or parachutes: we can easily imagine other possible uses for their own self-sufficient lifestyles. Other additions, one member sex much longer than normal, they naturally developed to compensate for the loss of another member, as nature knows how to do it for the blind, for example, by developing existing meaning as the hearing, touch up to recognize colors! Some attributes were simply modernized as bags and water bottles. With regard to the mutual aid within the group, we find it could not be more important: a girl falls and everyone is doing to his assistance, it is true that the only girl lot, which is much more important for our new erotomaniacs!
X - DOWN FROM THE SPHERE / middle / rear plane "alcoholics."
Our fellows have fallen gradually in length, without realizing it, as happens often and it is precisely these weaknesses and excesses of drunkenness that we reject them. We believe they are more responsible for themselves. We do not know if we see them as weak or sick, or both? We see an astonishing complicity in the abandonment and abundant reserves, which may be little hope that we get them back. Of course, other drugs have been used for the same example. Our drunks are the lowest of the sphere. Forfeiture may be even greater? We will see that yes, if we continue the chronology.
XI - THE BOTTOM OF THE SPHERE / middle / rear plane "madmen".
We recognize them immediately with their ridiculous get-up, half-rabbit, half-ass, which allowed illiterate old to recognize them immediately, mostly in Germanic countries. They resemble more furiously to scholars of all, namely: the learned asses. The story began with donkeys, we discovered they were not only dressed as men but they were also extremely intelligent. And these are men dressed as animals we want to pass for madmen, and we know that they are the ones that were used in the popular imagery of the past to tell us tales and stories in which wisdom was never absent . We note that apart from one who relieves himself in a curious position and forced the others are all curious about what happens above them.
XII - DOWN THE SPHERE / left / rear map / final table: "artists".
After alcohol and crazy, we arrive at the end with the loss of society, we need not be derogatory, when citing an artist is always to place it in the margins of society. The three artists present are sufficiently representative of the art world (with a small "a"), that we need to have more in number and representation. If we notice the authenticity of the bridge and "established" is especially impressive red monogram full sculptural finish that holds us. We distinguish two letters PP whose legs appear encased in circles of glasses whose lenses had been removed. These letters represent the mysterious monogram of an unknown artist of the thirteenth-fourteenth century, which we know only a few rare etchings of spheres, signed by this beautiful monogram, we know only his initials, we know nothing of his life, except it must be either nearsighted or farsighted? In tribute to his great art and oblivion, his monogram sign a flamboyantly a new area that would certainly not denied. Hence the location at the end of the table and the size three times larger than Philhelm. Do not forget the color red, this one on the table.
GENERAL NOTES: Looking at the sphere in its entirety, we note that there is a clear separation between the top that has a connotation of, say, rather positive and the bottom which has a downright negative trend: there are two confused lifestyles totally opposed to competing, is praised and praise the wisdom of ordinary madness. Regarding the medium, namely the poplar wood, we note that only the thickness or edges of each door, have not been painted, revealing the wood's natural color. A single nail over it. But what deserves to be noticed, these are the visible veins wood almost strictly respecting the perspective of the doors, according to their open position: over the door is opened, for example that of musicians, most veins are removed, less it is open, the veins are spaced less concerned. More unexpected are the angles of these doors, with veins that meet this time scrupulously the junction between the two sides of each door thickness. If the nature of its original beauty has managed to replace all fireworks materials and forms used by your artist, it is nonetheless surprising that an artifact in itself justifies the creation of this sphere!
TECHNOLOGY: Acrylic on several panels of poplar wood assembled only by a clip to the old, self-clasping each other. September canvas mounted on a frame and screwed to the rear. Characters painted on poplar wood cut and assembled in a third dimension. Note: the work completely dismantled a width of 225 cm and a height of 240 cm and a weight of 82 kilos.
IN FINE: About the Latin phrase in the preamble, the first line of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, the second of Thomas More, the third and last Philhelm is attributed to Voltaire. Can you imagine a neighborhood as pretentious?