The Heads Hamed Sahihi with his latest series of 3D paintings and sculptures takes us for a ride into a his incredible world, Azad Art Gallery hosts the show from 13th till 25th November 2009, and visiting hours are 4-8 pm and I guess everybody knows the address already! if not its No 5, Salmas Sq, Golha Sq. Tehran.
and now its time to read:
quoted from the exhibition leaflet an amazing text on exhibition by Jalal Agha Alikhani
We are not going too far if we declare postmodern age coincident to transgression of objects. The new perception of Nanometeric world; rubbed off lots of past solidities like a hurricane. The foundation of Cartesian-Newtonian issues and the dominant paradigm of the past that the particles act and react under the flag of deterministic rules, suddenly disintegrated. The non-relativity of time, three degrees of freedom of locality, certainty, the independence of out-world in front of subject; and the rich borderlines of consciousness were no longer the issue. Epiphany of issues such as “space-time continuum”, “non-Euclidian geometry”, “eleven dimensional world”, “uncertainty”, and the consciousness of objects, have given a mysterious quality to the world. The skeleton of space bowed, time got relative, and statistic systems, have become a substitute for the classic rules. The possibility of inversion of space-time evolved our conception of out-world completely.
In the early years of the past century, the new documents about particles behavior demanded a revision towards nature and its movement. For instance results of a trial consists of an Electronic gun, a detector, a potential tunnel, and two reflector surfaces; has become really interesting. First, how ever the increased level of Electrons energy was; there were some that could not pass the potential tunnel. In spite of the fact that in macroscopic world if we shoot a ball towards a hill (potential tunnel) faster than a certain threshold; it would certainly pass it over. Every time we repeat this experiment the result will be the same with “certainty”. But in microscopic cosmos there were no sign of “certainty”. This was an alarm for fatalistic point of view towards the rules. However the second conclusion of the trial was more striking than the first one. At the first step, distribution process of the particles in their way passing through potential tunnel has been traced by the left detector. And then distribution has been delineated by the right detector. Considering classic rules; it was supposed that; the superposition of these two should anticipate the shape of distribution; considering the presence of both reflectors. There is no need to say that one of the greatest characteristics of science has always been its ability in prediction. And one of the most essential needs for this matter has always been the superposition; and this function has proved itself decently during the history of classical physics. Surprisingly, the prediction was totally different from trial results. The superposition proved something; and the prediction something else. All the efforts remained unsuccessful in explaining the problem. This new abstruse matter, in addition to duality behavior of rays; have resulted in outburst of a revolutionary theory: particles have some kind of “consciousness”. It is necessary to add that ray of light act playfully: sometimes like particles and sometimes like waves. But the interesting thing is that it seems that light is aware of the installation of the trial environment. This means that if the scene is arranged in a way that only the wavy behavior is assessable; it would completely act as wave; and if the scene arranged for particle manner; it would act absolutely like particles. More than anything, these trials resulted in revolt of materials. In this way; the world suddenly found a new shape. The material refrained to reduce to the level of quantity; and with its playful behavior it seemed that it was aware of its audience and also reacts attentive to its surroundings. The “consciousness” is now spreading from every particle. This left no room for the paradigm that “consciousness” is exclusively for mankind; and therefore the old borderlines of the limits and boundaries of “consciousness” have been vanished.
In spite of all these another trial strengthened the belief in “consciousness” of particles. This trial has resulted in a whole new cosmology named “holographic cosmos”. Based on a trial, if we glow rays from a Laser source with equal polarization; towards an object like an apple; and then reflect the reflexes plus the rays from that primary source on a photographic film; we would achieve a holographic picture. If we glow rays on this negative by the same laser source and the same angle of polarization; it would result in a 3-D image; which is virtual of course. This is also a new technique for 3-D animations. The interesting thing is if we split the negative; and then glow the rays on it; the result wouldn’t be half of the apple but the whole thing. It doesn’t matter if we cut the negative into smaller and smaller parts; the result would be the same but with lower resolution. It seems that the apple is in the memory of every particle of the photographic film; and with tearing the negative apart we can’t fade or have it in parts –keeping memories in mind is also a holographic quality. This means if we detach a specific part of one’s brain; it wouldn’t result in clearing a specific memoir; but all the memoires would be a little more fade.
If we were to consider the contents of particles that are forming the universe; and has never been annihilated but only transformed; full of cosmic reminiscence from eternity to this point; then we may expect that in every form of “consciousness” there is a reminiscence of all cosmic phenomenon; as it may be animal ancestors of us during their ocean life or the apple that Eve gave to Adam. We can also find centers of energy belonging to this “cosmic consciousness” around us. A center of consciousness could be a tree, a snowy mountain top, or Solaris itself that keeps the secret of life intimately. There are some reports considering using of psychedelic herbs that confirm this theory. There are people who remember their fetal life or even acclaim that they have experienced crocodile life. These experiences were so full of details –without having any self-conscious idea about it- that leave no room for doubts. Without a doubt this interpretation of the world is also a kind of scientific basis for “Jungian archetypes”.
Yet another parameter is also applicable. Reducing space and time to quantities is also a proto during the process of modernization. This way universe obtained a geometric and homogenous quality; quite opposite to mythical point of view. In the old world view, some mountains, caves and cliffs possess special dignity. As though these are the centers of energy that connects theology to the earthly world; and so make it possible to feel pure perception of the truth; Just like post-modernistic view of “consciousness” that gave an opportunity to long discarded mythical matters to return. The theory of “consciousness” of every particle and their proximity and actions and reactions; make the homogeneity of space meaningless. This way we may understand why the “golden gate” bridge is such an attractive place for suicide. There is a quite one of a kind absorption that has awakened the tendency towards falling in so many people.
After this long introduction, I may acknowledge that Hamed Sahihi’s latest works are some how confirmatory for post-modernistic sensitivity for “consciousness”. It doesn’t make any difference if we consider them as a result of this new theory of “consciousness” in artist’s mind –this theory has been spread away by thousands of mediums- or as a result of intuition. In both ways, the sensitive conscience of the artist is working as a diapason that began to vibrate in front of this possibility and point of view. For example, in one of his works there is a secret room that its reflection made a 3-D geometrical figure in a place that was supposed to be the head of subject. We may consider this secret room a center of energy of “cosmic consciousness” or a Solaris. Attentive to the most important characteristic of “consciousness” which is permeation; it makes the sensitive mind of the subject a place that truth of entity can reflect. It may be a result of human-oriented view of the artist –either consciously or unconsciously- that there is no escape from catharsis in human nature; and in spite of the two dimensional form of “cosmic consciousness”, this reflection is formed in 3-D. An alternative explanation could make it easier to understand. Mind, is not a passive sheet for complete reflection of data that neurons send to it. In a room, we can’t see all the details of furniture, table, tableaus, and book shelves. We absorb part of information from outside and the rest is shaping by interpretation. This is the skill we achieve in time and by evolution and helps us not to be helpless and powerless in chaos. This is why we never noticed the blind spots in our sight during our routines. This defect could be completely tormenting. We can also prove these blind spots by simple trials. Now with this short explanation; it is easy to understand why “consciousness” in any subject is also prosperous of a third dimension; in spite of the fact that the actuality given in this artwork –secret room- seems to be 2-D at first. The power of interpretation –that is to be generalized to all the particles- is the kind of causation by which the new dimension is produced; and considering the human-oriented of view of the artist, the emphasis is on the human subject more than anything else.
Based on what has been discussed fully before-mentioned in this essay; manifestation of two new phenomena is predictable: First, the possibility of finding this 3-D quality in any kind of “consciousness” –herbal, animal, anthropoid, and even inorganic; and then attentive to constant interaction between different forms of consciousness; we should witness some kind of homogenous reformation and reproduction around us –though only in early stages, phenomena get complicated and also achieve unique quality by passing of time. So this is reasonable why in another work of the artist, there are repeated geometrical forms around the subjects head. The variety of sizes in these shapes can show the differences between surrounding objects capacities in absorbing the “consciousness”.
Maybe by a new mean; we can give a more precise perception of the subjects in which there are some shapes instead of heads; and their texture are matched with back ground objects or the texture of the walls. We seldom have a worthy image of what we see comparing to the wonderful influence of still life on our minds. It seems that we connive at the interaction of mind with furniture or premises. But by pondering in the artist’s works or if you like by thinking deeply of sensual impulses; we may find our way through this existential fact. A sensual impulse like any other borderline condition; is a self-evident of existential and essential characteristics of ours. When one is obliged to leave one’s own house forever –especially for the very first time- one tries to resist. As he/she has been torn up to thousands of pieces and every piece is a part of the house; seep through every corner. That is why such departure is causing some kind of nostalgia. We may simply say that one is “got used to it”; and ignore a thousands of fine problems. If there is a kind of “consciousness” in every single particle; then there are some whispers that can’t be heard; so much unheard chats and conversations that have always been nothing but truth. There are to prepare the situation for our deepest vital desire: safety. We have been shot through objects by accident; and then we started to chat with things dreadfully: the conversation between me and the flowerpot in my room, the walls, and the window. Sooner or later my very own being finds an unspoken peace with my surroundings; and at last suddenly, I find a sense of security under my skin. But this is also this conjunctive point that changes this feeling secure into boundaries; because leaving the boundaries makes us feel insecure. But in an instinctive action by our ego, we purify it into nostalgia or “getting used to it” instead of feeling insecure. There is a beautiful story in this direction. Ahmad Shamloo and his wife Aida had left their home and country for a while and gone abroad. When they came back the home seemed to be gaunt unexpectedly; a wall was bulged and some parts were crusted. Shamloo had later said that: “a home needs a human breathing in it”. We must declare that not only we get used to our surroundings incredibly and our existence is depended to them; our surroundings feel the same too. This way the same texture in heads and back ground finds an existential explanation: a finer catholicity of viewpoint of Martin Heidegger who used contexts such as “Existence” and “Present at the hand” to explain this problem in details.
But there is a revolutionary theory named “The implicate order” by Bohm that opens a new aspect so that we could understand the artist’s works better. Consider there is a kind of “ultra-cosmic ocean” over the variety of centers of energy or “cosmic consciousness”; that is the source of all types of “consciousness”. This “ultra-cosmic ocean” is there to help the memories of all particles take root to a foreign and also unique dimension. This time in some Sahihi’s works there are negatives –pits and vacancies- instead of the third dimension or a prominent connective geometrical form. This is just like the creative point of nonexistence that unites with the ocean at the ends of its tinniest roots. This ocean of consciousness is a source that makes any interaction, connection, and conversation possible between the seemingly parallel worlds of subjects. In this way there may be an explanation for indescribable phenomena such as telepathy, journey through time, and the meaning of “synchronism” in Jungian terms. This is all possible only in condition that we take this question seriously that why sometimes –without having any discussion or even the same past- we understand the “other” by all means? Why there appear sometimes the shadows of an imagination or a word in different places at the same time? And why mind becomes the mirror for reflections of future or long past? … There is a famous story that can prove the complicated aspects of this matter. Before world war two had begun; an American couple who were living in China faced a problem. The wife who was a nurse got some kind of hysteria. She explained to her psychologist that she had dreamed of the hospital she was working at. In her dream one of the walls had been destroyed. The psychologist recommended that they should go back to America; because this kind of dream and hysteria is a result of an intense desire for going back to home town. The couple did what the psychologist recommended. The strange thing is that a few years later; when Japan attacked China, the hospital was bombed and the same wall got destroyed. The content of this dream was amazingly both psychological and prospective signifier…
We may also look at these works from other aspects: The philosophic and aesthetic aspects for instance; that review the connection between mind and body; or existence and body to contemplate the balance between these factors. This is how a new situation came to life when Michael Angelo left his two sculptures of day and night incomplete; the perfect carved organs in front of incomplete ill-shaped heads –compare it with Sahihi’s perfect embodied limbs, while the heads seem to be carelessly shaped. Another example is the renowned picture of Adolf Du Meyer –Dance Study- in which the ballerina is naked; but her head is hidden by rough cotton…