Perspective and abstract

 This post was originally published 9 months ago for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Perspective. I have re- written and revamped it to include this week’s Travel Theme – Abstract. 

I hope you don’t mind a bit of recycling!

Abstract

adjective

 

ˈabstrakt.

1) existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence

2) relating to or denoting art that does not attempt to represent external reality, but rather       seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, colours, and textures.

Synonyms – non – representational, non-realistic, non-pictorial, symbolic, impressionistic

Perspective

pəˈspɛktɪv/

noun

1) the art of representing three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface so as to give right impression of their height, width, depth, and position in relation to each other.

“the theory and practice of perspective”

2) a particular attitude towards or way of regarding something; a point of view

“most guidebook history is written from the editor’s perspective”

Synonyms – outlook, view, viewpoint, point of view, position, stance,angle, slant, attitude, frame of mind, frame of reference, approach, way of looking/ thing, Vantage point, interpretation.

The Sibelius monument .

So here we have the Sibelius Monument. From this one piece of abstract sculpture various perspectives can be shown, generated and aroused.

Location

This monument can be found in Sibelius Park, Helsinki, Finland.

It is dedicated to Finnish composer Jean Sibelius ( 1865 -1957) 

Finnish national perspective credits him with playing a huge part in forming the national identity of the Finnish. His main body of work is seven symphonies including Finlandia, which in itself was a perspective on Finnish opposition to the ever encroaching Russian Empire albeit a cleverly concealed covert one, a very abstract piece of music.

Abstract Art, perspective and debate

This substantial piece was first unveiled on September 7th 1967. Eila Hiltunen was commissioned to design it.

Lake any good piece it sparked discussion or many different perspectives, The artist’s purpose was to capture the essence of Sibelius’s music. She took a very abstract approach. This massive piece consists of a series of more than 600 hollow steel pipes welded together weighing 24 tonnes and measuring 8.5 x 10.5 x 6.5 metres.

From my perspective, I found it beautiful as it physically produces sounds as the wind passes over the pipes. The pipes remind me of a grand organ, Both the name of the park and the monument more than suggested that it was a tribute to Sibelius.

However on unveiling, other individuals’ perspectives outlooks, views, viewpoints, point of views, positions, stances,angles, slants, attitudes, frame of mind, frame of reference, approaches, way of looking/ things, vantage points and interpretations on the merits of abstract art and it’s ability to pay tribute to Finland’s father of their musical identity abounded. Many felt it was too abstract.

They felt it was non – representational, non-realistic, non-pictorial, too symbolic, too impressionistic, the definition of abstract and not an obvious enough tribute to Sibelius. To satisfy the less lateral thinking, a bust of Sibelius was included in the work. This makes me smile as while I recognise  his name as  a composer, thanks to a high school music computer programme, I wouldn’t recognise his bust to save myself.

Photographic perspective

 This is where things became fun! I observed the monument from the outside but to be honest, was not overly blown away. However,  when I got inside and under, my whole perspective changed. It was magnificent, I felt like I was experiencing not only the height, width, depth, and position of the pipes in relation to each other but that I was inside a symphony movement with Sibelius’s notes soaring around me. The way it photographed from underneath with the light streaming through and the pipes stretching up and away was almost ethereal. While it is a physical sculpture there to see and touch, its abstract nature lends so many different facets to it that it fits the definition of astract, It doesn’t seem to have “a physical or concrete existence” It changes depending on where you stand.

It made me realise you need to consider things, people and situations from various perspectives to find what you are looking for whether it be, meaning, the truth, their side of the story or beauty and these things are often abstract, one person’s idea or thought is not necessarily another’s

Finlandia – Jean Sibelius

Please feel free to listen to and enjoy this beautiful video set to  Finlandia by Jean Silbelius

Photos taken in July 2011

Yoroshiku Onegai Shimasu

Leanne