L E G M O U N T A I N

A hypercube is a mathematical object in more than three dimensions.

Similar to the cube in that each two-dimensional surface of

the object is a square. It is a generalisation of a cube in more

than three dimensions.

 
A single point can be considered as a zero dimensional
cube, two points joined by a line are a one
dimensional cube, four points arranged in a square are
 a two dimensional cube and eight points or nodes are an ordinary
 three dimensional cube.  Continuing this geometric
 progression, the first hypercube has 16 nodes and is a
 four dimensional shape (as above and
 bearing in mind we cannot actually “see” in four dimensions)

James Unsworth’s work is carnal and appears in full realism, there is no mystery and a lot of seduction. Every work seems to hold sincerities and pure truths about force, attraction, desire, degradation, and self-destruction. I interviewed him a while ago. He said this.

’The first time I started using the grotesque, taboo subjects and disgusting things was when I did an inversion of a Jophovars Witness pamphlet which was describing this perfect world and harmony where every one was working together, and were abundant, rich and happy.  Which was a complete lie.  So I inverted it and made it disgusting and horrible. - My work is always generated by drawing.  There is some nice about how easy it is to draw.  Something so simple.  It is from my imagination, which gives me the license to do whatever I want, but it always tied down to this.’

‘This always grounds it a little bit.  People have this conception that this kind of work is new, the vulgarity of it and sexuality of it but if you do a bit of research you realize that is got a complete popular print history tradition that goes back to the beginning of print, since images were accessible.  I have a great respect for the history of print especially the way it made images more accessible and more democratic.  All of my drawings are based on the history of popular print and political charactertures, and things like Hogart and James Gillray.  I reference a lot from Hogarth, Gillray, and Cruickshank.  My exciting days off are at the Library to look through the microfilms.  I went out the Paris for a couple of days and plundered the Library out there.  I find they are the best place.  They seem to be very organized out there.  It is must easier to go to the Bibliotheque in France than to go to the British Library.  I’ve done a lot of research on the grotesque image of the body and charactertures of grotesqueries.  I also do a lot of visual research on alternative nightclubs documenting performance and transgressive behaviour.’

His website

“Automatic Camera situated 7 miles from blast with 10 foot lens. Shutter speed equaled 1/1000,000,000 of-a-second exposure.” Early instances of an atomic explosion.

The photos are by Harold Edgerton aka “Papa Flash” who is famed for using Stroboscopic photography to photograph discrete instances of the everyday - balloons bursting, divers diving into pools, milk drops. These photos were taken using another of Edgerton’s inventions, the Rapatronic camera - capable of taking photographs with exposure times of 10 nanoseconds and are far from everday occurences. 

Since they evolved trees have had a great influence on the shaping of the ecology of our planet and in determining the present arrangements of life on earth. Of particular importance for us has been the role of trees in the evolution of mankind and the development of human cultures and communities.

The origins of man

Some 65 million years ago, just after the demise of the dinosaurs, a small rat-like species of mammal (now known as a prosimian) left the ground and took to life in the trees. Eventually after 50 million years had passed, this creature returned to the ground as the ancestor of man.

The period spent in the environment of the trees was of great formative importance because it promoted many physical changes. These changes included a massive increase in body size, the development of paws into hands and 3D colour vision. The physical changes were mapped by an increase in the size and the capability of the brain. Thus prosimian developed into simian.

The increase in stature led to changes in posture which enabled some simians to stand upright. Eventually one of these species was able to walk on two legs.

It was these changes which led to the descent from the trees and eventually to homo sapiens. So it can be seen that without trees the evolution of prosimian into man would never have taken place. Without trees we would not be here.

The development of human civilization

The development of civilization has been dependent on wood based technologies. Where would we be without such aspects of our culture as fire, agriculture, the wheel, the use of metals, spinning, weaving, water and land based transport, building, and printing? Our technological culture could not have developed without wood.

The wonder and the mystery

On many people trees exert a powerful emotional influence. To many of us a tree is a thing of spiritual sustenance and renewal. The tree is the embodiment of mankind’s condition: birth, life, death, regeneration and rebirth. The rising sap is the spirit of life and seeds and fruit are the symbols of fertility.

The importance of trees

Trees are the largest and longest living organisms on earth. To grow tall the tree has become a miracle of engineering and a complex chemical factory. It is able to take water and salts out of the earth and lift them up to the leaves, sometimes over 400 ft above. By means of photosynthesis the leaves combine the water and salts with carbon dioxide from the air to produce the nutrients which feed the tree. In this process, as well as wood, trees create many chemicals, seeds and fruit of great utility to man. Trees also remove carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, from the air.

Trees are of continued importance to the environment. Tropical rain forests have of particular significance; although they now occupy less than 6 per cent of the land surface of the earth they probable sustain more than half of the biological species on the planet.

Notwithstanding the debt we owe to trees, their emotive power, and their importance to other forms of life, the forested area of the earth is steadily being depleted. This is leading to the degradation of the environment and the extinction of many species. There is now a real danger that in the not very distant future man will destroy a large proportion of the present population of species on earth, create an uninhabitable environment, and then die out himself. If this happens it will not be the first time that a large proportion of the species on the earth have been extinguished. 

Image 1 - Hedi Slimane  | Image 2 - Sanford Wurmfield ‘E-Cyclorama‘ | Image 3 - Jaime Martinez | Image 4 - Emily Graham

1. organise before they rise
2. they feel no fear, why should you?
3. use your head: cut off theirs
4. blades don’t need reloading
5. ideal protection = tight clothes, short hair
6. get up the staircase, then destroy it
7. get out of the car, get onto your bike
8. keep moving, keep low, keep quiet, keep alert
9. no place is safe, only safer
10. the zombie may be gone, but the threat lives on

Laura Edith Guy’s visual exploration (A study in grey) into the import of Chinese slate for processing into Welsh slate mills/mines. The Aberllefenni Slate Quarry has a long history And has been operating from as early as the 14th century.

Neighbouring Bethesda Mine is pictured here circa 1900. and is reported to be the largest slate mine in the world.

Laura initially visited China in 2007 as part of a scholarship cultural exchange. ‘A study in grey’ has been a spin of from this. She plans to return to visit some of the huge slate mines there which now supply Aberllefenni Quarry.

In the spirit of mid-century futurism, space saga and vivid expression, my aims are that of an otherworldly caste. Frantic to lose myself in fantasy, have impulse to explore, especially when times are so grim that you can’t get out of bed, arts can be used to buoy public confidence and arise optimism. I want to create much longed after escape. But. It seems all I have is a sentimental longing for a utopian happiness that will always be out of reach.  The only journeys I seem to make are around my room and my most satisfying encounter my bed, which are experiences traditionally only recommended to the poor, the infirm, and the lazy. I know not how to experience the worlds I suggest in my art. There is a coup in my mind.  But this strange indoor land does not cost. And there I can fall into silence.