M. C. Escher, Moorish Artists of the Alhambra & Jung's 'Collective Unconscious'.

M. C. Escher, Periodic Space Filling, Utrecht, 1958:

"...periodic drawings are not merely a nervous tic, a habit, or a hobby.  They are not subjective; they are objective.  And I cannot accept, with the best will in the world, that something so obvious and ready to hand as the giving of recognizable form, meaning, function, and purpose to figures that fill each other out, should never have come into the head of any other man but me.  For once one has crossed over the threshold of the early stages this activity takes on more worth than any other form of decorative art. 
    Long before I discovered a relationship with regular space division through the Moorish artists of the Alhambra, I had already recognized it in myself. . . later the designing of new motifs gradually came with rather less struggle than in the early days.."

                  -The Magic Mirror of M.C. Escher  Bruno Ernst, Taschen (2007); pg. 45.

Above images, taken from Alhambra Palace in Spain.

Perhaps all artists encounter such a thought now and then, I know I have, and in this particular passage from Escher, I would like to particularly focus on, "...I had already recognized in myself.."

both images, by M.C. Escher.

                                                                           
This seems to be the perfect example of Carl Jung's Collective unconscious at work; a prominent Dutch artist of the 20th century, Escher's unique Periodic Space Filling method drawn from the same well perhaps.  The same well from which Moorish artists who decorated the Alhambra Palace in the 10th century, 1000 years before Escher was even conceived, and yet, without ever being introduced to these ancient motifs til after his own artistic discovery; Escher was able to produce them on his own in Northern Europe.

We can draw our own conclusions from this, but what's the best way to explain the phenomenon?  Where from, how and why does it seem that we all inherit very similar archetypes, and without ever having to see them physically? if so, where are they hidden?

I tend to agree with Jung, in that they are stored in our subconscious, and perhaps a shared subconscious(Collective unconscious), one in which we all draw from the same "well of life"..

'Basking in the Subconscious"

Basking in the Subconscious C.T.Rasmuss, ink on paper (2010)

As we sleep where do we really spend our 'time' at?  It has to be accounted for somewhere when referring to the ceaseless mind, it can't just be rest and then nothing could it...what if the image above were a place we all hung out peaceably together in the light of what is to happen tomorrow, and what has happened the night before you put your head to 'sleep'?

Well  then I'd say: "job well done everybody!!!" ;because at least for this moment we were all at peace together, even if we have no recollection of it through our immediate consciousness on the morning when we all awake...

Carl Jung, According to our Universe (Part 2of 3)

Eternal 'Loop' of Existence, C.T.Rasmuss (2010)

Wood Engraving, Kevin Loughran

 

Chad Rasmussen posted a photo to Kevin Loughran's Wall.

you got me seein a little better(correlations and such) thanks Kevin..

Like · · Tuesday at 10:34pm ·

• Lulu Cook likes this.
• 

  Chad Rasmussen thnk you LuLu!!!

  18 hours ago · Like · 1
• 

  Kevin Loughran It is a Feedback **'Loop' of the Mutual Kind, Chad. Fabulous and Wonderful painting I see here... :)

  12 hours ago · Unlike · 1

 

This conversation is a continuation in diologue between Kevin and I on Jung and our Universe so to speak.  I mentioned in part 1 a few days ago that I was going to discuss Jung's Individuation, but after this brief insight I decided to touch on madalas instead; leaving Individuation for part 3 and the final blog of a three part series.   Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning "circle."  In various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed for focusing attention of aspirants and adepts, as a spiritual teaching tool, for establishing a sacred space, and as an aid to meditation and trance induction.

 

To further explain Jung's concepts and connection with the mandal, I have attached the link: Carl Jung: 10 Quotations About Mandalas posted by Stephen Parker, a Jungian Psychologist I came across via Google.

 

http://jungcurrents.com/carl-jung-ten-quotations-about-mandalas/

 

I hope this can lead to some discovery to anyone who reads this information, I can surely say one thing about these two artworks above; it's that they both have somekind of key to our existence as does most art, but in this case it's more specific to which grade and construct/archetype if you will, that these 2 explorations fall into.  Like most of my best paintings happen when I visit them more than a few times to build upon; coming up with better compostition and color, I was able to give my piece a better title today, thanks to the collective unconscious coming to the surface between fellow artist Kevin Lougrhan and I.

 

**the key word to better describing my discovery (title of artwork above) that I couldn't see w/o the aid of another consciousness...

 

 

 

 

 

Carl Jung, According to our Universe (Part 1of 3)

                                                                                               Artwork by Kevin Loughran

As I attended graduate school at Hofstra University on Long Island(2007-08), I became very aware and interested in the writings and findings of the Psychologist, Carl Jung.  Jung collaborated with Sigmund Freud for about 7 years,  Freud called Jung "his adopted eldest son, his crown prince and successor".  Jung however, went into a different direction than Freud as they split professional ways, concerning himself for the majority of his career with the collective unconscious. 

For those not familiar with Jung or the collective unconscious, I will explain in the next upcoming parts 2&3 of this blog series...for now I'm mostly concerned here in introducing participants to an artist and his work that I had been recently introduced to, Kevin Loughran.  I mentioned to him via FB that his work reminded me of Carl Jung, mandalas and universal archetypes somehow; he then informed me that I was on the right track in mentioning this and at the same time increased my insight on the overall picture of Jung and his (our) collective unconscious, by informing me that Jung just wasn't into art and psychology, etc. but also things like the universe and astrology in his words..."his quotes keep being referenced in the Astrology books and articles i read."

                                                                                                       Fractal 3, C.T.Rasmuss (2010)

The following dialogue takes place after Kevin viewed my series of Fractals after sharing them with him, this conversation being through this piece of mine and his (seen above):

Kevin Loughran This is Wonderful, Chad! The Brightness and Freshness of it is in contrast with the Complexity of the Shapes. Reminds Me of the Final Scene in the film, "The Incredible Shrinking Man." As he approaches the Atomic level he becomes Aware of New Universes Opening Up to Him. That's what i see when i look at the Centre of this. Love it!!! :)

23 hours ago · Unlike · 1

Chad Rasmussen thnks Kevin, never saw the movie, but I realized this same sort of thing only after viewing your work; fnny how thet are all connected somehow, likesoe eternal cosmic puzzle always coming together one clue at a time!!

22 hours ago · Like · 1

Kevin Loughran Well Said That Man! An Eternal Cosmic Puzzle... Like It! Watch That Movie... :)

3 hours ago · Unlike · 1

 

Not only did this allow us to have further insights to our own works and into a Public Figure like Carl Jung that we both happen to admire, but I also received advice on another movie to watch; for even more insight on who knows what...possibilities are always promising and sometimes as simple as watching a nicely recommended film.  More on Carl Jung, Kevin's "Atomic Level" insight discussed in part 2&3, I will also talk about Jung's Individuation process and polar opposites, etc. stay tuned:)