Note No.1 / Early Concept

Since an early age I have been interested in the big question, why do we exist, what is reality, what is behind the creative force that is creation. My art is deeply tied to these thoughts, Most of my concepts that apply to my Dream Matter pieces came about after the fact, I did not form these concepts until the first two Dream Matter pieces were finished and framed. So, How did Dream Matter and this idea of Oneiric Realism come about? I think one has to look at what interested me during my life and the evolution of these topics into my life. I will list these topics that I feel made an impression on me in my life . 1. An early fascination with science2. Learning about Surrealism in my high school art class 3. Eastern philosophies 4. Mandala techniques that explored the inner psyche. 5. The audio lectures and books of Alan Watts. The big shift in my concept came about with the lectures of Alan Watts being played during the drawing of Dream Matter No. 2 and No. 3, while I peered into the image on the paper before me and wondered about it’s meaning. It was during the lecture Myself, A Case of Mistaken Identity and his talks on Taoism that I started to see a connection between my work and what was being talked about on the cassettes.

The statement; ” We are the universe, we are what the whole thing is doing.” Made me think that if we are the universe and we possess the creative element of the universe, naturally, then all one has to do is tap into it and allow it to flow forth. Alan Watts stated in his lecture that the universe has no pre-planned idea. It works as one does when taking a walk in the woods kicking stones along the way, with no set destination…Spontaneously.It is a learned spontaneity. This is not an automatic slopping of paint,ink and other medium onto a surface without mental control…this mind set is closer to the mental state of a zen brush artist. It is the flood light awareness, the big mind..that part of us that is hooked to all things.My Dream Matter pieces are the result of my efforts to tap into this creative flow within all things. In Taoism, they speak of Chi and Li. Chi is the energy of the universe and Li is the the force that organizes it.Li has been defined as “organic patterning.” Reading about the concept of Li is why I think I am on the right path with my work…My work has a very organic pattern within it..and these organic patterns grow and change during the course of working until surreal forms become present within my mind’s eye. Even after the formation of these surreal forms…they constantly change their mental formation..a similar experience as one has when looking for shapes of known images in clouds.

(NOTE I do not make Dream Matter…I allow it to grow upon the paper before me…allowing the growth of a dream like environment, where the viewer’s mind imagines surrealistic scenes.)(I can talk in words in an attempt to tell you what Dream Matter is but as Dream Matter evolves..so does my words,in an attempt to follow it..My words will always fall short in description of the imaginary world that grows from within Dream Matter…but I hope when you look into it and daydream … you will find what it is I try and tell you…an experience that is felt..and not one told…be silent, allow your imagination to have no bounds and feel that deep place within you that fully understands.)

~ by Steve Smith on January 24, 2008.