every passion borders on the chaotic..
- walter benjamin
the realities of our life are usually more entertaining than our fictions. the ways we choose to negotiate our versions of good, bad, right and wrong are often comical at best. we take great care of our self-delusions and seek out that place where we can just float.. or maybe i’m speaking about myself again and this has nothing to do with any of the observations i’ve made..
the image resonates with me. buzzfeed released their 45 most powerful images of the year 2011 and it was number 25. i stared at it for a while as i attempted to figure out what about it was so compelling. it took a while but i began to understand that it was the semblance of beauty amidst chaos, the sheer passion of the moment. a grain of calm totally enshrouded by anger and rage and many other emotions.
i found myself smiling and comparing the photograph to a thousand different concepts, both metaphorical and actual, where powerful emotions such as passion push back the darkness we tend to inflict upon ourselves. i think about all the people i hold dear and how they’ve systematically triumphed over their personal demons in one way or another and how, in general, i’ve done the same. the photograph, which should be credited to Getty Images / Rich Lam, reminded me why i have this lasting love affair with people and humanity and why my chosen medium of expression is the frozen moment.
there is a quote by terry pratchett that suggests that darkness is faster that light because wherever light travels the darkness is there waiting for it. what pratchett fails to explain is that the light, once it arrives, pushes back the night with ease and extreme prejudice. maybe i’m over-thinking things again. or maybe it is a comfortable reminder that contrary to what people say, this life is long, very long, and while sometimes it seems the bad days just keep stacking up – there will always be days of respite.
passion in the middle of a riot. how perfect.
..ra
