Magical Thinking

What is magical thinking?

Merriam-Webster defines magic in several ways, one of which is the art of producing illusions by sleight of hand. Although this is not magical thinking, it does illuminate the path that magical thinking takes. Art has traditionally been invested in illusionism. Illusionism is a form of representational art. Representational art describes art that represents reality. In other words it is a visual vocabulary that uses recognizable symbols to communicate an idea of what that reality is that it represents. The visual vocabulary has been built up over centuries and is taught, learned, and shared between cultures as we have become increasingly globalized. The art that represents that reality is not itself that reality. It is a comment about that reality. To think that the art is that reality is magical thinking. Magical thinking takes place when one believes in a literal way in symbolic forms, for example in metaphor or simile.

Drawing with Moonlight?

This is a form of magical thinking. Using a camera and a slow shutter speed, I have used the light of the moon, as captured by the camera and the silver halide crystals on the film in order to draw lines. I have digitized these photographs and combined them to form compositions. The term captured is magical terminology, because it is in actuality a reaction to the light. Of course we know this. It is pedantic, didactic, and superfluous to even talk about it. Art, like poetry, is enchanting if we choose it to be that way. We can also choose to interpret it in a literal way as well. Interpretation is the domain of the audience. How do you choose to interpret these drawings?