The Ethereal Sombrero of Civilization.

Although I’m reluctant to give much explanation to my art, some people complained that it was sometimes difficult to access my art. Those remarks came from people who’re familiar with my manifest and the remainder of my works. They pointed out: “And what with people who just stumble upon one of your works, didn’t read your manifest, liked your painting, but don’t know what to make from it?

Although I’m still of the opinion that art relates to every person in different ways, I’m willing to add some vignettes to my art, explaining what I wanted to express, while leaving everyone free to give my work their own interpretation. My work is meant to encourage people to think about certain issues, not to force upon them my own perceptions of the reality.

The Ethereal Sombrero of Civilization is the keystone of a five-canvas set of paintings that connects the phenomenon civilization to the five alchemist elements earth, water, air, fire, and ether (the other four paintings can be viewed in my virtual gallery).

The background of the painting symbolizes the chaotic nature of the universe and, by extrapolation, human society, the background against which the process of civilization takes place. The sombrero is a metaphor that scientists use to describe the Higgs Field. The Higgs field is a field of energy that is thought to exist in every region of the universe. The field is accompanied by a fundamental particle known as the Higgs boson, which is used by the field to continuously interact with all other particles. The Higgs Field’s sociological counterpart is called the noosphere, a postulated sphere or stage of evolutionary development dominated by consciousness, the mind, and interpersonal relationships. In such context, one could see the internet as the latest offspring of a developing consciousness that encompasses civilization in all its facets.

In the middle of the sombrero, symbolizing the Higgs Field, is a schematic representation of a Higgs particle gaining mass. Without the Higgs field, there wouldn’t be any reality or even gravity because there wouldn’t be any mass. The evolutionary analogy is that without a noosphere, there can’t be any civilization. The particle in the middle of the circle symbolizes civilization accelerating through the noosphere.

Both processes play against a cosmically horizon that emanates the laws of nature (symbolized by the hands) that govern all cosmological processes. Just like the cosmos, the process of human civilization is governed by its own imperatives. The envelope of civilization has since the beginning of humanity been jumping around the globe, depending upon what culture and environment was best suiting its needs.

That said: this is what I had in mind when I created this painting. If you happen to see and think differently when observing it, be my guest.