Aqueous humour, Vitreous temper
Denis Brown, 2003. Calligraphy & gilding on paper, 63 x 33 cm
 |
Click in the image for a huge enlargement
Expressive gestural italic presents the words Aqueous humour and, upside down,Vitreous temper. This is my own word play. The Aqueous and Vitreous humours are the gels of the eye, but by writing Vitreous temper instead of vitreous humour, I am suggesting a character description. An aqueous humour could suggest a fluid, easy-going personality, but it is counterpoised by a vitreous or fragile temper... i.e., normally easygoing, yet liable to snap.
The etymology of the word humour comes from Latin humor- to be moist, and can still mean a fluid of the animal body, especially formerly any one of the four that in old physiology were held to determine temperament. This is the origin of the other meaning of the word: state of mind, (good, ill humour).
This work is an example of my concept of sWORDSmanship. The gestural calligraphy is akin to swordsmanship, in its dynamics, restraint and movement, yet the conceptual word play emphasises WORDSmanship within the swordsmanship. (I feel that gestural dynamic for its own sake is mere showmanship.)
the latter due to the sharp, pointed character?
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
©2007 Denis Brown | www.quillskill.com |
||||