Reviews
- Qualia of Being
Chiaroscuro in Black & White Of Grain and Contrast
Carbon Prints
By Elie Aliman
Three of Cups Gallery Summer 2022
With the present-day arrival of digital reproductive technologies, present-day artistic urges towards artistic production - urges towards creativity as such -- tend to give expression to the tension between traditional media (photography, painting. drawing, etc.), on the one hand, and digital media, on the other hand. for this "tension" between traditional forms and digital forms has become an important focus of much contemporary art production and dissemination. Such tensions, in the account of media theorists such as Jay David Bolter and Richard Grusin, form some basis to the now influential theory of "remediation," a model with which to describe the manner in which older analogue media formations are refashioned and re-presented within the context of new media technologies.
Yet now the byproduct of Elie Aliman's expression of "remediation" namely the tension between traditional and digital approaches to art-making - is what Aliman calls the "Qualia of Being."
In philosophies of mind, qualia are defined as individual instances of subjective, conscious experience. Examples of qualia include the perceived sensation of pain of a headache, the taste of wine, as well as the redness of an evening sky. As qualitative characters of sensation, qualia stand in contrast to propositional (value-based or ideologically-based) attitudes, where the focus is on beliefs about experience rather than on what it is directly like to be experiencing - in other words, immediate experience in contrast to experience mediated by thoughts or values on experience.
Among Aliman's digital qualia - in which an immediacy of unique experiences are of the essence of the myriad works that make up his current exhibit - are the mystery of an "enigmatic geisha," are human bodies in "dynamic symmetry," are images of what Aliman regards as memory according to Marcel Proust's Proustian Memory and, finally, an "etheric body," which neo-Theosophical and other meditative schools designate as a "subtle body," in which, as stated in the ancient work the Bhagavad-Gita, the soul is carried by the subtle body continuously until liberated from the confines of the material bondage of physical-material reality.
Images in view
https://www.threeofcupssoho.com/elie-aliman1
Yet now the byproduct of Elie Aliman's expression of "remediation" namely the tension between traditional and digital approaches to art-making - is what Aliman calls the "Qualia of Being."
In philosophies of mind, qualia are defined as individual instances of subjective, conscious experience. Examples of qualia include the perceived sensation of pain of a headache, the taste of wine, as well as the redness of an evening sky. As qualitative characters of sensation, qualia stand in contrast to propositional (value-based or ideologically-based) attitudes, where the focus is on beliefs about experience rather than on what it is directly like to be experiencing - in other words, immediate experience in contrast to experience mediated by thoughts or values on experience.
Among Aliman's digital qualia - in which an immediacy of unique experiences are of the essence of the myriad works that make up his current exhibit - are the mystery of an "enigmatic geisha," are human bodies in "dynamic symmetry," are images of what Aliman regards as memory according to Marcel Proust's Proustian Memory and, finally, an "etheric body," which neo-Theosophical and other meditative schools designate as a "subtle body," in which, as stated in the ancient work the Bhagavad-Gita, the soul is carried by the subtle body continuously until liberated from the confines of the material bondage of physical-material reality.
Images in view
https://www.threeofcupssoho.com/elie-aliman1
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Musical Drawings Digital Book Review
Unveiling the Soul's Palimpsest: Elie Aliman's Artistic Sojourn
By Eoin J. Collins
August 8, 2023
In the ethereal realm where art and imagination converge, Elie Aliman emerges as an enigmatic visionary whose work transcends the boundaries of time and medium. As we gather in anticipation of his latest art exhibit, it is with profound excitement that we delve into the profound depths of his artistic odyssey. With each stroke of the brush, each chisel's gentle touch, Aliman weaves an intricate tapestry that beckons viewers to partake in an awe-inspiring journey of the soul, drawings which give to music’s dynamics a translation through the visual.
Aliman invites you to traverse the labyrinthine corridors of his oeuvre, an expedition spanning decades and continents. Like a relentless archaeologist of the human spirit, the work excavates the concealed strata of emotions, memories, and dreams, masterfully revealing the soul's palimpsest through his captivating creations. Aliman’s unique artistic language pulsates.
In this captivating series of 70 Indochine ink drawings, created circa 1965 -1966, amongst other expansive gamut of artwork, Aliman unveils a profound symphonic repertoire of visual expressions, guided by the soul-stirring compositions of renowned music maestros. In an enchanting dance between brush and note, he embarks on a journey to draw to music, evoking the harmonious interplay of melodies’ passions.
Just as composers have long composed masterpieces inspired by life's multifaceted elements, Elie Aliman seeks to transpose this sacred connection between music and the visual arts onto his chosen canvas. In these delicate ink drawings, he weaves the intricate tapestry of emotions found within celebrated compositions, translating their cadences into graceful lines, compelling shapes, and evocative counterpoint dynamics.
Through the resonating echoes of Villa-Lobos' "Bachianas Brasileiras," Aliman mirrors the marriage of European classical structures and Brazilian folk motifs, exuding a radiant aura of pathos and exuberance. Like Orff's "Carmina Burana," his strokes burst with concise structural hymns of vibrant celebration of youth, nature's beauty, and the enigmatic dance of fate and love.
Venturing into uncharted waters, Aliman delves into Pierre Schaeffer's world of "Musique concrète," infusing his drawings with the experimental essence of recorded sounds and abstract manipulation. The result is a striking amalgamation of visual rhythm and sonic innovation, stretching the boundaries of both music and art.
From the mesmerizing improvisations of John Coltrane's "It's Easy to Remember" to the timeless grandeur of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4, Aliman orchestrates each drawing with meticulous precision, channeling the essence of these musical narratives onto paper.
Maurice Ravel's poetic "Le Tombeau de Couperin" resonates through delicate lines and poignant shades, while Gabriela Ortiz's "Fractalis" more recent structure emerges as a dynamic journey of pulsating rhythms and enchanting complexity, bridging the gap between contemporary classical elements and the spirit of Mexican culture.
With masterful strokes, Aliman paints the resplendent tapestry of Cui Jianghui’s music with the Chinese Guzheng, which shares similarities with the Japanese Koto, the haunting echoes of Albinoni's "Adagio," and the spirited allure of Bizet's "Carmen." He traverses through a symphonic gallery, where Vivaldi's "La Folia" dances alongside Boieldieu's "La dame Blanche," and Handel's "Sarabande" weaves with Mahler's “Adagietto for Strings and Harp.”
In this transcendent collection, Elie Aliman invites us to revel in the interplay of music and art, where the melodies of the great composers find new life on the canvas. As we surrender to the mesmerizing harmonies, these drawings resonate with the eternal symphony of human emotions, igniting a passion for the profound connections that unite us all.
Step into this melodic journey and immerse yourself in the intricate symphony of Elie Aliman's drawings to music. Experience the transcendence of sound and sight, where musical notes come to life as visual strokes, transcending the boundaries of art, and weaving a timeless narrative that sings to the heart and soul.
In "A Symphony of Visual Reverie," Elie Aliman's artistry rises to an ethereal crescendo, leaving an indelible imprint on the soul of every discerning observer.
Aliman invites you to traverse the labyrinthine corridors of his oeuvre, an expedition spanning decades and continents. Like a relentless archaeologist of the human spirit, the work excavates the concealed strata of emotions, memories, and dreams, masterfully revealing the soul's palimpsest through his captivating creations. Aliman’s unique artistic language pulsates.
In this captivating series of 70 Indochine ink drawings, created circa 1965 -1966, amongst other expansive gamut of artwork, Aliman unveils a profound symphonic repertoire of visual expressions, guided by the soul-stirring compositions of renowned music maestros. In an enchanting dance between brush and note, he embarks on a journey to draw to music, evoking the harmonious interplay of melodies’ passions.
Just as composers have long composed masterpieces inspired by life's multifaceted elements, Elie Aliman seeks to transpose this sacred connection between music and the visual arts onto his chosen canvas. In these delicate ink drawings, he weaves the intricate tapestry of emotions found within celebrated compositions, translating their cadences into graceful lines, compelling shapes, and evocative counterpoint dynamics.
Through the resonating echoes of Villa-Lobos' "Bachianas Brasileiras," Aliman mirrors the marriage of European classical structures and Brazilian folk motifs, exuding a radiant aura of pathos and exuberance. Like Orff's "Carmina Burana," his strokes burst with concise structural hymns of vibrant celebration of youth, nature's beauty, and the enigmatic dance of fate and love.
Venturing into uncharted waters, Aliman delves into Pierre Schaeffer's world of "Musique concrète," infusing his drawings with the experimental essence of recorded sounds and abstract manipulation. The result is a striking amalgamation of visual rhythm and sonic innovation, stretching the boundaries of both music and art.
From the mesmerizing improvisations of John Coltrane's "It's Easy to Remember" to the timeless grandeur of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4, Aliman orchestrates each drawing with meticulous precision, channeling the essence of these musical narratives onto paper.
Maurice Ravel's poetic "Le Tombeau de Couperin" resonates through delicate lines and poignant shades, while Gabriela Ortiz's "Fractalis" more recent structure emerges as a dynamic journey of pulsating rhythms and enchanting complexity, bridging the gap between contemporary classical elements and the spirit of Mexican culture.
With masterful strokes, Aliman paints the resplendent tapestry of Cui Jianghui’s music with the Chinese Guzheng, which shares similarities with the Japanese Koto, the haunting echoes of Albinoni's "Adagio," and the spirited allure of Bizet's "Carmen." He traverses through a symphonic gallery, where Vivaldi's "La Folia" dances alongside Boieldieu's "La dame Blanche," and Handel's "Sarabande" weaves with Mahler's “Adagietto for Strings and Harp.”
In this transcendent collection, Elie Aliman invites us to revel in the interplay of music and art, where the melodies of the great composers find new life on the canvas. As we surrender to the mesmerizing harmonies, these drawings resonate with the eternal symphony of human emotions, igniting a passion for the profound connections that unite us all.
Step into this melodic journey and immerse yourself in the intricate symphony of Elie Aliman's drawings to music. Experience the transcendence of sound and sight, where musical notes come to life as visual strokes, transcending the boundaries of art, and weaving a timeless narrative that sings to the heart and soul.
In "A Symphony of Visual Reverie," Elie Aliman's artistry rises to an ethereal crescendo, leaving an indelible imprint on the soul of every discerning observer.