Many and One | One and Many Print

Diptych "Many and One" & "One and Many" Each painting has size 60x40 cm, and together 60x80 cm. In the end of the 2020 year I received the invitation to participate in a new exhibition “Earth.ver.20.21”. Artists were invited to think about the future of our planet. So I’ve been thinking about it for several months. There are people who try to understand the importance of the harmonic interaction between Human and Nature, and the number of them increases from year to year. The paradox is that nothing really changes for better in our environment. If there are some changes, they are so tiny that they cannot overcome the huge negative impact of human activities on our planet. I think that at least part of the problem is related to the philosophical presuppositions of today’s science. First of all I’m talking about Cartesian dualism that had formed the philosophical foundations of the Modern science. According to Descartes there exist two substantially different entities which by definition cannot, but, nevertheless, interact with each other. From this assumption followed the conclusion that the human mind and Nature exist separately. Moreover, humans were identified with their minds, not with their bodies and Nature. From this way of reasoning follows that it doesn’t matter what happens to our bodies and environment because these are just some sophisticated mechanisms, which can be fixed by scientists whenever it’s needed. Some aspects of this philosophy and its consequences you can see in the painting “Many and One”. The title of the painting refers to the fourth hypothesis from Plato’s dialog “Parmenides”. The second painting continues my search for a possible way to the future of our planet. In contrast to the mechanical point of view, there is some thought about the harmonious balance of Humane and Nature. People can live in accordance with the natural rhythms of the planet with respect for Earth. But I have a real problem with describing the philosophical views that may be responsible for such a relationship between Man and Nature. I advisedly don’t touch some ancient doctrines though they are indeed brilliant and complete, but cannot be applied by contemporary science. I think that some insights for those goals can be taken from philosophical ideas of E. Husserl, M. Heidegger, L. von Bertalanffy and others. Some possible consequences from those philosophical presupposition you can see in the painting “One and Many”. Some important phrases are written on the roots of the tree as a symbol that these ideas can take root and change our world for the better. The title of the painting refers to the fifth hypothesis from Plato’s dialog “Parmenides”.