The visual tools of animals range among the gems of evolution.
Within the course of gazillions of years, a plethora of optical sensory organs
came into existence, all of them perfectly suited for the needs of the relevant species.
Some of them are capable of distinguishing light from dark,
some of them are capable of creating raster displays,
and many of them are capable
of a lot more than the human eye.
Fishes, flies, birds, crocodiles, elephants, spiders –
they all have their own individual view into, and of, this world.
The fauna is full of fascinating visual tools.
Deeply touched by the splendid diversity that surrounds us in the water,
on land and in the air, and knowing that eyes, being the
“mirror of the soul”,
are one of the most fascinating subjects,
I came up with the project ”In the blink of an eye”.
”In the blink of an eye” is about realistic illustrations of the boundless diversity life
has to offer, focussing on 365 views.
For this reason, I captured 365 eyes of different animal species on canvas –
one new visual moment for each day of the year that is worth
being preserved.
Even though I am quite aware that this diversity is threatened by reckless,
egotistical and primarily materialistic interventions and assaults by human beings
on a daily basis, I deliberately chose neither to portrait the
continuous destruction of the biosphere nor to point at the often
systematic extermination of individual animal species.
This beautiful creation deserves to be treated with utmost respect,
not least because its value for us may be of a completely different nature,
as becomes evident by the developments both in the medical field and the field of bionics.
Time and again, new species with a truly individual view of the matter of things
are discovered, while other species disappear from the face of
this earth forever –
sometimes before we have even recognised their value to the life
of every species here on Earth.
Evolution is anything but a closed chapter – we are right in the middle of it,
and our view of the matter of things is merely one amongst MANY.
I would like to encourage you to pause for a moment, to perceive (more) consciously (again),
to be (more) open for everything that is, to walk
through life
and marvel at the wealth and beauty that surrounds,
and ultimately is a part of, us.
Only those who understand their environment and, moreover,
distinguish the deeper relations in it are able and also ready to love it,
learn from it, protect it and preserve it.
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