Henri-Louis Bergson: the reading drawers, chests, and wardrobes gives a very keen expression of human relation to poetic imagination. There is a lot of good material within this writing, so I wanted to point out some of my favorite excerpts.
” The image is a phenomenon of being; it is also one of the specific phenomena of the speaking creature. A metaphor is a false image, since it does not posses the direct virtue of an image formed in spoken revery.
For it is not the intelligence that is a filing cabinet, but the filing cabinet is an intelligence itself. A wardrobe’s inner space is not open to just anybody. Only an indigent soul would put just anything in a wardrobe. Being a poet, recognize that memory is a wardrobe. It is not opened every day, and so, like a heart that confides in no one, the key is not on the door.
A lock is a psychological threshold. Complexualistic! Two pent-up human beings communicate by means of the same symbol. If we emphasize sexual symbols, we should conceal deapth of the dreams of intimacy. When we dream of locks and keys there’s nothing more to confess. But poetry extends well beyond psychoanalysis on every side. The poet lives a daydream that is awake, but above all, his daydream remains in the world, facing worldly things. It gathers the universe together around and in an object.
Beautiful objects created by skillful hands are quite naturally “carried on” by a poet’s daydream. The poet has given concrete form to a very general psychological theme, namely, that there will always be more things in a closed, than in an open box. To verify images kills them, and it is always more enriching to imagine than to experience.
There is only one place for the superlative element of what is hidden. The hidden in men and the hidden in things belong to the same topo-analysis, as soon as we enter into this strange region of the superlative, which is a region that has hardly been touched by psychology. And to tell you the truth, all positivity makes the superlative fall back upon the comparative. To enter into the domain of the superlative, we must leave the positive for the imaginary. We must listen to poets!”
Single Bed Set (1)
The size, shape. and color choice of the bed set directly relate to a section of Kafka’s Metamorphosis where Gregor looks to the wall to notice a portrait of himself in military uniform. According to the story, it was taken during the time that he had served as a lieutenant and pictured him with “hand on sword, a carefree smile on face, inviting one to respect his uniform and military bearing.”
Single Bed Set (2)
After reading that section, I sensed the bed to be a sort of single, military bunk, but with a bit more home-like touches. This is noticeable mainly in the color choices between the military green bed sheet and the brown wooden frame surrounding. The box spring, mattress, and pillow are represented in white ink to add to the simplistic military style as well, but while also giving it a sort of blank feeling. This was done to express the idea that we as readers don’t exactly know what happened to Gregor the night that he underwent his transformation. We can only interpret it from the time that he opened his eyes.
What’s Inside?
Part of the story describes a setting where Grete is moving around things in Gregor’s room, one of the items being a heavy chest. It was after reading that particular scene that I had decided to incorporate a wooden chest to not only express my ideal item, but also to give a sense of harmony in relation to the design of the bed set. The main idea was to create something that could conceal the transformed creature as described in the story.
The Insect of the Unknown
On first glance you may think that the form pictured above is a piece of chewing gum or some sort of an animal brain, but it is fact an interpretation of the insect that Gregor had become after his metamorphosis. Although it appears to have no outer features other than a centralized body, I wanted to create something that appeared to just simply sustain life without expressions of freedom or happiness. The color red was used as a notion of urgency or reaction of immediate attention such as those who laid eyes on the creature for the first time. Kafka seemed to limit the descriptive context of how the insect actually appeared, but rather gave hints to lead the readers to interpret it in many different ways depending on individual perspective.
malingerers: to feign illness or other incapacity in order to avoid duty or work.
palpitating: to move with a slight tremulous motion; tremble, shake, or quiver.
memorandum: ashort note written as a reminder.
hitherto: until this time.
recalcitrant: marked by stubborn resistance to and defiance of authority or guidance.
charwoman: a woman hired to do cleaning or similar work, usually in a large building.
milliner: ene that makes, trims, designs, or sells hats.
larder: a place, such as a pantry or cellar, where food is stored.
chagrin: a keen feeling of mental unease, as of annoyance or embarrassment, caused by failure, disappointment, or a disconcerting event.
Null + Void 