We live in a world in which we are often encouraged to think in terms of opposites. Stillness or movement. Rest or activity. Being or doing. We are invited, sometimes quite unconsciously, to choose one over the other, as though they were opposing forces, each competing for its place in our lives.
But what if we were to look at these apparent opposites differently? What if stillness and movement were not in opposition, but two interrelated aspects of a greater whole?
When we observe the natural world, we begin to see that stillness and movement are rarely as separate as they might first appear. Beneath the apparent stillness of a landscape, countless processes are unfolding. A tree stands quietly, yet sap rises, leaves turn towards the light, and roots extend into the earth. Even in the stillness of a moment, life is moving. And within movement, there can be a profound stillness.
Perhaps the distinction lies not in whether something is moving or still, but in the quality of our presence within it.
Stillness offers us an opportunity to pause, to listen, and to become receptive to what might otherwise go unnoticed. It creates space for our experiences to settle, for our perceptions to deepen, and for something new to emerge. Without such moments, we can become caught in a succession of reactions, constantly moving from one thing to another without allowing ourselves to fully encounter what is happening.
Yet stillness, too, has its limitations when separated from movement. Reflection can become withdrawal; contemplation can become a way of postponing the very encounters that might bring greater understanding. We can remain in the realm of possibility without ever allowing our insights to find expression in the world.
Movement, on the other hand, brings us into participation. Through movement we explore, create, respond, and discover. We give form to what has been quietly taking shape within us. Sometimes it is only by taking a step into the unknown that we discover what we could never have understood through reflection alone.
And yet movement without stillness can become restless activity. We may be doing a great deal without knowing what truly matters to us. When every pause is filled and every moment demands our attention, we risk losing contact with the deeper currents that might otherwise guide our actions.
The question, then, is not which of these qualities we should cultivate, but how we recognize what is called for in any given moment. There are times when we need to step back, to listen more deeply, and to allow understanding to emerge. At other times, we need to move forward, to take a risk, or to engage with something we have been avoiding. And there are moments when stillness and movement seem to coexist: when we act without losing our centre, or remain inwardly quiet while fully participating in life.
I find myself returning to this relationship in my art. The interplay of stillness and movement is not simply a matter of what is visible in an image, but something that can be sensed in the space between them. A figure may appear suspended in a moment, yet there is a sense of movement continuing beyond what we can see. An abstract form may suggest an opening, an emergence, or a passage into something not yet known. What appears still is not necessarily static, and what moves does not necessarily disturb the stillness from which it arises.
Perhaps this is also true of our own lives. We are continually being shaped through our encounters with one another and with the world around us. There is a rhythm of receiving and responding, listening and expressing, allowing and participating. Neither is sufficient in isolation. Each gives meaning and possibility to the other.
I wonder what might change if, rather than seeing stillness and movement as opposing forces, we began to experience them as a living polarity - distinct, yet deeply interconnected. Instead of striving to find a fixed balance between them, perhaps we might become more attentive to their changing relationship, allowing each to come forward when the moment calls for it.
Might this be one way of becoming more present to life? Not by choosing between stillness and movement, but by allowing both to inform how we meet each moment: receptive enough to listen, and responsive enough to act.
And perhaps, in that meeting, something else becomes possible: a way of being in which stillness does not mean withdrawal, movement does not mean restlessness, and both become expressions of a more deeply integrated presence.
Updated: Jul 26
Inspired by the 1937 film “Lost Horizon”, the epic adventure “Journey to Shangri-La” can be found in the Spatial metaverse - an immersive, online space that can be experienced via laptop, tablet, mobile or VR headset, and in which users represented by avatars interact.
After watching a short film in a movie theatre, visitors to "Journey to Shangri-La" jump into snowy mountains only to discover that their plane has crashed. One now has to find one’s way to safety and serenity in the magical valley of Shangri-La, high in the Himalayas. Here people live in perfect harmony with nature and no one grows old. Via the lamasery of Shangri-La, one discovers how to find exclusive avatars, is directed to a magic boat ride and is also invited to explore the massive mountain terrain with breathtaking views.
I am very excited to have been invited by Dave Fox, the builder of “Journey to Shangri-La”, to have a solo exhibition in a gallery in this space.
My exhibition ”Whispers of White” is an immersive exploration into the tranquil and ethereal world crafted through the lens of iPhone artistry. As a result of multi-sensory perception, this collection captures the unseen energies and unspoken moments in serene white hues.
”Whispers of White” invites the viewer to delve into a symphony of subtle shades, where every piece echoes calmness and purity. On this unique journey, each artwork whispers its own tale in white, and invites one to experience art beyond sight.
It is my wish that like a prism separates white light into different colors, the spirit of each viewer may reveal hidden depths within these artworks.
You are invited to visit Journey to Shangri-La and encounter my exhibition.
Whispers of White: 1 December 2024 - 31 December 2024
The theme for the 11th edition of the mObgraphia Awards held in Brazil is “ANCESTRAL FUTURE”. The winning works, shown in the Museum of Image and Sound in São Paolo, highlight the value of knowledge acquired in the past.
This contest aimed to stimulate image production through mobile platforms (mobgraphy) in order to create a dialogue about this new form of communication through mobile photography.
Using the productive and creative features of current technologies, entrants were asked to depict how traditions can be valuable when looking to the future. A connection was proposed between cultural roots and the values passed down by previous generations, and present and future life.
Looking at the speed of contemporary society, participants were asked to reflect on ancestral heritage that has been preserved.
The exhibition “ANCESTRAL FUTURE" seeks to reconcile the past and the present, valuing traditional knowledge as a guide for overcoming current challenges in society, to lead to the creation of a more sustainable, ethical, moral, and balanced future.
I entered the Digital Art category of this Mobile Photo Festival 2024. Out of the many images entered, these were narrowed down to ten. Then the final five were announced with the knowledge that these were the works that would be exhibited.
At the opening ceremony the winners of each category were announced. I am truly honoured and excited to announce that my entry “Strength” was chosen as the winner of the “Arte Digital” category.
This year mObgraphia entered the metaverse, and so although I was unable to attend the event in São Paolo, I was able to watch the event shown live in Art CIty in the Spatial metaverse and celebrate with friends from all over the world.