Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Highly Decorated Containers - Patterns Continuing with different ways containers for special objects are constructed we find many that many are highly decorated (...and then again, some are almost blank.) We looked at a shrines yesterday, and noted their decorations. One can look at the other containers we've looked at and note the same thing. Basically, we see an abundance of decoration, often repeated. Why? One reason to note, and get out of the way, is that it may be easiest for the craftsperson to finish an object with a technique they know. Once a decoration motif is designed, it is less time consuming to just repeat it. Further, a busy surface can hide small flaws in craft, say where two parts do not line up correctly, or the surface was not properly finished. The brain sees a simple pattern and assumes the rest of the decoration matches it. This also plays into the notion that repeated patterns are easily undersood by the brain, and thus liked. (We noted more on this earlier.) Busy, repeated, decorations may be a sign as to the the economic or quality conditions in which the piece was made. The brain assumes the best and likes things that are easily understood . Beyond these, there are other more metaphorical reasons: If the decoration includes important symbols, the craftsperson, and the viewer, may think that by creating or viewing multiple symbols, they gain more merit. The repeated simple design creates an overall complex design, which mirrors the idea of nature (or morality, metaphysics, etc...) stemming from a few simple rules. It may also mirror the notion of one's (or the object within's) place in a complex universe. In their seemingly endless repetition, the designs may be pointing to infinity, conferring that notion to the object's power. The repetition may be seen as a form of oscillation, or vibration, a basic type of energy which premeates the universe and is a source of power. Thus, the object would be seen as to be eminating or a conduit of such energy. The multiple designs may be understood to symbolize the multi-facted aspects of the object's power. But what of the containers we noted that lacked decoration? Tomorrow- 10:42:07 PM