A Response to Mountains of The Mind, Part I: "Nature's pudenda".
During my research I came across a book I thought sounded interesting: 'Mountains of The Mind' by Robert Macfarlane. I was right, it's not only interesting but inspiering. I have only finished Chapter 2 and it has already provided me with ideas and quotes. At this stage of the book, I thought it would be a good idea to stop and reflect a little on the areas that have so far made an impression.
Macfarlane goes back in time (to around 1790) and writes about how people then did not see the magnificence of mountains. Instead:
"Mountains, nature's roughest productions, were not only agriculturally intractable, they were also aesthetically repellent: it was felt that their irregular and gargantuan outlines upset the natural spirit-level of the mind." He goes on to say that they were also castigated as "'boils' on the earth's complexion," and here's a description that I enjoyed, "with their labial ridges and vaginal valleys, 'Nature's pudenda'."
How strange for me to think that mountains used to be seen as ugly! Also in this description, i find it very rude that they have compared a woman's genital's in this way, as ugly. Although nice to think that now that popular notions towards mountains are the opposite and so too might the views be towards woman's genitals.
Upon reflecting about this, it has grabbed my imagination. Here are some sketches I did before, during and after my visual research:
I had a look around to see if someone had already had this sort of idea. I didn't find anything involving mountain but found a few other images of interest.
I couldn't find the artist for this image but imagine if it where mountains instead of the universe. Very briefly, the description for this said it represented yoni- the secret gateway to creation.
yoni
ˈjəʊni/
noun
HINDUISM
- the vulva, especially as a symbol of divine procreative energy conventionally represented by a circular stone.
Secor writes on her site, "Choosing to portray vulvae as parts of nature is not about trying to make them “prettier” but about showing vulvae as they are: integral elements of the natural world we are a part of. The beauty, the strength, the very survival of nature depends on diversity."
Another outdated view on mountains:
"You might encounter a god, demi-god or monster angry at having their territory trespassed upon- for mountains where conventionally the habitat of the supernatural and the hostile."
I couldn't find the source of this image but just thought it was interesting to see this from occurring in nature, and not as a flower, petal or leaf but instead in the natural habitat.
I made a quick digital collage as a response (I made a few but this is the only one that worked). I think this works in the way that you have to look closely to recognise the shapes as mountains. This is just a test of what could happen with this idea. (Images not my own, sourced from Tumblr and 6iee). I may take this further but I want to look a little more at what I have discovered in Mountains of The Mind.
Bibliography
Book
Macfarlane, R. (2008). Mountains of The Mind (2nd ed.). London: Granta Books.
Web
Secor, J. (n.d.). Diversity of Nature. Retrieved from https://jacquelinesecorart.com/diversity-of-nature/
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