Page 13 - Between light and shade

ChapteR 1

A knowledge base

Pliny the Elder’s (23 to 79 A.D.) myth of the
origin of art, with the tracing of lines around a
human shadow, and Plato’s myth of the origin
of knowledge, with the projection of the sha-
dows of reality on the wall of his cave/prison 1,
still represent expressions of our original lack of
imagination.

We can escape from this prison, once more, via
the paths of artistic creation, scientific discovery
and technical invention.

Construction lies at the crossroads of these
three paths and that is where I stand, examining
the light that enters through the transparent parts
of constructions, and the accompanying shadows
and reflections.

My countless questions are those of a buil-
der who is preoccupied by the meaning of his
actions and vexed by the concern of only seeing

1 Again, it is Stoichita who makes this fascinating comparison.
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