The Silver Book tells of the possible link between the immaterial and the material world and how the latter could have come into being. Quantum physicists are close. It’s about the emergence of space, time, energy and matter and on to life, through spiritual forces.
This investigation is not another illustration of the Bible or of the so-called Big Bang, but looks at eons of time from the beginning or before the beginning – not so easy to imagine – when time did not yet exist. The texts are an introduction, written explanations, as to how and why this topic is explored here. Drawings are briefly explained, showing how the development from the immaterial to the material world could be imagined, from an artistic and philosophical perspective.
The text and art works show the original form of a planned tapestry. Its dimensions are approx. 0.80m in height and 70m in length. It is based on the dimensions of the Bayeux Tapestry (11th Century, which was probably the first comic strip, approximately 0.50m x 68m).
Also a dialogue in comic strip form is developed in order to make it easier for a wider audience to identify and understand this tapestry.
INTRODUCTORY THOUGHTS
Humanity’s eternal mystery of who we are is still relevant today.
The questions of what abilities we have equipped ourselves with self; determination, and made ourselves aware of and know: “I AM!” This “I AM!” are always current.
How did this universe come into being, how did it come to be created, by what spiritual impulses was the physical nature of life itself created? Whether transmitted orally, in imagery or writing; through copies or translations, cultural works show themselves as signs or answers. Can creation be conceivable without the idea of a divine spirit? Was it the Vedas, Buddhists, Christians, to name a few, who conducted spiritual research in their search for wisdom? Did they hand down their philosophical explanations and with this knowledge open up an explanatory picture of the world in their records?
Is it a fundamental human need to have the idea of “freedom”, to think and to communicate freely and to act freely on a spiritual level in order to be, individually, what we imagine of ourselves? What if this knowledge and the insights of the Vedas and Buddha, developed over approximately 10,000 years, were made accessible to and accepted by not only the chosen ones in Eastern monastic communities, but also to us in the West?
Does our ‚West‘ lack the kind of wisdom to free oneself from a materially- oriented prison? What would this liberation be good for? Could the Western way of life come away from this usual agreement with materialistic thinking and acting?
To place the spiritual much higher than matter would be a momentous change, in which violence is not predominant. This might be our goal: to achieve freedom as mentioned previously through pure communication, contemplation or thought.
Could then the most respectful consideration of all life, as a basis for all actions, be prioritized over matter, with the least harm done to the planet – especially to humans, animals and plants – and be met with the greatest possible benefit? Many people are not reflective: they continue to pay homage to matter and no longer consciously trust their own ideas. Could things be getting darker on this planet or is a change possible?
If we reverse this view and favour the precious knowledge of how to know, could the mind play a role as the most powerful force to look more consciously towards a vibrant, respectful and non-violent future?
Artists and their art would be in the lead, dedicating themselves to this goal! As Shelley says,’Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world’. (PB Shelley,’The Defence of Poetry‘ 1821).
THE ARTIST
Textile design/fashion studies – Hamburg
Interior design – Stuttgart
Textile Restoration and Conservation – London and Türkiye
1984 Realization of the project of her own studio – Vienna
With exciting commissions for historical and museum textiles as well as large artistic tapestries, the studio has grown into an international meeting point for the creation of woven and knotted items.
Exhibitions and trade fairs at home and abroad have further contributed to this.
Beate von Harten
This representation of the Book Genesis tells us: “God created the heavens and the earth“… In St John’s Gospel Chapter 1:1: we are told „In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God”. It is not up to us to evaluate whether these were translations or sources at that time.
But the “Word” here also suggests “thought” and can be taken to describe physicists‘ exploration of the formulation and creation of matter.
How creation may have come about is developed in abstract drawings. These preparatory designs are carried out using threads on a woven base; a “world language”, available to all peoples and throughout all times on our planet, because textiles were developed everywhere on earth. This sequence of images invites new insights into closing the “missing link” between spirit and matter.
Wanting to understand these representations goes hand in hand with the viewer’s active interest in the subject: the study of creation in front of them!
Draft sketches for a sequence of images on the theme of "Creation", drawn on paper (gouache/graphite) on the themes: "Space, time, energy, matter, light, communication, life, agreement …"
BEFORE THE BEGINNING, EXISTS A SOURCE ...
… and its goal is to create an impact.
I AM!
In the beginning and forever is the decision and the decision TO BE!
THIS "BEING"...
It has no space + no position in space. It has no time + no relation to time & has no energy + is no energy & has no matter + is not matter. IT IS IMMEASURAB IN QUANTITIES.
BUT THIS “BEING” HAS AND IS QUALITIES:
It can create Space, Time, Energy, Matter…
And the highest ability is contemplation. To create your own truth, to come up with ideas and to carry out actions – to act.
THE FIRST ACTION & THE SECOND ACTION OF The “BEING” ARE ...
to take a point of view, from there to place points for seeing (perceiving) at a distance which are dimensional points. SO SPACE IS CREATED! The definition of space is the “VIEWPOINT OF DIMENSIONS” and the purpose of a focal point is space and a point for seeing (perceiving).
TIME IS A CONSIDERATION!
Time can be perceived through the change in the position of a particle in space – without space there is no time.
THIS “BEING”… CARRIES THE IDEA OF ENERGY. This “BEING” is not energy itself, but can create energy as a potential of movement.
To be continued with matter, communication, light, life, …
Impressions from the FAIR FOR ART VIENNA 2023
As part of the Vienna Art Fair, we presented the project “The Silver Book – A New View of Creation” to the public for the first time, from October 7th – 15th 2023.
FEEDBACK
WHY TAPESTRY?
Woven textiles are designed to be sustainable in terms of content and material as information carriers of many uses. Tapestries from the 15th/16th centuries tell of historical events, mythologies, allegories and biblical scenes in high-quality artistic representations. Their presence in castles, churches or temporary outdoor spaces such as city squares enrich posterity and create a great impact through their huge size. As they are created in series’ of 12 pieces of approximately 50 square meters each at certain festivals.
Pre-Columbian textiles from the 2nd millennium BC served in religious rites and ideas of influencing fate by appeasing the gods regarding the afterlife. Their designs and sophisticated techniques reached the highest artistic levels in this philosophical environment. With the weavers of that time, messages that were over a thousand years old were preserved due to favorable climatic conditions and transmitted to the present day. Whether our digital data and modern communication methods will survive such long periods of time is yet to be seen.
This new Tapestry about the Creation does not only require sustainable materials, but also a format, which is based on the well-known 1000-year-old “Bayeux Tapestry”.
This historical picture story describes the conquest of England by the Normans in 1066 and was created between 1067 and 1079. The dimensions are approximately 0.50 m in height and 68m in length. This lively narrative depiction appears to be one of the first humorous embroidered comic strips. The printing press didn’t exist back then.
Around 700 years after it was created Napoleon discovered this piece of textile art lying over a horse-drawn cart. He recognized its significance and identified himself as the reincarnation of Willem I the Elder, Conqueror, Duke of Normandy.
Inspired, he planned to repeat the event of the conquest of England and began building a new fleet. This embroidered image which can now be viewed at Bayeux served as welcome PR for him to convince his contemporaries of this plan. However, that didn’t happen again. He then had this important tapestry restored and posterity has ensured its dignified survival.
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
This textile work is being created on a high loom from which the long warp of approximately 70m flows, on which the silver ground and silk grow out of the loom. Later it will be embroidered on a table using the “laying technique”. The finished tapestry will be hung on the wall for display.
A central main row of 0.50m in height will be accompanied by 2 secondary rows above and below, each approximately 0.12 -0.15m high. These can be designed for explantions, comments from the audience, with the possibility of sponsorship ie. personnalised by individuals‘ names, signs, symbols /coats of arms immortalized on this work in sections (with donation).
This makes it possible for the individual to participate in the creation of the work of art!
CONTENTS
On the woven, silver-colored, approximately 70m long background in landscape format, an artistic investigation begins in abstract individual scenes from left to right before the beginning, i.e. (before the beginning of ‚Creation‘).
Drawn with threads, a consciousness develops as to how the physical world may have arisen out of it.
This development lasts “eternities”, which could have started before the beginning of time, or eons ago.
That’s why the length of approximately 70m can be experienced as a „short time lapse“, even with these dimensions!
The presentation is dedicated to a source – a spiritual being, with its enormous abilities and intentions, which tries to achieve an effect in an artistic, creative and inventive way.
Could this cause thus bring space, time, energy, matter, light and life into existence?
FINAL WORD
The drawings and designs for an art work can take more than a year to create and a tapestry can take from three to five years to produce. As this work grows you can observe it or actively participate in its creation, whether with previous textile knowledge or as a sponsor.
Weaving requires not only an understanding of what is being created, but it is also an experience: “I myself can create” can be beneficial to everyone. This sustainable work can be created without electricity, gas or other energy sources, i.e. in ordinary daylight, and will convey a message to posterity through joy and creativity alone, unlike most manufacturing processes.
The loom is made of wood, the materials (approximately 70- 100kg ) are made from natural fibres such as wool, silk and linen, all compostable or recyclable, and all of which can last for 1,000 years or longer in the right conditions! Silver and gold included.
A textile’s message can convey lasting awareness of our EXISTENCE.
By participating today interested parties can engage with this topic in this large-scale work! This is an invitation to immerse yourself in “A New View of Creation” because everyone can be a creator. It is not just about one creator, but about all our actions and everything we take granted.
SHARED RESPONSIBILITY AND CREATIVITY CAN COME CLOSER TO A GOAL. TO THE “AGE OF THE LIVING” FOR THE REALIZATION OF ALL OUR FUTURES! WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SPIRIT´S MAGNITUDE AND ABILITY, WHO CREATED SPACE, TIME, ENERGY AND MATTER, IS REALLY UNDERSTOOD? THEN WE WILL BE NO LONGER SLAVES TO A MATERIALISTIC WORLD, BUT WE BECOME THE SOURCE OF PEACE AND FREEDOM ON OUR PLANET!
