INTRODUCTION TO {M}
a system for making art based on ideas about the mind
I have copied this {M}anifesto to a new blog: {M} em-art-project. This will show the most recent version of this {M}anifesto. If you wish to comment, please follow the link to the blog. The texts below are gradually becoming obsolete, and will probably be removed before long.
{M} is a way of making art based on powerful ideas about the mind and the world. What we experience as the world is a construction by our minds based on limited and distorted inputs from our senses and the limitations of our brains. Nearly all of this construction is done by unconscious parts of our minds, which communicate with our conscious minds using feelings, images and words. The intention of {M} is for its audience to directly experience the workings of their minds, partly guided by these ideas.
These works can be uncomfortable, but also can bring wonder, delight, widening of the conscious mind and self-discovery.
The ideas behind {M} are not original, coming from philosophy, cognitive science, other artists, and spirituality, particularly Buddhism.
Works in {M} are intended to be universal, accessible to anyone without special training, previous experience or even being part of a particular culture. For this reason, works that deal with politics, gender, sexism, racism, and other higher level, socially-based themes are not part of {M}. These kinds of work are certainly valuable, but they should be put in their own categories so the definition of {M doesn’t become too dilute...
I