(Proto Jazz-Art/Francisco Bravo Cabrera/a.k.a. Bodo Vespaciano/All Rights Reserved)
I have been engaged in art for most of my life. When I was a lad I was more interested in writing, especially novels. Later I got into writing songs, taught myself to play the guitar and the bass and joined several bands. Later I created my own bands and even had a pretty decent home studio where I recorded many of my tunes. Later, and all of this was intertwined with my service in the Army and later my work in the police service, I got into painting. I was enrolled at uni and took drawing and painting as electives and got to really like it. My first paintings were done in oil and oil pastels. They sold rather well and quickly, but since it was in the days where there were no iPhone cameras I’ve no pictures of them. But I do recall that I painted them while my cat, Kitri was rummaging through the paints and getting greens, blues and reds all over her white coat…
Well, it took some time, but time passes and one must do something, so what I did was that I put my painting on hold, (actually for almost 7 years) and I decided to draw. It is very important to develop the skill of drawing and I experimented with ink, and with different types of graphite. I avoided charcoal or crayons because I found them messy and un-necessary. So these are some of the drawings I call «Pre- (or proto) Jazz Art». The Jazz art ones came about a year or two later…
(Original drawings by Francisco Bravo Cabrera/a.k.a. Bodo Vespaciano/All Rights Reserved)
Valencia es una ciudad muy especial. Todos los días hay una energía atractiva que nos carga de creatividad y cosas buenas… Me encanta caminar por las calles, no solo de mi barrio, sino de todo la ciudad. Cada sección tiene su sabor único (como en tu ciudad, supongo) pero aquí somos bendecidos con sol (la mayor parte del año) e inviernos bastante suaves… En cualquier caso, di un paseo hoy (como de costumbre) y aquí está lo que vi después de desayunar en mi lugar favorito…
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Valencia is a very special city. Everyday there is some kind of appealing energy that charges us with creativity and with good things… I love to walk through the streets, not only of my neighbourhood, but everywhere in the city. Each section has its unique flavour (like in your city, I reckon) but here we are blessed with sunshine (most of the year) and rather mild winters… In any event, I took a walk today (as usual) and here is what I saw after I had breakfast at my favourite place…
(Photography by and property of Francisco Bravo Cabrera/All Rights Reserved)
(Art Digital by Francisco Bravo Cabrera/All Rights Reserved)
Why do I say that? I mean, why do I say that art is the search. The search for what? And ultimately, what is art? If you study art history you discover that centuries ago it was quite easy to define what art was. As a matter of fact, many of the famous Renaissance artists that we think of as the Masters these days did not even call themselves artists. They considered themselves as artisans. It wasn’t until artists started choosing and deciding what they were going to paint or sculpt that the idea, the concept of being an artist was developed. Before that, artists like Michelangelo and Bernini did not choose what they were going to paint, it was commissioned to the. They painted what the Church or what a rich noble wanted, or what the King or Queen desired.
So, when artists were free to choose their subject matter, art evolved rather quickly and that is when art became the search. As an artist you must possess certain qualities, and these are: Education, Preparation, skill, insight and good taste. Without any one of these you may not succeed as an artist. (Unless you get yourself someone with lots and lots of money to sponsor you, promote your work and place you at the pinnacle of the art world. It is being done with many no-talent artists doing no good art).
In any event, that is why I say that art is the search. In the search you filter out the mundane, the ordinary, the uglier aspects of life and you keep that which can transmit a message, enhance someone’s life and enrich your own creative spirit. As an artist you must have the spirit of the times, live in the moment and search through history to conclude with a work that reflects the times and speaks to the future.
(Art Digital de Francisco Bravo Cabrera/Derechos Reservados)
La tierra pende en medio del vacío y en el fondo del mar yacen los muertos esperando despertar y despertaran cuando tiemble la tierra y las aguas se dispersen y los cielos se abran,
y las nubes, llenas de agua, se sonreirán furtivamente, imitando sonrisas esqueléticas, pero las nubes son de algodón del Nilo y se nutren de azúcar morena,
y nosotros, si, nosotros los peces de los abisales, ignoramos que hay luces en el cielo y vivimos en el fondo como esponjas que absorben y sueltan y que no retienen sabiduría.
Francisco Bravo Cabrera, 17 de enero de 2024, Valencia, España
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El Euro-Ku es una forma poética que desarrollé en febrero de 2022 porque quería hacer un Haiku y no me salía porque no soy japonés, ni llevo en mi ADN la experiencia de un japonés ni su cultura. Pero como admiro la poesía japonesa (Haiku) quise buscar una manera de traerla a mi mundo, mi mundo europeo y me salió el Euro-Ku. Se hace con tres estrofas, pero sin contar silabas y escrito de forma lineal donde pueda el lector seguirle el hilo perfectamente bien sin metáforas ni ensoñaciones que flotan por los aires. Además en autor tiene que añadirle una ilustración que tenga que ver con el poema y de su autoría. Pruébalo…
(«Eva-María»/Acrylic on canvas/70x100cm/Francisco Bravo Cabrera/Derechos Reservados/All Rights Reserved)
La pintura, hecha en mi estilo único surrealista-expresionista se titula «Eva-Maria». Muestra dos mujeres, representando dos elecciones, o dos caminos. La mujer a la izquierda es quizás una mujer santa, una mujer celestial. Ella sostiene un libro dorado, (aciduria sagrada), viste colores regales (púrpura), y debajo de ella está el pez, antiguo símbolo del cristianismo. A la derecha hay una mujer (quizás nuestra madre terrenal, Eva) que se encuentra detrás de una manzana, símbolo del conocimiento terrenal desde la época del Jardín del Edén. Esta mujer no es símbolo del mal, sino de las elecciones terrenales. Debajo de ella danza una mujer cuyas brazos son hojas de palma. Esta pequeña figura es un símbolo de integración entre lo santo y lo terrenal o se a lo profano. Además la mujer está bailando, lo que puede ser un baile de alabanza o un baile solo por el placer de bailar. Alrededor de las dos mujeres, los colores (formas abstractas) flotan y cambian de posición, simbolizando que ambos lados pueden relacionarse, que se comunican y que la existencia puede provenir de partes de una mujer y partes de la otra. Los colores las rodean a ambas creando esa necesaria unidad.
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This painting, done in my unique surreal-expressionist style is titled «Eva-Maria». It shows two women, representing two choices. The woman on the left is perhaps a holy woman, heavenly woman. She holds a golden book, dresses in regal colours, (purple), and below her is the fish, ancient symbol of Christianity. On the right is a woman (perhaps our earthly mother, Eve) who stands behind an apple, symbol of earthly knowledge from the Garden of Eden. And she represents not evil, but earthly choices. Below her dances a woman whose arms are palm leaves. This small figure is a symbol of integration between one choice (the heavenly one and the earthly one) and the woman is dancing, which can be a dance of praise or a dance of pleasure. All around the two women the colours (abstract forms) float and shift position, symbolising that both sides can and do communicate and that existence can be had from parts of one woman and parts of the other. The colours surround them both creating that much needed one-ness.
(“Elisa”/Francisco Bravo Cabrera/All Rights Reserved)
KNOW THYSELF
Know Thyself… The quest to know one’s self began as a concept, and once in a while we allow it to surface and plague our head. But it seems to me to be a difficult subject that we always push aside and leave for another day. What day? When? We, the collective “we” simply do not know. I do not know. Perhaps never.
But I am, in fact, referring to an ancient aphorism that throughout history has been transmitted, from generation to generation, in one form or another. So I ask myself, what is it good for? Again I don’t know. My conclusion is that it could be something valuable or merely rubbish.
But since it…the aphorism, supposedly…comes from Ancient Greece I should consider it valid. No? Well, in my country there’s also an old saying that says that the devil is wise not because he is the devil but because he is old. If we have been told since ancient times that we must know ourselves, this knowledge is something imperative. It must be had. It must be gained. Or not.
But, caveat emptor, if you do decide to look inside and search for your inner self, lookout. Be aware that the result of that inquiry/investigation might not really make you happy. It is quite possible that you discover you are not much more than a cretin, or an idiot. And it is also quite possible that the devil is not wise because he is old but because he is the devil. Since we do not know, then everything is possible, no?
In any event, experts (good grief experts!) say that we must be conscious creatures who know full well what we are and who we are. To discover that we must endeavour to search diligently and bravely. That whatever the results of the search may be, we must accept them and as The Beatles said, let it be. The result of our deep and profound introspection is to assimilate the results of our soul search even if they lead us on a short, and straight road to a loony bin. We must dive into the abyss of the psyche…as the Ancient Greeks called the soul…and discover who we are.
Can this be the real meaning/purpose of life, to know ourselves?
Personally, after analysing this aphorism from various angles, instead of searching within myself, I prefer to instead ask myself, what is it good for? I do not believe that such a “psychological” epiphany will lead me to greater riches, fame or make me more good looking. And if it does not serve these purposes, or do these things which are crucial for modern life, then what is it good for? Well, guess what, I cannot answer that question either. I just do not know. All I know is that it may lead to a discovery that I may find atrocious, or one that I may find glorious? Hmm…
Now, since we are assured that ancient philosophers were indeed wise men, we confront our modern life and try to live according to their aphorisms. Their ancient words are considered valuable. Our modern society venerates old sayings to the point of practically considering them infallible truths.
And not only old sayings, we also value very highly what we consider to be a classical education. Our culture, after all, comes from Ancient Greece and Rome. We show off uttering something in Latin or Greek (or Chinese, Hindi, Hebrew or Arabic) even if we really don’t know what it means. To be consequential with how sophisticated and cultured we think we are, we attend concerts of classical music, sonatas, cantatas, opera. We sit in the theatre as the music flows through our bored out ears, but steadfast we remain. We stroll through museums admiring statues of Ancient Greeks and Romans standing there naked defying our new puritanical ways. We rummage through archaeological ruins et cetera et cetera.
But when we return home, tired of so many music conservatories, theatres, museums and archaeological sites, the only thing we want is a cold beer or a glass of Rioja, and perhaps, if you are Spanish, accompany our wine with chorizo, Iberian ham and Manchego cheese. No?
So, in my humble opinion, I would rather not know any more about myself and stay as I am, as I am happy. And I think I’ve a point as there is another old saying (at least in my country) that says that better to stick to the evil known than look for the good to be discovered. So, since I think like this, I am willing to leave my interior self wandering through the depths of my soul, at least for the time being. I don’t care to meet its acquaintance. I do not know about you, but I like the “me” I live with.
Francisco Bravo Cabrera – 04 DEC 2024 – Valencia, España
Siempre dije que la IA era nada mas que una herramienta y ahora parece que todo el mundo la esta usando. Hasta WordPress la ha puesto a disposición de todos. A mi no me molesta pues las herramientas son para ser utilizadas. Hasta yo mismo la he utilizado y aqui os muestro mi sirena…
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I always said that AI was nothing more than a tool and it looks like everyone is using it. WordPress has an AI feature that is pretty good, I would say. And I’ve no problem with people using this tool, after all, that is what tools are for. Here is my use of it. I wanted a realistic looking black and white painting of a mermaid…
(AI Generated as per the instructions of Francisco Bravo Cabrera/All Rights Resesrved)
(Photo by Francisco Bravo Cabrera/All Rights Reserved)
Things, in the timeless of space, can never occupy the space that surround us, but just as mysterious, there are things that fill our lives with misery, and others that fill us with gladness. These things do not inhabit timeless space, they have made a home within our time-controlled existence and define our personality.
God carved the rocks of Mother Earth, perhaps through a love song as He pondered time in the timelessness of space…
Wisdom… God has sprinkled grains of wisdom on every mountain, valley, desert, beach and sea, and sculpted in the depths of the deepest oceans things not meant for us to see.
C. 2024, Francisco Bravo Cabrera – 04 DEC 2024 – Valencia, España
NOTA BENE
The above poem I have called a «Euro-Ku» because, as a Westerner, I cannot do justice, artistically or philosophically, to the original Japanese Haiku and I love the style and the intention. Therefore I have developed a way to express, utilising three paragraphs (stanzas/verses), without syllabic count, the intent of the original Haiku but in a way that allows me to express my thoughts, emotions, art and philosophy in a Western manner keeping true to my history and culture. I find that it would be impossible to write an original Haiku if you are not Japanese, if you have not been privileged with their history and culture, as those elements created the style, that unique style of expression.
The only ingredient, or requirement, I have added is that the Euro-Ku must be accompanied by an illustration created (or photographed) by the author of the poem. And that the verses (regardless of length) must flow evenly and consequentially into each other without floating off into outer space. Try it…
JaZzArt en València 