THIS SYMMETRY: March 2011

Thursday

"Oh, and heres that tiger, that first reveal of the siberian. That strong, strong kitty cat."

I personally really enjoyed this, but I have bee getting my kicks from strange things lately so who knows.

-B

okie-dokie

Above are some ridiculously badass oil paintings by Kevin Peterson which really struck a chord with me and resonated throughout my heartstrings. It was refreshing.

Creating This Symmetry has been an incredibly rewarding experience in so many aspects. We've gotten vast support locally and abroad in places we've never even imagined, but it was last night when I first encountered one of the negative aspects of running a visual blog.

Scavenging through copious sources in the realms of the interweb, viewing beautiful image after beautiful image, I became conscious of my desensitization to...beauty. My attention span has greatly diminished, and what really gets me is the fact that I no longer think about what it is that affects me about certain things. It's just on to the next. And that is sad.

I have felt guilty towards my relationship with art for a while now, and I think it is coming to a climax. Art does so much for me, yet I don't feel I have done enough for art. I have become lazy in exuding the appreciation and thought it deserves. Fuck, I havent even sat down and created something in months. Part of it has to do with the ongoing conundrum of originality, part of it has to do with my internal struggle for the unattainable state that is perfectionism. But I've made a semi-sincere vow to myself to become more aware and conscious of what it is I view. Because if I don't, then what's the point of it's existence? When I was little, my older brother and I always played the "Would You Rather" game. Once when we were in Norway on holiday, I specifically remember him asking me, "would you rather be nothing but a dreamer, or nothing but a cynic?". At the time, I didn't know what a cynic was, but I wanted to sound cool so that's what I chose. He scoffed at me, and that memory has stuck with me through all these years. As it turns out, I am quite the cynic. But that's something I wish to change. I want to be more of a dreamer. A dreamer who contributes to dreams.

How's that for a bunch of rambling bullshit?

-R

day off

Things to keep in mind when spring cleaning.

-B

up all night

Stone Cold Fox shorts, egad!

Technically, it is tomorrow already since it is 12:19am, I have had a long day.

Tomorrow (or today?) I have to hand in all my bursary and scholarship applications, and because I have taken the time out of my schedule I will be prepared to hand them in, but I have had a long day. I think my favourite point of this day was eating strawberries and frozen yogurt, which I led myself to believe was a healthy option, and then was told it was not? Can someone explain this to me? Maybe I am in an unfit state to be told anything. I also got my Leica! and Rachel purchased some expired film for me, so I am await those rolls of film to fill the empty spaces of its little body. Anyways, the images above, especially the one directly above, are very inspirational for me in this very moment, I think its because I am very exhausted and feel this tenacity of tiredness and emotion.

It is raining and I can hear the pitter-patter on my skylight, I am dreaming of curling up in my fresh sheets but I think I drank too much black tea to ever get to sleep again. Oh-dear.

-B

Wednesday

feel it out

Radiohead - Codex (Mojib Remix)

-R

Tuesday

ladies and

all images courtesy of grain & gram.

Gentleman - a man of refinement.
1. You should put on the best version of yourself when you go out in the world because that
is a show of respect to the other people around you.
2. A gentleman today has to work. People who do not work are so boring and are usually bored.
You have to be passionate, you have to be engaged and you have to be contributing to the world.
3. Manners are very important and actually knowing when things are appropriate.
I always open doors for women, I carry their coat, I make sure that they’re walking on the inside of the street. Stand up when people arrive at and leave the dinner table.
4. Don’t be pretentious or racist or sexist or judge people by their background.
5. A man should never wear shorts in the city. Flip-flops and shorts in the city are never appropriate.
Shorts should only be worn on the tennis court or on the beach.

Recently after reading Tom Fords rules on being a Gentleman I realized how deeply I adore these characteristics. Chivalry may be dead, or above our heads, but I seriously hope his recent introduction of these rules sets an example of men alike. I also came across this blog and it seemed almost serendipitous - well dressed, kind, hard-working, inspired, men - Gentlemen. Grain and Gram is like The Selby of Gentlemen, and shit I am inspired and in love with this company.

-B