Reading through Asimov’s Foundation series, I was struck with the epic idea of formulating a plan to direct human behaviour over eons. Reflecting on where we are right now in human history, I feel mostly deflated. How could we possibly evolve beyond the day-to-day injustices that keep many of us mired in the need to survive?
The more I thought about it, the more I needed to create something that depicted the influence of factors to sway or propel human behaviour in certain ways. What would it look like if I were to map out some of the psychohistorical factors leading to the decline of civilization?
The Rug-Making Process
The burlap I used was more like sisal, making it really rough to work with. I had to wear long sleeves to protect my forearms from abrasions. I hated this material. It was rough and gritty, and it fought each loop I pulled. It took a lot of effort to muscle the hook through as the wool tightened up, and much of the rose-pink pulled apart from the tension of the base. The challenge to continue nagged me, but I thought as a rug for the floor it might flatten and settle. I also wanted to see the image unfold. How do these factors impact the forward progress of the work? I honestly disliked making this rug until it was almost finished. Was I too sensitive to keep going?
Reflecting on Modern Decline
Something changed when I was close to done. I came to realize that the difficulties I was experiencing were metaphors for what this rug is really about. Reflecting on all the factors contributing to our own society's decline was hitting me hard, and my distaste for morning news filled with wars and incompetent leaders played a huge part in my attitude. But as I neared completion and saw the main rose-pink blob, representing danger and conflict, start to dissipate, I began to feel hope.
Symbolism of Hope
As the whole piece neared completion, the concept behind it took me over. The elements/colours of prosperity, success, order, growth, and change began to separate out, almost as if they needed those hardships to emerge. Through hardship comes a change. Perhaps negative, perhaps positive if one steps back and sees it for what it is - growth.
I needed a bit more and decided to add my own psychohistorical factor - hope. There are only a few loops of bubblegum pink here and there in the piece. They symbolize this hope. It seems like an essential, if not the most crucial, consideration when thinking about the future and it alone made me switch from a disliking this agonizing work, to cherishing it as one of my favourites.
I hope you like it, but it's okay if you don't.
Comments