It’s Simple!
In the modern world it would seem our daredevil crusades have scared off the wrath of fundamental simplicity. There is a special kind of fear associated with simplicity as Its usually phrased in a negative light. The reluctance to assume such cultures may place us at risk of become a simpleton and for some that seems too much for the ego to bare.
The other day I witnessed something quiet fascinating at the bus stop. An older man dressed in the local football team attire approached a young man sitting on the bench. He stopped about 2 meters away from him and bounced a tennis ball towards him. The young man caught the ball and proceeded to bounce the ball back. Not long after the young man stood up and began to play a game of hand ball with this stranger. The two indulged each other for several minutes until the bus arrived and they went their separate ways. Needless to say they had both left with a smile on their faces. What occurred here was something quite amazing, how a simple concept that many would deem primitive or dated still had the ability to create a sense of fulfilment.
As our society becomes more complex the role of simplicity is slowly phasing out although it itself is something quite unique. Unfortunately we don’t value the ideals of simplicity in more recent times and therefore we don’t claim it exists. The willingness to accept complexities we have thrown at us has diverted our attention from the fundamentals. Retaining existence through tradition is a by-product of our reluctance to change. There is no doubt that busy people to an extent enjoy complexities because it makes their role seem important. Despite the fact that there is a certain amount of dilution it provides in doing so.
Photographer Chris Orwig is a great ambassador of reducing and simplifying. Through this process he has produced real captivating images that invite the viewer in and convey very strong messages. simplicity should be admired and appreciated as it has the ability to portray subjects in a raw context. Free of distraction and it can easily be comprehended by the viewer. As we dare ourselves to evolve we should also dare ourselves to be open minded.
“What a novelist says in 20,000 words, the poet says in 20. And after reading a poem we don’t just have information, we have more experience. A good poem isn’t about reductionism. It is about reducing, simplifying, and deepening. A poem always gives more”
Extract from Visual Poetry by Chris Orwig.
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