ganesha

ganesha //©anetteskuggedal..
the mover of obstacles and learning...an essence of life.

2012..as we move into a new year, we hope that you all find new challenges, possibilities & peace in new beginnings…..

we wish you all

a wonderful  & peaceful new year…

love anette & the bandits…

…today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life…………..// dalai lama

ganesh |gəˈnā sh | (also Ganesha |-ˈnā sh ə|) ..hinduisman elephant-headed deity, son of Shiva and Parvati. Worshiped as there mover of obstacles and patron of learning, he is usually depicted colored red, with a pot belly and one broken tusk, riding a rat. Also called Ganapati .

ORIGIN from Sanskrit Gaṇeśa ‘lord of the ganas’ (Shiva’s attendants).

peace…

parliament// oslo// norway

The most important in life is mutual respect, love and compassion.

Our children are the essence of life.

CNN interview with one of the teenagers //”If one man can show this much hate, think how much love we can show together” /

Our hearts and thoughts go out to all those that have suffered a loss and that have lost their life, their innocence, their trust….to the parents, friends that have lost someone so close ..so dear…….

Terror tries to take away the innocence of a country, of a nation, of a soul.. it is important to stand together, be strong and use our strength to fight for equality, peace, understanding, and compassion…

love & peace to all…

In respect// today July 25th

12:00 noon/ there is a minute’s silence at 12, noon local time.

18:00/ Peaceful gathering at Town Hall, together walk to Oslo Cathedral. For those who can, please bring roses…

democracy |diˈmäkrəsē|noun ( pl. -cies)a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives :capitalism and democracy are ascendant in the third world.• a state governed in such a way : a multiparty democracy.• control of an organization or group by the majority of its members :the intended extension of industrial democracy.• the practice or principles of social equality : demands for greaterdemocracy.ORIGIN late 16th cent.: from French démocratie, via late Latin from Greek dēmokratia, from dēmos ‘the people’ + -kratia ‘power, rule.’

cocoon…

co•coon |kəˈkoōn|

a silky case spun by the larvae of many insects for protection as pupae. • a similar structure made by other animals. • a covering that prevents the corrosion of metal equipment. • something that envelops or surrounds, esp. in a protective or comforting way : the cocoon of her kimono | figurative a warm cocoon of love.

...the wonders of a cocoon ...the soft 
...protective... flexible...shield.....that 
wraps innocence until the wings gently push its 
way through the softness in order to stretch on 
its own merit.....as the child is ready to 
become an adult......

the innocence of the soul needs the soft protection
as well as the strength of being able to
break through....

ad•o•les•cence |ˌadlˈesəns|

the period following the onset of puberty during which a young person develops from a child into an adult. ORIGIN late Middle English : from French, from Latin adolescentia, from adolescere ‘grow to maturity’ (see adolescent ).

time

“…..the time which we have at our disposal every day is elastic; the passions we feel expand it, those that we inspire contract it, and habit fills up what remains….”  marcel proust

…..we fill our time in passing…. & unconsciously time passes us… as we think we are in control of our presence our future runs faster and we seldom take a deep breath and just linger in the presence……

time in passing ...//©anetteskuggedal
life....//©anetteskuggedal
time again...//©anetteskuggedal
time...// ©anetteskuggedal
time too...// ©anetteskuggedal

life…

…….a sensation of happiness & balance?….. what defines that balance…we are in a world of constant change…… we strive at all times to be able to achieve “wealth”……and the definition of this wealth is so divers… so triggered ……

weal•th  |welθ| an abundance of valuable possessions or money : he used his wealth to bribe officials.• the state of being rich; material prosperity : some people buy boats and cars to display their wealth.• plentiful supplies of a particular resource : the country’s mineral wealth.• [in sing. ] a plentiful supply of a particular desirable thing : the tables and maps contain a wealth of information.• archaic well-being; prosperity. ORIGIN Middle English welthe, from well 1 or weal 2 , on the pattern of health.

weal 2  formal that which is best for someone or something : ORIGIN Old English wela [wealth, well-being] ; related to well.

….in our parts of the world we have a tendency to measure wealth through our financial situation…having a better car than the neighbor ….. where as in other places wealth is measured through finding peace…..family….happiness…..having water….a home…. food….surviving…..

the western world as we know it.. is fortunately layered and there are those that fight and believe ….and make a difference through challenging society… but still we have a lot to learn [fortunately]…..my concern is more the process of achieving happiness and wealth …… when we really have nothing to fight for [except having a better car than the neighbor!!] & that skews our perceptions, our values….how we see the world…….. it is not that we need disasters at all time, but we need to see those that are already there, globally…  seeing understanding & trying to find solutions strengthens and challenges the soul & mind….  we need to be challenged to evolve… develope….learn…. see … experience…  & for the next generations….so that we are able to stretch beyond our limits… and take part of the global issues….. using our knowledge to help.. understand & develop on a global level… not the make of our next car……[or the neighbors]

 
see escapes...//©anetteskuggedal
bridges... //©anetteskuggedal
soldiers of the night....//©anetteskuggedal

censorship

cen sor ship |ˈsensərˌ sh ip|

the practice of officially examining books, movies, etc., and suppressing unacceptable parts : details of the visit were subject to military censorship.

…censorship//is the suppression of speech or other public communication which may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or inconvenient to the general body of people as determined by a government, media outlet, or other controlling body.

In a world where we are in constant change.. we need guidelines..  those unspoken words of wisdom and guides to keep us on a path of evolving within the realm of morality….. but who and where are these guides to come from; and how in the world of cultural diversity are we able to communicate these “guides” past the boarders of culture, religion, power, politics….greed…controll…

Facebook an influential platform for communication takes upon itself to be such a  guide..

//directing the visual acceptance of our society…..in all respect there are images that never should be allowed, clearly I believe that we need to protect those exploited, those venerable, the young, & the innocent…

…but recently FB censored a Robert Mapplethorp  photograph on Fotografiska’s FB page. An incredible photograph of a naked man.  Robert Mapplethorp was a photographer from NYC.. and his work reflects a hidden society, gay community, as well as being a major artist that influenced the fashion and art world with his iconic portraits. .. … throughout his work there is a respect that lies in the subject matter……showing that there is a major difference in exploitation and art……

Listening to the interview made here of Robert Mapplethorp done 33 years.. I wonder how far have we come in being able to distinguish the good from the bad…. the evil from  virtuous……

Artist and their art is a form of expression and at times it reveals truths that many of us are unable to muster… it is based on the premiss of awareness and trying to see and understand issues in a different way… when censorship comes in on a flying carpet of fear it takes away the discussion… the learning … understanding……

heroes…..

9/11 //Afghanistan //Egypt //Congo// Japan// Libya….. and so many more…are in need of support…not only financially but also the ability to see the world and the aspects of what it does to our soul…..we change the way we think.. feel.. and understand….

our world is meet with so much turmoil and tragedies…..that it at times feels so unreal….we listen to the news… we scan the images ……before we turn to our double decaf, soya skimmed coffees……

are we in a time of too much information and too much imagery… are we able to absorb the stories…..are we able to humbly realize the necessity of  our awareness and our ability to make a difference….

the need to “see” the everyday heroes grows… a friend once told me that the intent of his work was not to change the world but for us to be more aware of our actions, og our everyday life..so that we make decision based on the knowledge and understanding of what makes-up our life..

Heroes of our times are many…..

Ai Weiwei// a chinese artist who through the arts reveals the unknown stories & his fight to be heard …. Who is afraid of Ai Weiwei

Marcus Bleasdale is an award-winning photographer revealing the ongoing horrors of Congo. In the field and in the everyday work of telling the stories  many are involved…as the fight for  Marrion P’Udongo// a fixer in Congo //“A fixer in need”

The deaths of two Photojournalists that in constant danger challenged fate to be able to relay the unknown stories… // “Restrepo’ Director and a Photographer Are Killed in Libya”
there are many more….. we need them…… we need to learn and be conscientiously aware of what we can do….and be conscientiously aware of what is really going on in our world…using the arts to convey impressions, expressions, meanings & understanding is a grow need and show the necessity of our to be able to convey and communicate with a purpose…

…london stories…

I guess in the mist of it all we all have our experiences and our passions …. subjectivity influenced by the places that we have been able to find peace & tranquility … or are they merely dreams…. figments of our imagination needed to contrast the everyday noise……

london stories....//©anetteskuggedal

….growing pains…

… remember the fragile steps of growing-up… of being… the safe and thrill of  the unknown.. of seeing and feeling the touch of experiences in life…

…the firsts…

the first time you jumped into the water from a height too high…

the first time you were under water just a bit too long………

the first time you walked into a new class….

the first time you performed on a stage….

the first time (and thank God only) your brother plays william tell with you….( and no he did not miss!!)

the first time you climbed walls,  realizing that there is no way down…

the first time I packed my bags  & walked out into the dark for forever never to return….

the first time you rode a bike……and then let go of the handlebars….

the first time you got lost in the woods….

the first time you were at a temple.. giving offerings….

the first time you rode the rollercoaster….

the first time you sailed & the winds died…..

the first time you met your best friend……

the first time you said good-bye to your best friend….

I believe that one says that life experiences’ builds your soul.. and guides you onto new trails… I really do believe, and in many ways, live by that… as a child I was fortunate I lived in a world past… in Far East Asia’s exotic lands….. where life experiences of the soul are a necessity to survive… I was at morning temples  in Bangkok giving offerings….I swam among stingrays….dove off cliffs …..in essence experiences that I would love to have passed on to the bandits….. but fortunately they have their own first… their own experiences…. their own passions…building their own souls…. all unique… and I am fortunate to be a part of that journey…..

 

 xander ....// ©anetteskuggedal
tilly.....//©anetteskuggedal
bastian.....//©anetteskuggedal

“…influences come from everywhere but when you are actually shooting you work primarily by instinct. But what is instinct? It is a lifetime accumulation of influence: experience, knowledge, seeing and hearing. There is little time for reflection in taking a photograph. All your experiences come to a peak and you work on two levels: conscious and unconscious….”…...arnold newman...