Sua Idao

Suca Idao
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

I'll end this year sharing an image I took today. The sun is setting early. Three O' Clock pm she goes down. When she rises again it will be 2010. Happy new year to everyone of you who has graced my blog as readers as well as writers. May our new year be a good one.

Merry Christmas / Happy Solstice

Tomorrow day is Christmas Eve. The annual day of celebration. One day before Christmas day, which I have learned is the day Americans celebrate. Tomorrow is Julafton. Hence the popular saying: God Jul. Which in english would mean: Merry times of Yule. This is according to some referencing the pre-christian pagan way of life of northern Europe.

I am a firm believer that Christmas should not exclusively be about presents and gifts, at least not forcibly so. But I enjoy it if is done in the right spirit. It can bring us closer together, no matter what faith. Sweden is no different from other parts of Europe though in the sense that there is a lot of focus on shopping. Very much so. I don't particularly care for it.

Living in the northern hemisphere these are times which brings very little direct sunlight to us. We have been blessed with snow this year though, which makes the days much more joyful. It brightens the season and makes the long walks I enjoy taking enjoyable. Especially because I get to experience the snow in such a direct way. I had almost forgotten how lovely the sound is that it makes when trodden on by a pair of shoes. I do hope we get to keep it.

Even with the snow: were it not for electricity there would be only a few hours of sunlight for the moment being. Now many of us can take part in the luxury of doing what I do now, even write a blog-note in the middle of the night the day before Christmas eve.

This time of the year nearing the end of December is not only known as Christmas: but also as winter Solstice - the day when the axis of the earth is tilted so that we in the northern hemisphere have access to the least sun in the year. Both winter Solstice (vintersolståndet) and Christmas are two days of importance which coincide practically at the same time of the year.

Christ as Sol, found in necropolis under St. Peter's Mid-3rd century Grotte Vaticane, Rome.

Christmas signifies the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the messiah of the Christian religion. In some traditions both modern and antique Jesus is seen as corresponding to the sun. Which is found in the above image. Various strands of orthodox Christianity often downplay this connection, sometimes claiming that this leads to reducing Jesus to a pagan deity among other deities.

I don't care for theological fights of wits. Somewhere along those conflicts what should be important often is forgotten. The core message which the season is all about. Which according to Christianity would be summed up in the two basic tenets "Love the Lord your God" and "Love thy neighbor", according to Matthew 22:36-40.

I cherish synchronicity. The idea of seeing similarities and universal themes and connections in philosophy and religion. To me it allows me to open up my perspective to see the very open and dynamic process which our lives are a part of.

To some this time of the year signifies the birth of Jesus Christ, the benefactor of mankind. For others it is the time of the seasonal cycle which signifies the farthest point in which darkness will prevail under the current season. And the turning point in which the sun is slowly but steadily going to return into our lives. The birth of a new season. For some it is just a good time to spend with family and friends.

No matter which category you belong to, or if you would like to describe your view of the season in a totally different way: I am going to leave this blog post in the seasonal greeting which is often heard here in Sweden.

God Jul och Gott Nytt År

Which could be translated to:
merry Yule and a merry new years eve.

The deeper layers of Avatar

I saw Avatar the other day. I didn't know what to expect. Apparantly Avatar broke the record as to what movie has been the most expensive motion picture to produce thus far. Would this benefit the movie, or rather work against it? I didn't know before I sat in the modest theatre in my hometown.

My first impression was that of being impressed of the sheer beauty. Computer generated imagery has apparently taken leaps and bounds in terms of what it can accomplish yet again. And the planet Pandora; which humanity is present to pillage natural resources from, is as otherwordly and fascinating as it should be.

For those who have seen the japanese animated worlds of Hayayo Miazaki in movies such as Princess Mononoke and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, you will be able to see clear similarities between the ideas of these different filmmakers. James Cameron has blessed Avatar with the same life affirming critique of mans dominion over nature such as with Miazaki's films.

Another layer is the story about colonialism and its destructive logic: that idea that might gives right. A story woven into the fabric of our own histories. A question which still burns and unsettles the world.

Avatar is also a beautiful portrayal of indigenous spirituality. There is a clear theme presented that the people who live there view divinity as being present in all living things - a thought which some may call animism. There is a clear reverence for the natural world here which struck me as being vibrant and respectful. For this thing alone I would recommend you to see the movie.

The thing which makes science fiction such a fantastic form to tell a story is that it disconnects us enough from the present to show us another angle at what precisely is our present. This movie does that wrapped in a story which engaged me.

Under the Sea

I contributed a song yesterday for the KVR-Audio December competition. Whatever my participation will lead to, I am very pleased with the song itself. It references early syntheziser music and I think I achived the warm and fuzzy sound which I aimed for.

Suecae Sounds - Under the Sea by Suecae_Sounds

My Design in a Field of Motion

Motionfield - Under the Stars

The ambient artist Motionfield has recently released a new album of his: the soothing record Under the Stars. The music is a blending pot of warm ambient and mellow electronica. I would go as far as saying that this has some strong references to the great pioneer's of syntheziser music.

I designed the cover with the basis of a photograph I took this spring. The first cover entirely done by me. So this is somewhat different then the covers which I have contributed my images to.

It is available for purchase from many venues, such as Emusic and Record Union. For those who have an account at the streaming e-music service Spotify, you are also able to listen to the album there.

Lady Frost

Lady Frost
Originally uploaded by Suecae Photography

The 2 December was a day of immense beauty. The world was transformed by white crystals which was then colored by the sun. We have had to many grey and cloudy days as of late, so this was definitely needed.

On the Cover: Reprise

A second photography of mine has found a home with one of the netlabel Kahvi's releases. The first one was Polaski's Bendii Syndrome. This time around it is Acrilic Colors ep Yves Klein Blue. It was released on the netlabel Kahvi Collective a couple of days ago and is available for free.