Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him
Luke 24:31 (World English Bible)
Luke 24:31 (World English Bible)
Introduction
This work is intended to honor two great thinkers:
The goal of this work is to call us to consider how it is we limit our thinking and to expand our comfort level with mystery and the unknown.
Kazimir Malevich was an artist in the early 1900s. In the decade of 1910 he began communicating the fundamental aspects of Supermatism and created the works Black Square and Red Square (Painterly Realism of a Peasant Woman in Two Dimensions). Living in Russia in the late 1920's, many of his works were confiscated, and he was banned from creating similar works as a result of Stalin’s stand against abstract forms.
This work is intended to honor two great thinkers:
- Kazimir Malevich – the creator of the art form Supermatism
- Edwin A. Abbot – author of Flatland
The goal of this work is to call us to consider how it is we limit our thinking and to expand our comfort level with mystery and the unknown.
Kazimir Malevich was an artist in the early 1900s. In the decade of 1910 he began communicating the fundamental aspects of Supermatism and created the works Black Square and Red Square (Painterly Realism of a Peasant Woman in Two Dimensions). Living in Russia in the late 1920's, many of his works were confiscated, and he was banned from creating similar works as a result of Stalin’s stand against abstract forms.
Kazimir Malevich
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Red Square (Painterly Realism of a Peasant Woman in Two Dimensions)
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Edwin A. Abbot was a theologian, English schoolmaster and author of several books. In 1884 he wrote Flatland, a Romance of Many Dimensions, the story of a square living in a two dimensional world who is visited by a sphere. In the novel the square suggests to the sphere that perhaps there are other dimensions beyond their ability to perceive; perhaps a fourth, fifth, sixth, etc. Later the square is placed in prison in the two dimensional world for trying to convince people of the existence of three dimensions.
Edwin A. Abbot
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Flatland, a Romance of Many Dimensions
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The work Red Sphere Through White pays tribute to Malevich’s ground-breaking move towards new ways of thinking by moving the notion of shapes on canvas to a third dimension. The piece on the left with the red sphere passing through the canvas, depicts how this work appears in a three dimensional world. The work on the right is the same piece as perceived in a two dimensional world.
Questions to Consider
Envision yourself in the world of Flatland.
How does the Flatlanders' ability to see only in 2 dimensions limit their ability to understand the way things really are?
Is there any advantage for them to only see in 2 dimensions?
Do you think they are worried about their limited ability?
Now consider this:
Though we live in a three dimensional world, our scientists and mathematicians have discovered the existence of at least 10 dimensions in the physical universe. This raises the question: Are there more dimensions beyond what we have discovered? With this in mind, ask yourself:
How does our limited ability to see in only 3 dimensions affect our ability to understand the way things really are?
How does our limited view affect our ability to see God the way He really is? Can we properly and fully comprehend the infinite God, creator of all dimensions?
Call to Action
As 3D humans we have many questions beyond our ability to understand. Allow yourself a greater comfort level with mystery and the currently unexplainable. Give yourself freedom to move from angst to awe, from doubt to determination in an earnest pursuit of truth. Because we have yet to perceive the answers to our questions does not mean the answers do not exist.
What questions do you have that currently evade answers? How might you seek answers to these? While in pursuit of answers, how might you gain a greater comfort level with mystery and the currently unexplained? What practical action will you take this week to pursue answers? What practical action will you take this week to pursue embracing mystery?
Final Thoughts
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.
1 Corinthians 13:12 (World English Bible)
Questions to Consider
Envision yourself in the world of Flatland.
How does the Flatlanders' ability to see only in 2 dimensions limit their ability to understand the way things really are?
Is there any advantage for them to only see in 2 dimensions?
Do you think they are worried about their limited ability?
Now consider this:
Though we live in a three dimensional world, our scientists and mathematicians have discovered the existence of at least 10 dimensions in the physical universe. This raises the question: Are there more dimensions beyond what we have discovered? With this in mind, ask yourself:
How does our limited ability to see in only 3 dimensions affect our ability to understand the way things really are?
How does our limited view affect our ability to see God the way He really is? Can we properly and fully comprehend the infinite God, creator of all dimensions?
Call to Action
As 3D humans we have many questions beyond our ability to understand. Allow yourself a greater comfort level with mystery and the currently unexplainable. Give yourself freedom to move from angst to awe, from doubt to determination in an earnest pursuit of truth. Because we have yet to perceive the answers to our questions does not mean the answers do not exist.
What questions do you have that currently evade answers? How might you seek answers to these? While in pursuit of answers, how might you gain a greater comfort level with mystery and the currently unexplained? What practical action will you take this week to pursue answers? What practical action will you take this week to pursue embracing mystery?
Final Thoughts
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.
1 Corinthians 13:12 (World English Bible)