HOWARD NEUFELD, artist

To Understand Reality; Minkowski's Four-dimensional Space-time Continuum:

Some say to understand Nature is to understand Reality. For myself Nature, from its tiniest "vibrating strings" as found in the Plank-sized, Super String Theory of sub-atomic physics, to a universe of massive, incomprehensible cosmic expansion, involves some sort of a structure interacting with some type of chaos, perhaps an element of chance occurrence, which just might be another type of structure.

We are limited in our perceptual capabilities to three dimensions of space and three durations of time. Intellectually we cannot grasp or even imagine a "four-dimensional space-time continuum." This may be why it can only be examined and understood via mathematics. Mathematics involves "processes" and as such, using a "process" may be the only way that we can comprehend it.

In Quantum Mechanics there's also a concept of multiple-universes as well as another that might relate to my paintings more directly called "the observer and the observed," intertwined with each other where the "observed" is directly affected by the actions of the "observer." Working with the Process includes simultaneous-receptivity using improvisation. By avoiding intent, the illusions that result are formed with a different kind of relationship between the "observer" - me, and the "observed" - the non-objective illusions of Chaos, by both remaining in the "here and now."

I intuitively think "structure" and "chaos" are externally Natures ultimate, binary complements - what makes it whole and likewise, internally or psychologically as rational and irrational, is what makes painting itself a unique Human ability and passion. 

Note: The above illustration is of "A spacetime light cone" and was taken from page 253 of the book: "Art & Physics; Parallel Visions In Space, Time & Light" by Leonard Slain; William Morrow and Company, Inc.;New York.