GCAFY LOGO  

Catalogue of an Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings

(on the origin of man and his place in the world)

 

Introduction to The Story of Stories

 
The Story of Stories

Cosmogony is the study of the beginning of the world.  Every cosmogony culminates in the origin of man, just as all origin myths presuppose a cosmogony.  It is, therefore, impossible to discuss one without making reference to the other.  To that extent, this project focuses on the beginning of times, the beginning of the world, the advent of man in the world. But since man has been said to be the purpose and meaning of being, greater attention will be paid to him here in an attempt to present a graphic hermeneutics of origin myths...

…And having said that, what interpretation can one identify as being general both in the myths and the graphic representations?  Is there any such general interpretation?   Or does there have to be?  The answer to these questions could presuppose a finalist attitude which can threaten the foundations of my thesis.  But it can conveniently be said that all the myths help to affirm that man not just is.  He lives and continues to remain the ultimate purpose of cosmogony.  And since most of the mythic heroes are strangely related, it can be posited that man in general must have had a common ancestry.  The mythic hero at the beginning of times must have been part of the cosmic order and probably enjoyed the ability to manifest at different places and times to give birth to various cosmologies and cultures.  This is perhaps, why man is in plural, yet unique. As I stated in my talk at the Northwind Gallery Port Townsend, on November 7, 2003, and also in my book, A Critical Travelogue, I can only conclude from this project that there are no races, but only one race – the human race.