Visual Explorations

Philosophy is often presented as the fundamental interpretative tool, but art can also serve this role. Visual Explorations is the online art showcase of the Global Spiral. Every monthly issue will present a “visual exploration” through painting, sculpture, photography, and images from the sciences, expanding our understanding of foundational questions.

Our showcase is open to submissions. Please include the title of the piece, a short biographical sketch, and a brief description of the artwork (in the case of science images, tell what is being portrayed). Send all submissions to visualexplorations@metanexus.net.

© 2003 The William Blake Archive, Morris Eaves, Robert N. Essick, and Joseph Viscomi
(Plate 12 of The First Book of Urizen, by William Blake)

"The First Book of Urizen, as its title suggests, can be seen as the first book of Blake's “Infernal Bible”. In it he offers an alternative view of creation in a rewriting of the biblical Book of Genesis. According to this view, creation itself needs to be seen as an evil act because it follows from a command; it is the despotism of the god of reason and law, Urizen, that has called the world into being, and this is why it has automatically assumed a fallen form. In the poem, Urizen, having created the fallen world, is then drawn down into it himself, finding himself bafflingly and chaotically embroiled in his own nets and webs. The god Los, standing for the imaginative power, has been set to watch over Urizen, but instead he too gets drawn into the general collapse."

From David Punter, University of Stirling. "The Book of Urizen." The Literary Encyclopedia. 17 Jul. 2001. The Literary Dictionary Company. 14 March 2007. <http://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=1402>