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Reflection

( Size: 34" x 29.5" Oils )

Subjects in the painting:

Reflection The scene in the "Window" in the sky, reflects a parallel with that on the ground.

Full of symbolism pertaining to man and his evolutionary tract through time and space.

The scene in the sky represents that out there in the deepest cosmos there are Planets with similar atmospheres that will sustain life (maybe not as we know it !). There are probably tens of thousands of civilisations in the potential 50 million galaxies in the known Universe. Thinking we are "Alone" is mathematically invalid and contrary to reason.

If "others" do come from outer space, we would probably act irrationally and fall back on our basic instincts and defend ourselves, rather than greet them with open arms, (if by chance "others" do arrive...our defences will be a "Joke").

And to finish on a different note.. "Reflection", "Stevie" a dear friend who has the number one slot titled F.S. ORR (Stevie)., The woman here on Earth was a "Rock", in Heaven she will probably be an "Angel"......In fact "Stevie" has probably taken command !!!!

Francis Stephenson Orr. 23 May 1915 to 18 July 1998. "A true friend"...

E.W.Powell 19.7.98. Painting completed 1991/92.

Complexity comment:

Putting two mirrors opposite each other gives an infinite series of reflections, decaying into nothingness. Each reflection is the same as the original but shifted in size and position. This property, where part of the object mimics the whole, is an important concept in complexity theory, called self-similarity. It is studied in a branch of science called Fractals. Fractal systems have the strange property of having fractional dimensions, they are not 2 or 3 dimensional but something in between. Yet these objects do exist, and in fact most of nature has fractional dimension. Examples include trees, mountains, coastlines, clouds, lungs, ferns and waves.

This same property is evident in dynamic systems also, whether inorganic (earthquake size) or human (stock market fluctuations). For each, the number of small disturbances is greater than the number of large ones. If we plot the data we find that it follows a straight line power law. This allows us to predict the form of expected variations, but unfortunately not to specify when those of a particular size will occur.

Similarly, firm predictions of human behaviour are impossible. A single irrational act can completely change the whole of society, just as a single grain of sand added at the wrong time can cause an avalanche.

Page Version 1.1 October 1998
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