Beauty and the AuksteemCreated with Sketch.

in #beauty7 years ago (edited)

Beauty and the Auk

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Auk, port bow

Beauty matters. We need it. But why, what is it?

There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion. Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

This seemed right when I first read it. But the question continued to puzzle me. Eventually, I decided to try to make something beautiful and perhaps learn by doing.
With my son Finn's help, I built a wooden lapstrake dinghy---an "Auk," designed by Iain Oughtred on the Isle of Skye. Oughtred is famous for his timeless designs. Even his plans are gorgeous.
It took awhile, as I am only so-so with tools, and I'd never built a boat.

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One day, when the hull was finished and I was working on the interior, I stood back to look at the Auk. It was amazing to see lines on a plan becoming a real boat. The curves were harmonious, functional, universal. Then I began to notice mistakes---one strake a bit low at the stern, the scar from a dropped plane, an off center joint... I realized that no two Auks would be the same. Each would incorporate the builder's choices and mistakes.
I was seeing the lovely lines of the boat and its imperfections, its uniqueness, at the same time. Its "strangeness!"
I understood, finally. Beauty emanates from the marriage of the universal and the unique.
These are our most disparate selves---at opposite ends of a life long see-saw. In beauty's presence, we relax, exhaling, as we are nudged or jolted toward balance.

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I love this description of beauty and how it incorporates uniqueness generated by chance or mistake it's very insightful and well worth the short read and the way it explains the initial quote nicely put together my friend keep up the good work ☺️

Thanks, memes. I used that quote as an epigram in one of my novels, but it left me wanting more. I puzzled over the question of beauty (what the hell is it?) for at least ten years before I built the boat and got some satisfaction. Pam and I are leaving for Greece next week for three months. Hot damn! I've got three new sketchbooks. Time to get small (see Batman story I'm posting next, when you get a chance). Have a fine spring!

Thanks for the reply Walker, I think you're right that beauty is one of the major subjects and ideas on Earth, and well worth striving to understand one way or another, and you're Insight on the subject yes that was really good I like that a lot because it explained where the uniqueness of objects comes from or can come from. That sounds like a great trip you and your Pam are going to have to Greece I look forward to seeing some sketches and artwork from you so have a great time and enjoy the beauty🛫🌬️🇬🇷🌲🏛️🎨💡☺️