Like an organic form or mold or a shadow one can capture
with one’s hands there is a solid tangibility in Khaled Mattawa’s hyper
distinction of being and one’s environment.
How is an artist shaped? I think Mattawa exemplifies the raw
realness of how the reactionary part of the artist and the work that comes out into affect.
Recently he wrote this in Kenyon Review about Libya’s Day of Liberation: One Year On (Oct. 24, 2012):
What makes these developments bitter
sweet, yet again, is that it is indeed unreasonable to celebrate situations
that may bring about more violence in the future. This goes along with my
conviction that it is indeed inhumane to celebrate any war victory.
The great poet philosopher Laozi
wrote:
The killing of many people should
create sorrow and grief.
A great victory is a funeral ceremony.
Laozi also wrote:
Weapons always turn back against
themselves.
Encamp an army today;
the campground is all thorns and brambles
tomorrow.
Make war for a month; there will be famine for years.
Do what needs
to be done, but do not rejoice in victory.
Make war, if necessary, and win,
but
without arrogance, without hostility, without pride,
without needless violence.
War,
victory, and the rest do not last.
What will last I hope are the memories of real
accomplishments, the moments when the nation in duress acted in peace to
further the wellbeing of its citizens. We’ve had a few of those here in Libya
this past year. I hope we will begin to celebrate them instead.
There's softness and caution to his words and work and such a deep deep connection to Laozi's ethos as well. I'm still sitting here trying to digest Mattawa.
Thanks Joann - This connection to Laozi was really helpful. While reading Mattawa I felt this sense that there was morning and also doing what was needed to survive. Which makes me think about "non-violence" and the misunderstanding of that ethic as one devoid of self-protection. This reading also makes me see displacement further in his texts, from being in a place where violence and survival is much more in your face to a place where it exists in theory and distance or in amnesiac culture. I, too, am still trying to digest. Thanks for your insight, Joann, and your awesomeness.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy how you used concrete words "organic" and "solid" to describe something abstract (Mattawa's words). I think this is such an accurate way to depict his style and his intention as a writer. Like you said, it's raw and real.
ReplyDeleteLET'S DIGEST THIS TOGETHER.
Ha ha on Eden's comment--head spinning? I think we'll all bring an important knowledge to these constellations.
ReplyDeletee