I am exploring in my work the possibility of extending the art of "storytelling" beyond its linear truncated continuum, with systems based on principles that we are  familiar with.

     The "Wheel of life", the prayer wheel, the "Ouroburo", the "Permutation of words" , principles of probabilities and intermittent reoccurrence (or reinforcement ) of gambling ,"endless loops",the "phasing", of modern poetry and music, the "flashbacks' and 'dissolves", the "persistence of vision" of cinema , the "scrolling","browsing" "interactivity", the "networking" of the computer paradygm, are among those many principles . I have named these devices "Stochasticons"* (infinite possibilities within a limited realm.)

     Paradoxically, most of these principles, which are usually expressed through highly technological devices are often ruled by simple and fundamental mathematical principles, which I have decided to express in their simplest mechanical form.

     Having lived in 2 countries in which time and memory are experienced quite differently, caused me to ponder on the nature of memory and personal history. In the past 15 years I have endeavored a recapitulation through an array of journals sketchbooks and photographs that became a sort of "antistory" which little by little I have  expressed  through these visual  devices

"Lost Oceans"/"Oceans perdu" is #6 in a series of "Stochasticons" based on the theme of "intermittent landscapes and composite memories". It includes 52 images arranged  along the  themes of travel, time and memory.

J.F.Podevin   Whittier, July 1999

 

 

*I attribute the reference to the "stochastic principle" of my devices to Heliodoro Flores, and the word  "Stochasticon " to Prof.  Carm.K. Goode"  who termed the word for the first time.