Absurdity, Allegory and China

Geometry and Fog

This image can almost be twisted into life as the first wave of an invasion by the domineering forces of Dome. A Raindrop Assault Dome (RAD) in full attack mode muscles onto the frame from the left, as the thin-ply pillboxes, hopelessly dwarfed, try their best to protect the plant life hidden deep within their Cubed though flimsy core. If death is what those sheet-of-plastic warriors desire, then from here it looks as if they’re about to get their wish.

But as they prepare to be overrun there is at least a part of this image that holds out a glimmer of hope: the fluttering royal banners (middle left) of the defending Cubes lead reinforcements of Royal Rectangles, from here unseen, rushing to fill a gap in the Line. But wait! Look closer! The flags are all flapping in the wrong direction! The Rectangles may, in fact, be in full-blown retreat. Out of the distant foggy center, the paralyzed Brothers Obelisk, who have a superior view of the action – including the activities centered on the banners – but not much say in how it’ll work out, look to be a bit concerned about their future. This makes it clear that the Recs really are on the run.

The secret weapon – what will save us – or so we’ve been led to believe, is the crazed unit of Unhinged Rings of Brilliant Circles, who, we’ve also been led to believe, are across the street waiting for the Right Time, the Right Word to roll headlong into the Fray. At the moment, they are still hunkered down behind Pizza Hill (those who know claim their pizza’s very good!), which, unfortunately, is not in the photo. Here you must use your imagination.

But the bigger question seems to be focused on the center right, foreground. What lies behind the gate? Is it about to open, issuing forth astonishing Rescue? Will the construction workers who sleep behind this barrier have a plan to drop the invader before it really gets rolling and completely takes over the Frame?

No telling which way it will go. But if I know anything, I do know this: these mercenary pipes in the service of Dome are hard as nails, tough as it gets, believe you me. It’s not like you can creep up behind any of these RADs and cut the tendons at the back of their knees, drop them in their wobbly tracks , then finish them off in a frenzy of amazing and terrible Swarm. No Swarm is about to happen here. To tumble these puppies you’d need a long line of very committed acetylene torches and men enough to work in hasty concert in order to pull it off. But I don’t think the Domes are to concerned about that. The Torchmen, like it or not, have a reputation for taking lots of smoke breaks, thus making a habit of missing critical opportunities to seize the day. Any day! Any where! Doesn’t Matter! Always the same day. Just a little bit later.

So when the Domes are on the move, it’s all about the motion. All about getting somewhere fast. No dragging their feet. No waiting around. No giving the competition any advantage. These are the Domes, for God sakes!

And all that Fog? Man, they don’t even feel it. All they have to say about it is, “What’s the Point?”

-Tianjin Olympic Stadium – November 25, 2007