Resonance XIII
Tunnel Beach is
photographed by many people and I knew we had to search for a
new and perspective, but one that also related to Baxter. The
day was clear and as the noise of the huge clean swell thundered
across the cliff tops it was difficult to imagine how we could
find an image that related to the sexual experience that Baxter
found in the place, but easy to find one that related to death.
The opposites of tunnel and headland offered the symbols we were
looking for. I later spoke to a friend of mine about Baxter's
symbols for Tunnel Beach and he said for him is was certainly
one of death. In his youth he had climbed out onto the flat pinnacle
of limestone rock feature in the centre image and had become stranded
only to be rescued many hours later.
Map of Brighton indicating where the image Resonance XIII was taken from
enlarge map
|
James K Baxter - Poem
references
The
Waves 1962
- 3 CP 265
Your labia of rock,
high breasts of foam
Tunnel Beach 1946 CP. 53
Thunder along her
seven beaches......
From the sea-carved
cliffs that
held us in their hand.....
through the rock
tunnel whined
the wind, time's hound
in leash
and stirred the sand and murmured in your hair
the honey of your moving thighs |
