Circumstantial method

Practical applications of Aesthetic Intelligence originate from the integration of Arthur Koestler’s “bisociation” and Carlo Ginzburg’s “evidential paradigm”. Such integration isn’t spontaneous neither obvious, nevertheless it is indispensable to understand how our senses can provide precious materials to achieve a better understanding of relationship, people and events.

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(detail from Peter Behrens’ AEG Turbine Factory, Berlin, 1908)

Hot spots

I’m heading to Tadworth, Surrey, 20 miles south of London. Mrs Linda and Mr John are waiting for me. My trip will start next Sunday, early morning, I can’t wait to be there. But I don’t only want to be there, I want to go there. That’s why I will not use any autoroute (if we’re allow not to consider the Eurotunnel an autoroute) and that’s why I’ve choose two stops full of Aesthetic Intelligence.

First one is Ronchamp, where I’ll meet Le Corbusier’s Notre Dame du Haut, one of the very few worthy modern churches. I’ve never been physically  there but since I hold a degree in architecture, it is going to be doubtless a meeting, a great place to test the circumstantial method.

The second stop  is Amiens, where I’ll find two other architecture totems: the gothic cathedral and the Tour Perret. For deeply different reasons these are two important spots on our Aesthetic Intelligence road map.

Once in Tadworth, and after a just amount of cups of tea and conversations, presumably on the green shores of Epsom Downs, I’ll spend one day in London. Well, the 750 S and me will spend it, looking for The Club 59, Ace Cafe, Lewis Leather, The Great Frog, The School of Life.

Preparing the next trip

This is the very first Aistanomai trip:

(Here is the detailed map)

Actually it is not the first at all, since I’m 48 and I’ve already been out of town a couple of times. But this is going to be my the first Aesthetic Intelligence driven trip. I’ll collect traces, data, pictures, ideas, videos, insights, informations (not many) and, hopefully, knowledge. To raise all these materials I’ll use all my Aesthetic Intelligence tools:

  • a 1975 Moto Guzzi 750 S (arguably the most beautiful bike ever built);
  • a digital camera (not a special one);
  • a Livescribe set (electronic paper + smartpen);
  • an iPad (to send my notes and pictures to this website).

Also my dressing equipment is going to be important: the relationship with Genius Loci belongs to our whole presence, and the presence itself belongs to our choices.

Here is a standard picture of a Vanson Model A, which is my prototype of beauty in dressing:

As helmet I’ll wear a white Davida Jet – what else.

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