Travis Johnson, “The Book of Eyes”

The natural world is something of great mystery for beings who can exhibit such arrogance and hubris as humans do, and who shy away from creatures too dissimilar. Over time, humans as a species have collectively begun to form understandings of their mammalian, avian, and even insectile worldmates, which have all  been deeply connected to humanity in some way through the creation of myth and storytelling. In modern times, amidst the Anthropocene, there are innumerable cultures and therefore mythologies that cross the shaky yet persisting bridge between humanity and the rest of the living beings that inhabit the same planet. 

Through this storytelling, humans have created a set of views through which most things in the natural world can be explained. The existence of many plants and animals are defined by this method, which in turn has shaped the way in which humans view certain species. For instance, snakes or serpents appear in a vast number of mythologies, and while there are undeniably overarching themes that preside over much of these appearances, each is slightly different. In Aztec and Mayan legend, a flying serpent (Quetzalcóatl in Aztec and Kukulcán in Mayan)  is portrayed as the creator of humanity and a deity of wisdom and wind. However, ophidiophobia (fear of snakes) is very much alive and well in human society. This, in combination with the trope of the evil dragon, has resulted in the frequent portrayal of snakes and their kin as evil creatures that need to be exterminated in order for humans to safely live. While snakes do sometimes carry venom and are indeed animals and thus prone to the occasional attack in self defense, they are still feared more than other animals. 

Perhaps I might be biased, as my first important encounter with a ‘serpent’ was not one full of screaming and biting. I was just a toddler, and it was the very first time I visited the Buffalo Zoo with my family. The reptile house at the time was somewhat small, and the housing units of the reptiles were even smaller. As young as I was, I could not appreciate the beautiful creators around as much as I can now, save for one. It was coiled up on a branch perfectly in view of the squeamish visitors, its head mostly submerged in its coils except for its two enormous yellow eyes. When I looked into them, and I did not fully realize what I was experiencing at the time, mind you, I saw a unique breed of wisdom that I haven’t been able to find a replica of in anything other than an emerald tree boa. I believe that this was one of the most eye-opening experiences I have been graced with, and I now see that it widened my view to incredible proportions. Thus, I believe that the key to true harmony between humanity and that which we take from is an unconditional and humbling understanding that we are not alone on this earth.    

The “Book of Eyes” that I have created here is a journey into this understanding. Through the overarching perspective of a narrator who observes and draws the eyes of various species in a scientific form while engaging with metaphysical ideas connected with the species in question, “The Book of Eyes” engages with readers across multiple levels. Firstly the book itself, something that appears antiquated yet that has been manufactured with plastics and magnets, plays with the observer’s perception of what is ancient and what is modern. This calls attention to a very basic variance in perspective, that being the phenomenon of time. The second level that engages with the observer is the disparity between the form of the scientific page and the content which includes metaphysical questioning and reference to myths. Lastly, the drawings of the eyes themselves look out at the viewer so as to allow the observer the space to contemplate and connect with the species whose eye is depicted on the page.   

In order to continue my theme of forming connections with the inhuman through myth, I chose five species aside from humans that are often feared or misunderstood. The emerald tree boa, as a snake, was included for the reason previously mentioned. The common raven, a bird that often appears in myth as an omen of war or imminent doom, is sometimes overlooked because of its ability to thrive in a variety of environments. It is because of this opportunistic lifestyle that it is associated with death, as it takes the role of a scavenger if the time calls for it. The dwarf cuttlefish, a being not as commonly known as the other species in the book, is a cephalopod related to octopuses and squid. Its unique visage instills wonder in many that observe it, and its intelligence is becoming more and more intriguing to human studies. It is included because of these traits, as well as the fact that it has a relatively new presence in American society. The black walnut tree, being a plant and therefore a living thing that is immensely different from humans, is greatly important to include as a species here, as the gnarled knobs and patterns on its trunk can resemble eyes. It is from coincidences such as this one that myths of spirits of nature arose, I believe. Lastly, arachnophobia is something that is quite common in the Anthropocene, alongside ophidiophobia, and therefore it is imperative to include the eyes of a spider so as to explore the importance a spider has in myth.  

I chose the eye as an organ to work with because of my fateful encounter, but also because the eye is often considered to be a ‘window to the soul’. In human society, looking one another in the eye can have a variety of effects, most of them emotional in some way. That said, my digital content provides a way for the observer to step into the shoes of the author of the “Book of Eyes” and therefore share perspective. The short video shows the author out in the natural world as he finds an entrancing black walnut tree and begins sketching his newest page: the eye of the tree. This is the page that is open to viewers in the display case. This allows for a window into the author’s creation of the book, which simulates the understanding of perspective that the “Book of Eyes” is meant to emulate.    

Images: Gabriel Chamak, detail from Emerald Tree Boa, Pexels.com; Andrea Acanfora, Close-Up Photo of a Cuttlefish, Pexels.com.

To view the digital content of “The Book of Eyes,” click on this hyperlink.