Liminal spaces? Anyone familiar with term?

mar dhea · 04:23 AM

Just discovered the term 'liminal spaces' and have been looking at examples on Google images. Here's the question...do you find them alarming or perhaps more calming? I find most of them appealing. Peaceful somehow. Maybe because of the dreamlike quality.

Here's a link explaining a few things. Any opinions? Why Do Liminal Spaces Feel So Unsettling, Yet So Familiar? | HowStuffWorks
To see more images just enter 'liminal spaces' into any search engine. That should give you plenty of examples. 'Liminal spaces night', 'liminal spaces outdoors', 'liminal spaces buildings or rooms'. 'Liminal architecture'. All will provide a broader selection of images. 'Liminal spaces winter' is another. Love the winter night images! 'Liminal spaces streets' etc.

TheGal · Jun 25, 2024 at 05:22 AM

mar dhea

I just looked up liminal and it made me think of the late Alex Colville's art.

You may have heard of him. He's a Canadian.

I am thinking about many of his paintings, especially the one with the horse and the train.

Any thoughts?

DocJohn · Jun 25, 2024 at 07:18 AM

Love liminal spaces, they're quite relaxing and interesting to me....

TheGal · Jun 25, 2024 at 08:18 AM

There's also the famous painting by American artist, Edward Hopper, called Nighthawks.

If you look up "Edward Hopper Nighthawks liminal space", some interesting discussion comes up.

divine1966 · Jun 25, 2024 at 09:01 AM

I’d say all paintings by Edward Hopper are about these kind of spaces.

I don’t find liminal spaces relaxing but certainly interesting and thoughts provoking. Often unsettling

Nammu · Jun 25, 2024 at 10:30 AM

I’ve always loved those types of paintings and art, I just didn’t know it was called liminal spaces. Cool. Very cool.

mar dhea · Jun 25, 2024 at 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGal

mar dhea

I just looked up liminal and it made me think of the late Alex Colville's art.

You may have heard of him. He's a Canadian.

I am thinking about many of his paintings, especially the one with the horse and the train.

Any thoughts?

Familiar with Colville's work and that one has been a favorite since childhood. What a thing to contemplate! A Newfoundland artist Chris Pratt also comes to mind. Similar in ways to Colville for his spaces painting. Really like those guys.

mar dhea · Jun 25, 2024 at 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nammu

I’ve always loved those types of paintings and art, I just didn’t know it was called liminal spaces. Cool. Very cool.

I look back at childhood and I find I was always drawn to this imagery. Drawn to empty spaces/buildings etc. Odd little tableaux that just pop in the subconscious somehow. I was born in an old dying mining town so that was an influence I think. The buildings/substructures etc. began a mere few hundred feet from the company houses we lived in. That whole area was my playground basically. Awesome!

Also my dad was a school principal and as very small children my sister and I were allowed to wander the buildings emptiness on weekends while paw did his office work. No shortage of liminal images in there for sure and no doubt all had an influence on my dreams as well. Very interesting stuff and will read up more for sure.

mar dhea · Jun 25, 2024 at 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGal

There's also the famous painting by American artist, Edward Hopper, called Nighthawks.

If you look up "Edward Hopper Nighthawks liminal space", some interesting discussion comes up.

Another slice of a moment that provokes thoughts of estrangement. Not necessarily in a bad way. Wistfulness/longing/lonliness/willful solitude...they're all in there as possibilities. Always loved this one.

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DocJohn Founder & Your Host Community Support Team Chat Leader Member Since May 2001 Location: Greater Boston, MA Posts: 13,650 23 182 hugs given	Jun 25, 2024 at 07:18 AM #3 Love liminal spaces, they're quite relaxing and interesting to me.... __________________ Don't throw away your shot.
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divine1966 Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Dec 2014 Location: US Posts: 22,888 (SuperPoster!) 9 1,295 hugs given	Jun 25, 2024 at 09:01 AM #5 I’d say all paintings by Edward Hopper are about these kind of spaces. I don’t find liminal spaces relaxing but certainly interesting and thoughts provoking. Often unsettling
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Nammu Crone Member Since May 2010 Location: Some where between my inner mind and the solar system. Posts: 73,933 (SuperPoster!) 14 57.2k hugs given	Jun 25, 2024 at 10:30 AM #6 I’ve always loved those types of paintings and art, I just didn’t know it was called liminal spaces. Cool. Very cool. __________________ *Nammu* …Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. …... Desiderata Max Ehrmann
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