THE SELF-ISOLATION RESIDENCY 13th FEBRUARY 2021: DAY 321

'The Constant Library',  Volume XVII:
"The Myth of Sisyphus, Albert Camus."

'The Constant Library',  Volume XVII: "The Myth of Sisyphusy, Albert Camus."

"The idea for 'The Constant Library' follows on from a recent conversation considering which books had, and continue to have, the greatest affect my life in a variety of different ways. These are the books I can't live without and whenever possible I have a copy of with me wherever I travel in the world; my 'Constant Library."

The Myth of Sisyphus philosophises on the nature of the absurd, it argues that if life is as absurd as Sisyphus’s challenge then why go on at all? For Sisyphus there was of course no dilemma, each time his labours were ridiculed by the rock once again rolling down that slope he had no choice but to follow it once again to the depths from which he would once again begin his endless torture. Camus finds strength in Sisyphus's return journey even in his endless and hopeless task.
 
Beyond the philosophy of the piece I also love it as a figure study, Camus's description of our hero: 'body straining...face screwed up...shoulder bracing...foot wedging', the whole thing is a wonderfully sculptural depiction of the strength and fortitude of man.