The Treaty of the Tribbles crumbled. The Klingons, now aided by the Vogons, began burning art at public gatherings. Kirk was asked to lead an expeditionary force, temporarily vacating the captaincy of the Enterprise. Starfleet originally planned to promote Shakespeare’s Falstaff, but the Vulcan wisdom of Spock prevailed, and Captain Leonardo DaVinci was named temporary commander- in- chief of the Enterprise NCC1701.
Despite the unlikely alliance between this Galactic odd-couple , there were obvious affinities. Captain DaVinci believed the earth could be saved from destruction , but only through art. Spock had long been intrigued by the link bewteen Rembrandt and Jackson Pollock, feeling this would be ”The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything”
Jackson Pollock-Galaxy
Spock could not understand whether the art of Rembrandt and Jackson Pollock was evolution, a quantum leap or part of the enigmatic missing link. Pollock’s ”drip technique” which involved flinging, dripping, pouring and splatting paint while in a hyperactive transcendent ”action technique” was of great interest to Captain Davinci and his first mate:
Spock: His illogical approach does have its advantages on occ
n Captain.
Da Vinci: I prefer to call it inspired.
Scotty, Sulu , Bones and Uhura see them off on an exploratory voyage to China’s art export centre in Dafen, at the fringes of , and almost, the paranormal art world.
Uhura: I’ll be monitoring your frequency Spock!
Sulu: So long and thanks for all the fish!
Scotty: Remember the question to the ultimate answer is 42!
Davinci: This cosmic star trekking is wearing on these aging limbs (Spock uses the nerve pinch) Spock, I’d like you to teach me that sometime.
After lunching at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe they land in Dafen on the roof of an art reproduction factory. They are immediately surrounded by the ”Art Police”
Davinci: Well Mr. Spock if we can’t disguise you we’ll find some way of explaining you.
Spock: That should prove interesting
The Art Police approach, somewhat menacingly yet perplexed
Davinci: My friend is obviously Chinese. I see you’ve noticed the ears.They’re actually quite easy to explain.
Spock:Perhaps the unfortunate accident I had as a child…
Davinci: The unfortunate accident he had as a child, he caught his head in a mechanical …rice picker!
(nods. a sympathetic approval. Its hard not to be moved by such an authentic and sincere display of empathy.)
Spock: ( as an aside to Davinci)I think its time for a colorful metaphor …hhhmmm. Davinci: Art is never finished, it is only abandoned, in your case by the thousands.All our knowledge has its origins in our perception. and…the truth ( of the art you are creating) is the chief nutriment of superior intellects.
Spock: There is an old Vulcan proverb,Challenge your preconceptions or they will challenge you.”
They are escorted into the main workshop studio where a quorum of painters work simultaneously from copying the earthly and spiritual of Rembrandt to the physical confrontation on canvas of Pollock. They effortlessly glide from the Father of Light and Shadow to the icon of Abstraction.
Rembrandt-Nightwatch
Davinci: Fascinating!
Spock: Fascinating is a word I use for the unexpected. In this case I should think ”interesting” should suffice
Davinci : ( on approaching the Pollock),”Is this intelligent design or the missing link?” ”This is an economic art war. A natual selection of painters, a survival of the fittest palette. Well, its an ideological war on art. We didn’t want it but we got it.”
Spock: Captain Davinci, it is curious how often you humans manage to obtain that which you do not want”
Davinci : Remember, just as courage imperils life, fear protects it!
Spock: (discouraged) Nowhere am I so desperately needed as among a group of illogical humans
They pay for as many Jackson Pollocks and Rembrandts they can grasp onto.
DaVinci (on regarding ”Galaxy” by Jackson Pollock: I did once say that all our knowledge has its origins in our perception”, but……..
Spock: Hurry, They want us to buy a full container!
Davinci: ”Scotty, Beam us UP!
Davinci: What would you say the odds are Mr. Spock on our saving this planet through art and in general the practice of the creative process?
Spock: It is difficult to be precise Captain Davinci. I should say approximately 7824.7 to one
Davinci: Difficult to be precise, 7824 to one?
Spock: 7824.7 to one
Davinci: Thats a pretty close approximation
Spock: I endeavour to be accurate
Davinci: You do quite well
COMMENTS
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There is one coming. With an accompanying video. Thanks for reading the post!