27 Comments
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Lin Gregory's avatar

Wow - this is beautiful Manuela...there are no words!

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Manuela Thames's avatar

Thank you, Lin!

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Shital Morjaria (she/her)'s avatar

Lovely diptychs Manuela!

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Manuela Thames's avatar

Thank you so much, Shital!

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Wonderful!

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Manuela Thames's avatar

Thank you, Susanne!

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wildflower's avatar

Beautiful, all of it. Thank you for sharing, Manuela! 🤍

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Manuela Thames's avatar

Thank YOU! And thank you for always taking time to read my posts. It is greatly appreciated.

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wildflower's avatar

I love each of your posts!!

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Anne Silver Mondinot's avatar

Thank you so much for sharing the recording. It pairs so beautifully with your words and your diptychs. I also think it's important to point out, as you did so eloquently, that most people are believe in the dignity and inherent worth of humanity and the rights that should be protected and given to everyone. Most people are filled with goodness. Believing in that and finding evidence of it again and again helps me, hold onto hope.

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Manuela Thames's avatar

Thanks, Anne! Yes, I am trying to constantly remind myself, especially with everything going on in the States right now.

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Xavi Buendia's avatar

Your diptychs are stunning Manuela, congratulations! Also, this is a truly inspiring piece. I love how Yulia says in her website that it takes suchba long time to show something so meaningful.

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Manuela Thames's avatar

Thank you for checking it out! I feel so inspired by Yulia Mahr.

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Sandra W.'s avatar

Love your work. Especially diptych 4, striking!

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Manuela Thames's avatar

Thank you so much!

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Gill Moon Photography's avatar

Beautiful Manuela. Your diptychs are lovely and so well put together.

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Manuela Thames's avatar

Thank you so much, Gill!

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søren k. harbel's avatar

Really interesting. I somehow would have expected this piece to be more robust. It is sad and underwhelming from a sound point of view, and while that may well be where we are today, it is not what the declaration stands for. Or at least it is not what was intended at the time. Sad. Thank you for sharing, and thank you for the excellent diptychs!

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Manuela Thames's avatar

Hi Soren, I totally appreciate your comment and definitely think that you are making a valid point. I am not even surprised because how music (or art in general) speaks to people is quite subjective. And I can see how you have this impression of underwhelm or too much sadness. Ironically, I love subdued and sad music. :) And it often has the opposite effect on me of moving me towards action or creating.

Again, I simply find the music beautiful and also fitting really well with the voices. The music is partially inspired by the times we live in and the many but often unheard and silenced voices trying to speak against the injustice. That's what it is expressing to me, but I can definitely see how someone would like to see (or hear) more conviction and strength. Once again, really appreciate your point of view and thank you for taking the time to comment.

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søren k. harbel's avatar

It is a subjective sport… ;0) I do like the music very much. Had it been with a poem being read, then I would have been all-in…..

Thank you for accepting my ‘read’ of the piece.

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Manuela Thames's avatar

Of course. I think it’s great to have discussions on these things.

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Conny Borgelioen's avatar

These diptychs are sublime! You have captured something of each person's essence in nature's equivalent.

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Manuela Thames's avatar

Thank you so much, Conny!

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Juliette's avatar

This is sooo good! And diptych 4 is amazing!! I love the way the composer connected with visual artists. I’m so glad you made the connection here with music too. I never heard of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Thank you for this.

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Manuela Thames's avatar

Thanks, Juliette! You should read it. It is quite something and certainly not how many governments are currently operating. I am thinking about all the immigrants right now and it is heartbreaking and so wrong.

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Juliette's avatar

Yes, it is... I read this in its entirety! https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights

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Dan Jandl's avatar

These diptychs are great!

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