Henri van Bentum
1929 - 2022
Friend and fellow Snooker player Brian W.E. Johnson collaborated with Henri on several projects in connection with Henri's opus, "Organiverse", the series of 100 mandalas, and most recently on a narrated video project marrying poems by Rabindranath Tagore, including "Gitanjali" and "Fruit Gathering", with both the original Organiverse series and the Starry Night edition.
On Henri van Bentum, by Brian W.E. Johnson
Henri van Bentum, left with Brian W.E. Johnson
On Henri van Bentum, by Brian W.E. Johnson
A narrated version (by Brian) of the following text is now available on YouTube here.
“There has been much said already, with eloquence and clarity, about the breadth and scope of Henri’s interests and activities, and his life’s experience. It is amazing.
I would like to complement some these Macro considerations with some micro mentions. So here are some personal observations and reflections:
Today is Henri’s birthday, and he was born under the Astrology sun sign of “Leo” with a strong Pisces influence. The sign of Leo has “Royal” associations and Henri surely displayed these qualities.
Henri was the main character in this theatre production, and the rest of us are the cast extras, hanging about and tending to his royal Leo highness.
In the real world of the body politic, royal power is borne of the sceptre, representing temporal power in the kingdom. Royalty are feared and respected because of this.
However, in the case of Henri van Bentum, it is not the power of the sceptre and the royal army, but rather, an unusually sensitive and receptive presence that somehow casts a regal-like aura.
Henri lived with enhanced fluid sensitivity, especially to colour, nuances of form, shades and combinations… and, in addition to paying careful attention to detail, Henri embodied an expanded, or perhaps better said, an unblemished sense of wonder.
These combinations and receptive qualities help to explain how and why Henri would often enhance situations and people simply by his presence, and this in turn, would inspire creativity and highlight beauty, in many diverse situations.
Henri and I collaborated on several initiatives, most recently a video project that displays his outstanding Organiverse mandalas in tandem with the poetic verse of “Gitanjali” written by Rabindranath Tagore.
The following is Tagore’s poem #96 in this series:
I would like to complement some these Macro considerations with some micro mentions. So here are some personal observations and reflections:
Today is Henri’s birthday, and he was born under the Astrology sun sign of “Leo” with a strong Pisces influence. The sign of Leo has “Royal” associations and Henri surely displayed these qualities.
Henri was the main character in this theatre production, and the rest of us are the cast extras, hanging about and tending to his royal Leo highness.
In the real world of the body politic, royal power is borne of the sceptre, representing temporal power in the kingdom. Royalty are feared and respected because of this.
However, in the case of Henri van Bentum, it is not the power of the sceptre and the royal army, but rather, an unusually sensitive and receptive presence that somehow casts a regal-like aura.
Henri lived with enhanced fluid sensitivity, especially to colour, nuances of form, shades and combinations… and, in addition to paying careful attention to detail, Henri embodied an expanded, or perhaps better said, an unblemished sense of wonder.
These combinations and receptive qualities help to explain how and why Henri would often enhance situations and people simply by his presence, and this in turn, would inspire creativity and highlight beauty, in many diverse situations.
Henri and I collaborated on several initiatives, most recently a video project that displays his outstanding Organiverse mandalas in tandem with the poetic verse of “Gitanjali” written by Rabindranath Tagore.
The following is Tagore’s poem #96 in this series:
"WHEN I GO from hence let this be my parting word, that what I have seen is unsurpassable.
I have tasted of the hidden honey of this lotus that expands on the ocean of light, and thus am I blessed - let this be my parting word.
In this playhouse of infinite forms, I have had my play and here have I caught sight of him that is formless.
My whole body and my limbs have thrilled with his touch who is beyond touch; and if the end comes here, let it come - let this be my parting word."
Rabindranath Tagore, "Gitanjali"
August 13, 2010, at Sidney pier
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You
are invited to visit "Remembering
Henri van Bentum", a new landing page
featuring
several existing, and legacy projects.
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