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autour duquel gravitent des conditionnels
couvain refroidi

Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

une matière à passage(s)

English translation:

a passage of sorts

Added to glossary by Lara Barnett
Aug 17, 2015 08:55
8 yrs ago
French term

une matière à passage(s)

French to English Art/Literary General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters Article on French sculptor
This part in this article is about the sculptor's love of creating spaces and holes in his work. The previous paragraph has given a vivid description on what could go on inside holes and spaces (in our minds and the artists imagination). The text reads:

"Vulve, bouche ou pore, le trou est une matière à passage(s). Il donne envie – de voir, de toucher. "

I have thought of something on the lines of: "Whether it is a vulva, a mouth or a pore, the hole is a transitional matter."

Does anybody have any better ideas? I am not sure if my use of "transitional" is rendering the correct idea. ps. Elsewhere I have used "material" rather than "matter" for "matière". Is there any way of keeping this or would it sound odd?
Proposed translations (English)
2 a passage of sorts
3 a way in
3 hole opens new doors

Discussion

Lara Barnett (asker) Aug 22, 2015:
Passageway I used Polyglot's suggestion of "passageway" in my actual target translation. Will it be posted? Not sure what to do about closing the question while it is not there.
Lara Barnett (asker) Aug 19, 2015:
@ Polyglot I have used your suggestion but cannot choose it as yet. Will you be posting it?
Nikki Scott-Despaigne Aug 17, 2015:
@ Lisa Jane My first reaction too would be to omit the articles.
Lara Barnett (asker) Aug 17, 2015:
@ Polyglot45 Thank you. I shall be using "passageway" if you want to post it.
polyglot45 Aug 17, 2015:
some ideas Vulva, mouth or pore, a hole is an opening, a passageway. It prompts the urge to look and touch. Physically and metaphysically, it awakens one or several senses. Lucio Fontana knew this perfectly well. Poncet, for his part, exquisitely but firmly, opens our eyes, makes us look right into the holes, see beneath the skin, through the mirror.
Lisa Jane Aug 17, 2015:
@Lara also I would omit the articles: whether vulva, mouth or pore...
Lisa Jane Aug 17, 2015:
@polglot45 post passageway-or passage I think that sums it up:)
Lara Barnett (asker) Aug 17, 2015:
Eyes Re-clarifies our view of holes?
polyglot45 Aug 17, 2015:
but you lose the meaning of "yeux en face des trous", as in the expression "(ne pas) avoir les yeux en face des trous" - to be (not) seeing straight.
I also suggest you say "a hole" rather than "the hole"
Lara Barnett (asker) Aug 17, 2015:
@ Polyglot45. So far: Whether it is a vulva, a mouth or a pore, the hole is (made of transitional matter?). It arouses our desire to see and to touch it. Both physically and metaphysically it awakens the senses, affecting our sensory organs. Lucio Fontana knew this intuitively. Poncet, with his delightful confidence places holes before our very eyes, forcing us to pass through our bodies and on to the other side of the looking glass....
polyglot45 Aug 17, 2015:
a passageway perhaps ?
And what on earth are you going to do with "yeux en face des trous" ?!
CristianaC Aug 17, 2015:
hi Lara, In light of the whole paragraph, "passage" is rather in the sense of going through to see and touch what is behind- "matter to be pierced through" perhaps..
Laurette Tassin Aug 17, 2015:
Well this is an idea:
the hole is the substance of transition(s).

Love Fontana!
Lara Barnett (asker) Aug 17, 2015:
For info, the fuller paragraph is below Vulve, bouche ou pore, le trou est une matière à passage(s). Il donne envie – de voir, de toucher. Physique et métaphysique, il éveille le sens, les sens. Lucio Fontana le savait par cœur. Poncet, lui, avec une fermeté exquise, nous met les yeux parfaitement en face des trous, nous impose de voir à travers la peau, de l’autre côté du miroir. Impossible d’échapper à ces œilletons du désir, à ces fentes obsédantes, où se faufilent des curiosités et des spéculations par milliers (Lunatique, 1979).

Proposed translations

49 mins
Selected

a passage of sorts

...would be my reading of the ST in the context. Translating passage literally into English is fine, IMHO. It is the matière part that we should not translate literally.
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2 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
5 hrs

a way in

Or a way through
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1 day 17 hrs

hole opens new doors

Hello,

une matière à passage = piece of matter with an entrance (more literally).

opens new doors = takes you into new dimensions while viewing the art work.

I hope this helps.
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