The Davidson Temporal Representation Hypothesis discovered at 2 Dogs Art Space - Akashi -Japan

 

The Davidson Temporal Representation Hypothesis

The act of human representation, particularly in visual art, is defined by an inevitable temporal dislocation between pure perception and physical execution. This hypothesis frames the artistic process as a battle against the brain's processing delay.

🧪 The Formal Equation:

$$t_0\text{ vs. }{t}_0+\Delta t$$

🔹 Core Variables Defined:

Variable	Definition	Role in Representation
$t_0$	The Moment of Pure Perception (The 'Now')	The objective visual truth, the raw sensory input received by the eye and brain. This is the artist's target.
$\Delta t$	The Cognitive-Motor Delay	The irreducible time lag (milliseconds) introduced by neural processing, cognitive interpretation, memory retrieval, and motor command execution.
$t_0+\Delta t$	The Moment of Execution (The 'Echo')	The actual moment the brush, pencil, or tool makes contact with the medium, recording an image that is already temporally past.

🖼️ The Central Proposition

Every act of representation is, by necessity, a delayed echo of the real.

This hypothesis suggests that the subjective quality and style of art is largely determined by how an artist processes, manages, and expresses the inevitable lag of $\Delta t$. True simultaneity between perception and creation is biologically impossible.

Acknowledgments

This work represents an ongoing exploration, developed through active painting and drawing practice paired with deep, sustained reflection. The research originated and took its initial shape at the 2 Dogs Art Space in Akashi, Japan, made possible by the generous support of family and friends, and inspired by the two dogs who lend the space their spirit.

Over the years, I owe special thanks to all my former academic professors, whose enduring guidance provided the necessary foundation for this inquiry. Furthermore, I acknowledge the valuable contributions of modern tools, specifically my AI collaborators—Google Gemini, Open Source,  Chat GP and Microsoft Copilot—for their assistance in refining the structure and language of this theoretical framework.

Peter Davidson