Where the Moors once visited France and Spain, and were visited in turn, the green eye emerges. Where the English once set very large foot prints in Africa, green eyes emerge. Where the Chinese, the Mongolian, and the Russian lands meet, green eyes emerge. In countries such as Brazil, where they believe that their multiculturalism and mixed blood lines are their strength, green eyes are far from rare, and exist in the most unimaginable color combinations of skin and hair and facial features. But the key point that can be taken from this work is the acknowledgment that whenever there has been some point in a country or culture's history where they have interacted, whether commercially, colonially, or competitively, with a group of people physically unlike themselves, the green gene was sown. Unpredictable, inexplicable, and mystical. Green eyes are arguably one of the most mysterious and entrancing physical traits. Their luminescence never escapes notice.
Green eyes can also be quite elusive, particularly in that many times one can never be completely certain that what we are seeing is actually green. What appears to be green in the light of day can become gray in the evening shade, what appears to be hazel at dusk becomes green or even silver at dawn. "A warm lover's eyes will be green, a cold lover's eyes will be .... otherwise." That phenomena in and of itself is remarkable. What other eye color is perceived to redefine itself within minutes, changing and mutating like the mood rings of the '70's? Blue eyes don't turn brown, brown eyes don't turn gray. But ask a green-eyed person and they will swear on their own grave that their eyes do change color.
Perhaps when we see green in a person's eyes, we feel a subliminal connection with the wild, sensual, carnal side of humans beings, where the blood runs hot. The color not only infers the possession of this level of sexuality in the beheld, but also its potential release in the beholder. Green, in eyes, is so sensual and powerful a color that it could almost be considered a truly feminine trait. There exists a natural link between it and the innate sexuality of life and reproduction, often symbolized by feminine references in literature and lore. Just look at our selection of terminology when describing the world around us: "Mother Nature", "Mother Earth", "The Birth of Spring" (a woman), "The Sea ... a Mistress", etc.
One of the most interesting philosophies built on this perception is known as the theory of Gaia, a belief that all life on Earth is part of one huge living organism, known as Gaia. I have often pondered the role of mankind in the Gaian web of life, and from this photo-essay's perspective, the conclusions are quite interesting. Our world is composed of the same primary colors as can be found in the human eye, and clear analogies can be drawn. The fertile land is brown. The swirling seas are blue. The covering clouds are white. And yet brown and blue eyes are abundant, and green eyes are rare, as Life itself is rare, and the mark of Life is Green. One could describe the entire planet and certain types of green eyes in the same way: "The great sphere spins slowly in its orbit, following a source of light. Seen from afar, the observer first sees white, then brown or blue. But its true uniqueness among all others of its kind are the patches of green dotting the surface."
Green has so many meanings. In Islamic countries it is considered to be a holy color. In Cantonese and Mandarin, the word for "Green" has the same sound as the word for "Prosperity", a pun and usage dating as far back as the Ming Dynasty. In the United States, green is the color of money. In jewelry, green is the color of emeralds and of jade, often a symbol of wealth and power. In all of these examples, green is a color with strong connotations. And in all eyes, it is a color which can cause strong emotions.
And so in this work, we attempt to bring to you these strong emotions, stirred by eyes of emerald and jade, olive and grass, aquamarine and beryl. As green eyes are celebrated in myth and legend, in song and dance, in poetry and verse, in romance and in love. Whether cherished or admired, the green eyes of the world will always be the most beautiful and fascinating of all.