Entering a gallery is truly exhilarating. You are challenged and tempted to re-evaluate every perceived idea and to leave any conservative and orthodox mindset at the daycare. If you resist the process – you will enter a mindset encapsulated as a cacophony. I would then recommend that you rather stay at home.
By observing or looking at any type of art: paintings, drawings or shows, one quote of Pablo Picasso always come to mind: “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Therefore – you visit a gallery. Why: to gain perspective and to look beyond yourself and reach into the realm of the unknown. In this process to become more than what meets the eye, I stumbled upon the extra ordinary.
On the fourth floor of the exhibition, I entered the world of an artist who portrayed her thoughts, believes and daily practices through pictures. What happened here, however, has nothing to do with the art. As I entered the realm of the artist’s sanctuary, a gentleman with the smile that can light up inferno itself, stood at the door. He greeted me in such a gentleman-like-manner that I forgot to actually look at the exhibition. We started talking, mentioned the weather and he indicated that this was his fourth day working at the gallery. He said he enjoys it, he said, because he gets taught on the subject of humanity. An interesting observation, I thought, but nothing more. He continued through the exhibition with me, explaining the meaning and why the artist chose her mediums and modalities. At the end of the 4th floor’s exhibition, I thanked him for his kindness, we greeted, and I continued to the next exhibition.
Only after leaving the gallery, I truly realised what he said: “I’m getting taught on the subject of humanity.” While we were observing the art on the walls, he observes the art of humanity – each individual that enters the door becomes part of his exhibition. Yes, I started crying for the honesty and rawness in his words.
Yes, art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life, but are you creating to escape a daunting reality, or are you creating to edify? Whatever floats your boat – you decide, I’m just reaching for perspective here. My question however: Are you truly looking, living and observing or are you so tangled up in your own rituals that you forget to really look at the people around you?
Maybe it is time that the sleepwalker wakes up. For there is art in humanity itself.