Visual Arts, Columbia University, New York

This course examines ways of looking and ways of seeing, both personally & professionally as artists and in a larger cultural context. Through field trips to contemporary art and other cultural sites, conversations with visiting critical thinkers and practicioners, readings, discussions, and visual & written responses, we will examine how we look, think, act, create and respond--critically questioning our own artistic practices and ways of looking at the world.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Circus of Life


The Circus of Life:

'There's nothing to see, so you look'









I often feel this way nowadays.. There's nothing to see. The show had no script, the applause will not arrive. I used to try to rationalize every step. My goal in life, was to understand the meaning of life. Now I do. It's found in satisfaction. Daringness and courage.. Chances and survival. But where am I in the meaning? For, once I know, I then still seek to know what to do with it. The question is always how to live. Some people ask it, and engage in an intellectual exercise of life.. only to return to disregard it as before. Some never ask, and simply move forward in life. No choice is wrong, and it's the choice I've come to understand is the obstacle. We should not choose what to do, for our nature has already chosen. Deep inside our soul is a voice, whispering to us, all we need to do is listen. The voice knows the reason for every next step, the voice knows who you love, and why you love. The voice knows when to smile, and why to cry. If we listen to ourselves, we need not ask questions, only act, and live..

It's our folly that we try to write over ourselves, look to someone else and try to quicken our steps to theirs, to learn by copying, and to unlearn our own beauty.. We ignore feelings, we deny truth, we cope in silence, and we turn our heads to our own desire.. yet the voice is always there, calling, calling to you. It never stops asking, the door is always open, the voice is there waiting for you. And if you seek it, you will find it waiting. The voice knows love, the voices knows life. Call it spirit, call it soul, or simply calm your voice, and let yourself listen. What does the voice want, what does it seek and yearn? If you find out, there will be no more need for other answers.



1 comment:

  1. .... Yes, yes and yes about love! Yes, absolutely. It is my biggest hope too. But what about hate, and evil too.

    Orna's post always reminds us of this monster lurking in the essence of men. or Man. Why we call ourselves man"kind," I wonder sometimes...

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