Art I Love #1
I’ve been wanting to write a series of posts about individual works of art that inspire me. I’m thrilled to be finally sharing this today.
Looking at art is a deeply important part of my existence. My practice of looking has only grown over the years, and I’ve checked a ton of individual works off of my “to see” list. At times, I’ve traveled to a city simply to see one piece, and it’s been well worth it. I’ve also stumbled into situations I wasn’t expecting. In the Spring of 2019, I happened to walk into the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice, and found myself in a room of da Vinci drawings. In the middle of the room stood a freestanding closet-like structure, which a few people were waiting in line to enter. I got into line, and after a few minutes, found myself standing alone and awestruck in front of da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man. The drawing is so fragile and light-sensitive that it can only be shown under low lights in a dark space, hence the closet. What’s more, even with these precautions, the museum only displays it for a few weeks every six years. Incredible. How lucky was I to see this masterpiece?
OK, so that’s the set up. But as much as I love art, there is only one piece of art in the world that I am still wanting to see in person, Ron Mueck’s A Girl.
I’m feeling hesitant to write too much about this piece. Perhaps it’s because, much like babies themselves, its wonder is overwhelming and beyond words. When I’m writing about art, I typically like to give as much background and context as possible, and love to include links and videos. With A Girl, I simply don’t want to. It’s perfect on its own. I believe there are videos about the making of this piece, and I’d bet they’re amazing, but there are times I just want to sit with a piece, or an image of it. For me, this piece, and the viewing of it, is profound. I don’t want the experience to be cluttered with details of size, materials used, process, or the artist's background or thought process. This piece moves me to tears, and that’s all I need to know.
I’m looking forward to sharing more of my favorite works very soon. For now, here’s to Mr. Mueck and A Girl.