Art is Not What You See

Reflections on beauty

Oct 03, 2023

I recently returned from a trip to Italy (a vacation recap is coming soon!) and was overwhelmed in the best way by the abundance of beauty. After visiting cathedrals, museums, gardens, and palaces, driving through the country, and traversing by boat through canals and waterways, I wanted to soak it all in and not forget a thing. I tried capturing everything with what seemed like a million photos, but the beauty wasn’t only what I saw; all my senses encountered unforgettable experiences.

Art filled my senses in the usual and most unexpected ways.

Here are some examples of art, though I could have easily written a page or more listing them all:

Sipping an ice-cold flute of Prosecco
Seeing ancient tile mosaics and gorgeous frescoes
Listening to church bells ringing on the hour
Smelling a morning cup of espresso
Observing how Venetian gondoliers take pride in their handmade boats and their esteemed profession
Feeling the majesty of God's presence in one of the cathedrals
Being overcome with awe while standing in front of Michaelangelo's sculpture of David
Holding incredible pieces of Murano glass
Attending a Vivaldi concert in an ancient cathedral
“The five senses are the ministers of the soul.” Leonardo da Vinci

Reflections

As I reflect on all the abundant forms of art I enjoyed in Italy, I am reminded of an experience at a concert I attended several years ago~

He appeared suddenly on the stage and promptly perched himself on the piano bench with his face to the rear of the stage. With his back straight, he reached toward the ivory keys without acknowledging the audience and began to play a melody that caused a hush in the theater. His fingers danced gracefully across the keys and captivated us all. It was breathtaking.

Ludovico Einaudi, an Italian classical pianist and composer, performed non-stop for almost three hours. He played along with several other equally gifted musicians for most pieces and a few he melodized alone. His compositions move me somewhere deep within, stirring up so much emotion. My eyes welled with tears as I listened to him create magical sounds.

What I could not get out of my head was not his music, though absolutely spectacular, but the fact that he played that piano the entire time while facing away from the audience. I had never seen any performer do this, and I was intrigued.

My eyes were peeled on him as he got lost in his music, art, and gift. From my vantage point, I could see Ludovico smiling as his fingers moved across the keys, and it was evident that he loved to play and share his talent with the audience. The focus that evening was on the breathtaking melodies emanating from the stage. His art was not about him but what he encouraged the audience to see and feel.

During an interview some years ago, Ludovico Einaudi responded to two different questions that demonstrated how deeply he feels about art (of all kinds). The first question was, "How do you want to be remembered?" He replied, "Having inspired other people to play, to paint, to write.” The second question posed was, “Why are you proud of your accomplishments?" He answered, "Because I have a place in this world." Ludovico Einaudi desires to inspire others to pursue their art, crafts, and talents, and he recognizes his value amongst other creatives.

We, too, have a place in this world, as does our creativity.

Art is not what you see.

The French Impressionist artist Edgar Degas is famous for his paintings, drawings, and sculptures. He mainly used oils for his completed works based on pencil and pastel sketches. Decades later, he used pastels more frequently, and then his eyesight began to fail. As his eyes weakened, he began to sculpt instead. The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer sculpture is one of his most famous. Degas is credited for saying, "Art is not what you see, but what you make others see," which rings true with his later works of art. When he could no longer see well enough to paint, he continued to produce art for others to experience and enjoy.

We are all capable of producing art.

Art is the expression or application of our thoughts, emotions, intuitions, and imaginations, whereby we share how we experience the world. It's also what we encounter with all our senses. We come from the greatest Creator, God, and because we are His creation, we are meant to create. Author Julia Cameron wrote in her book, The Artist’s Way, “Creativity is God’s gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God.” Each of us was born with the ability to make some art. Yours may not be a famous painting hung in a museum, a concert performed in sold-out arenas, or a New York Times bestseller, but it doesn’t make it less valuable.

In Emily Freeman’s book, A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art You Were Made to Live, she states, “Art is what happens when you dare to be who you really are. You have the capacity to perform the human act of making art, of doing work that comes from deep within you and touches something deep within me.”

What is your art?

What gift do you possess that helps others “see?” Perhaps you knit soft blankets, whip up delicious enchiladas, or plant bright flowers. Maybe you teach curious minds, design tiny houses, or compose meaningful poetry. Your art might be photography, welding, or baking. Whatever it is, use that gift to help others see all the beauty within this world- through sound, sight, touch, taste, or smell.

As I remember Ludovico's concert, I again picture his back turned away and the satisfied smile on his face as he offered his gift to the audience that evening at the theater. So, create, draw, paint, bake, photograph, sketch, design, compose, speak, sing, plant, or carve, not because you want to be famous, but because it makes you and others smile.

Back to Italy

You may ask, what does any of this have to do with Italy? Well, art was so much more than what I saw. As I stated earlier, all my senses encountered unforgettable experiences, from the taste of delicious homemade pasta to the feel of a buttery soft leather wallet. It was a truly memorable vacation and a good reminder to pay attention to all kinds of beauty.

Even if you haven’t just recently returned from an overseas trip, I am sure you’ve encountered some form of art lately. You may find it enjoyable to take a few minutes and reflect on how beauty recently filled your senses in the most usual and unexpected ways. I would love to hear about them!

With love, Natalie xx