This week we are going to learning about the topic “creative spirituality”, according to the book “The Mission of Art”, written by Alex Grey, I’ve heard his name and this book before, This book talked about art’s power to bring about personal catharsis and spiritual awakening. The author’s reflections combine his extensive knowledge of art history and his own life experiences in creating art on the boundaries of consciousness. Included are practical techniques and exercises that can be used to explore the spiritual dimension of art.
From what we read for this week, the chapter 3, which called “Deeply Seeing”. The word “look” and “see” has very close meaning, I like the author’s explanation of the differences between them, “Seeing occurs when our attention is arrested by a person, object, or scene. Our mind stops chattering and pays attention. We see both the shape of the thing and its meaning to us. We are drawn out of our isolated, self- absorbed state.”(p72.) and then he gave us his own experience as an example to show us what is deeply seeing and its impact, which is the object of our contemplation into our heart and mind very directly and the relationship of the egoic boundaries between ourselves and otherness. Why the author wrote a lot about this part called “deeply seeing”? And the reason I chose this part to write as well is because we finally talk about is art. However, like Grey said in his article “Seeing determines every aesthetic decision.”(p71). I have to agree about this opinion, because seeing the subject is the basic and necessary condition for every artist before they create their own art, without seeing the object, how could they develop or put their own thoughts and new ideas on them? On the other hand, for the audiences, is the same. Vision is the most basic but direct way to determine our aesthetic decision.
Hi Ace,
Thanks for sharing your views on the book of “The Mission of Art”, after reading your discussion post, I do agree with your views stated above,same as authur Grey wrote that “To see deeply and understand are different from mere looking or observation”(Grey,page 74). See and look the deep inside of an art object can bring different result which might see the real expression from the artist. Meanwhile, there is another part mentioned by Gery, “ inspiration is like an unseen lover, a muse, an angel or demon, or perhaps and entire committee of discarnate entities, who creep up to your imagination and give it the most sumptuous gifts”.(Page 82). Creating an art work, inspiration is an important factor, it contain the artists’ feelin, emotions.Therefore, we do need to look and see deep on art work.