In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and uninspired. The world can often feel ugly, boring, or riddled with distractions. More than ever, we find ourselves bombarded by continuous noise, be it social media, never ending notifications pinging on our devices, or the general chaos that comes from simply trying to navigate modern living. Yet, amid all this, there’s a treasure trove of beauty and wisdom waiting to be discovered. This is where the role of the artist and philosopher becomes crucial: to teach us how to cultivate our eyes and, ultimately, our minds.
In 1940 the writer James Baldwin was wandering the streets of New York City with his mentor, the painter Beauford Delaney. As they crossed a bustling street, Delaney abruptly stopped. “Look,” he instructed Baldwin, pointing down into the gutter. Now, as you can imagine, Baldwin, the young aspiring writer, probably thought, “What’s so special about a puddle?” But after some prodding, Baldwin looked again and saw not just a puddle, but an incredible display of life, a reflection of buildings, distorted and radiant, flowing like mercury in the black water. This moment changed everything for Baldwin. It was about redirection, re-framing how he viewed the world.
This anecdote illustrates a fundamental truth about perception: what we see largely depends on how we choose to see it. Baldwin’s experience with Delaney mirrors the timeless wisdom found in the writings of Marcus Aurelius. Aurelius’ Meditations is filled with vivid observations that reveal a masterful ability to find beauty in the seemingly mundane, even in unpleasant things. Who else could transform the sight of a rotting olive or the foam flecked across a boar’s mouth into profound philosophical musings that resonate with human experience?
It’s quite natural to attribute Aurelius’ insight to his esteemed mentors, Rusticus, who taught him philosophy, or Fronto, who honed his rhetorical skills. Perhaps he was inspired by the poets and writers of his time. But regardless of where these insights stemmed from, one thing is clear: someone helped him learn how to see. “The reality of his seeing caused me to begin to see,” Baldwin said of Delaney. Isn’t that a beautiful concept? When we nurture our ability to see through the eyes of artists or philosophers, we open ourselves up to deeper understanding and appreciation of life’s intricacies.
In today’s world, we face the challenge of developing this vision amid distractions. What if we took a moment to pause, just as Baldwin did, to truly look at the world around us? The art of seeing requires practice, an intentional shift in perspective. It’s not enough to glance at a scene or skim through moments of our day. We need to immerse ourselves, to look deeper, to find the extraordinary hidden within the ordinary.
When was the last time you found wonder in something seemingly trivial? Maybe it was a bird perched on a branch, its song bouncing through the air, or a simple cup of coffee as the steam wafted up, creating a delicate dance against the sunlight. These are the moments we often overlook, yet they can provide us with inspiration and insight.
Take a walk in your neighborhood. Observe the way sunlight filters through leaves, casting intricate shadows on the pavement. Notice the conversations happening around you, the laughter of children playing, the debates of friends catching up over a meal. The world can be vibrant and alive if we allow ourselves the patience to really look.
As you embark on this journey of cultivating your vision, think of it as a form of meditation. Slow down, breathe, and allow yourself to truly experience the sights and sounds around you. Perhaps start with a daily ritual where you dedicate a few moments to observe your surroundings, whether it’s on your commute, at a park, or even at home. What do you hear? What colours do you see? What textures can you touch?
The goal is not to rush through this practice but to embrace it wholeheartedly, exploring each moment with child like curiosity. You might find that this simple act of observation unveils profound connections to your thoughts and feelings, opening new avenues of creativity and philosophical insights.
Furthermore, don’t underestimate the power of contrasting perspectives. Sometimes, viewing a situation from different angles can yield surprising results. Take, for instance, the way a tree stands strong amidst a storm. It doesn’t simply endure; it bends and adapts. This resilient perspective can serve as a metaphor for resilience in our own lives reminding us that we too can adjust and evolve through adversities.
Art and philosophy thrive on this duality of experience. They invite us to challenge our preconceived notions and expand our understanding of beauty. If we reduce our view to only seeking the glamorous and the polished, we risk missing out on life’s raw beauty, the grit, the imperfections, the chaos. In fact, some of the most profound lessons come from embracing these very aspects of existence.
Consider artists who draw inspiration from the stark realities of life, the suffering, the joy, the mundane. From their expressions, we learn that beauty is not always harmonious; at times, it lies in turmoil and complexity. It prompts us to ask a critical question: what is our capacity to see beyond the surface? How can we transform our observations into something meaningful, something that sparks a conversation or evokes emotion?
As you delve deeper into this practice of seeing, consider incorporating journaling or making art into your routine. Expressing your observations creatively can unlock new perspectives and stir your imagination. Write about what you see, sketch a moment, or take photographs that resonate with you. Label those moments of awe, and let them live through your creative expressions.
The more you engage with your surroundings, the more you will find layers upon layers of stories, emotions, and beauty waiting to be unveiled. Soon enough, you might find yourself resonating with the very essence of Baldwin’s transformative moment with Beauford Delaney.
Also, there’s an inherent responsibility in being an artist or philosopher in today’s world. It’s not just about finding beauty for ourselves but sharing that vision, helping others cultivate their eyes too. This becomes a communal practice, where we collectively start to see life in hues we hadn’t previously noticed.
Sharing our reflections can lead someone else to experience their own moment of awakening. Social media, blogs, art exhibitions, these can all serve as platforms not merely for showcasing work but for starting dialogues around observation and perception. Imagine creating spaces where people share their stories of finding beauty in the mundane. That could spark a movement, instilling a sense of wonder in others, a reminder that we are all artists in the making, storytellers crafting our narratives from the fabric of life’s moments.
In embracing this mindset, we recognise that we’re not just passive observers of life but active creators of our experiences and perceptions. We shift our stance from mere consumers of the world to innovators who challenge the cyclical nature of everyday living.
As we step back and look at the world with newfound clarity, we also become allies for those struggling to see. There’s immense potential when we support one another in developing this shared vision, revealing insights that lead to true connection and understanding.
At the end of the day, life is about connections, the kind forged through shared experiences, the lessons passed from one person to another, the way we see and feel this world together. We owe it to ourselves and each other to cultivate this vision, to share it, and to create dialogues that inspire others to follow suit.
So, here’s to cultivating our vision, finding poetry in the mundane, and celebrating the beauty hidden in the world around us. Let’s take a good look into those gutters, broaden our perspectives, and open our hearts to the extraordinary lessons that await, even amidst life’s puddles.
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