Art is Not What You See

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”
Edgar Degas

 

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 amphitheater. 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.

While you may not recognize his name, Ludovico Einaudi has composed music since the mid 80’s for dance, film soundtracks, commercials, TV dramas, and solo albums. One can easily enjoy Einaudi’s music while studying, working, or reminiscing about a sentimental moment.

His compositions move me somewhere deep within, and they stir up so much emotion. My eyes welled with tears as I listened to him create magical sounds.

I left that performance feeling melancholy, stirred, and exhilarated all at the same time.

What I could not get out of my head, though, 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, his art, his gift. From my vantage point, I could see that Ludovico smiled as his fingers moved across the keys, and it was obvious that he loves to play and share his talent with the audience. The focus that evening was on the breathtaking melodies emanating from the stage and not on himself. His art was not about him, but what he encouraged the audience to see and feel.

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During an interview several years back, Ludovico Einaudi responded to two different questions that demonstrated how deeply he feels about art (of all kinds). The first question asked 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 Ludovico was proud of his accomplishments. He answered it is because he has a place in this world. Ludovico Einaudi desires to be an inspiration and a model for others to pursue their art, crafts, and talents, and he recognizes his value amongst other creatives.

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” 
Pablo Picasso

 

French Impressionist artist, Edgar Degas, is famous for his paintings and drawings. He mainly used oils for his completed works which were 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. 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,” and that rings true with his later works of art. He could not see well enough to paint, but he could still produce art for others to view.

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Art is the expression or application of our thoughts, emotions, intuitions, imaginations which whereby we share the way we experience the world. Seth Godin, in his book “Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?” writes this: “Art is a personal gift that changes the recipient. The medium doesn’t matter. The intent does. Art is a personal act of courage; something one human does that creates change in another.”

We are all capable of producing art. It may not be a stunning landscape hung in the Louvre, a symphony performed in Radio City Music Hall or even a starring role on Broadway but each of us was born to create. We come from the greatest Creator, God, and because we are His creation, we are meant to create.

“Creativity is God’s gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God.”

Julia Cameron

Emily Freeman wrote this in her book, A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art You Were Made to Live, “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 gift do you possess that helps others “see?”

What is your art? Perhaps you knit soft blankets, whip up delicious enchiladas, plant bright flowers, teach curious minds, design tiny houses, preach convicting sermons, compose meaningful poetry, or photograph sunsets. Whatever your art is, use that gift to help others see the beauty within this world- in what we hear, see, touch, taste, and smell. Even if you never write a bestseller or win the top spot in Iron Chef, do what you love, what brings you life.

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 amphitheater. So, I encourage you (and myself) to be more like him. 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 smile.

 

“Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.”

Leonardo da Vinci

 

Ludovico Einaudi “Elements”

Ludovico Einaudi live performance

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