Sunday, July 19, 2020

Rothko, Kagge, and Silence

For a couple of years, I had the good fortune to live within one block of the Menil Museum in Houston.  Adjacent the Museum itself is the Rothko Chapel:

The Rothko Chapel.

If you are ever in Houston, I insist you walk inside and spend at least five minutes in silence.  I have done it many times and the effect it can have on you can not be over-stated.

Today I read the following passage in "Silence In the Age of Noise" by Erling Kagge:

" 'Silence is so accurate' said Rothko, when he refused to explain his images. Had he been able to simply reply with words, then perhaps he would have written an article instead of making painting.
I am not sure why, but the fact is that a hush descends whenever you examine great art, trying to understand what the artist wanted to convey...
A good work of art is like a thinking machine that reflects the artist's ideas, hopes, moods, failures and intuitions. Maybe I stay silent in front of art because I feel that I am separated from something every single day. There's so much I don't understand, that I can't move beyond, and art reminds me of that..."

I didn't realize it at the time, but Rothko and the silence helped me make several life-altering decisions back in those in-between years. 

 Even now, I can close my eyes and feel the hum of power in that silent space.  

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