“Art is a lie that illuminates the truth.”
This tidbit is attributed to Pablo Picasso, Jacques Cocteau, and Albert Camus, among others.
Another interesting take on it, “Art is the lie that allows us to approach the truth.”
My interest was captured by this as I saw art as the truth, be it via Picasso, Georgia O’Keefe, Edward Curtis, Derek B. Miller, Jodi Picoult, Virginia Wolf, or Jackson Pollock. There is some aspect of truth, enlightenment, or expanded vision in art. It was not necessary for me to like the art, just see it and learn something.
As I have gotten older, and recognized that just because something is a documented fact, such as landing on the moon or the Holocaust, there are people who don’t believe those things happened.
In getting older, I have come to see more truths about myself. Yup. A recent lightbulb was “Yes, Mary, you are valuable and worthy.” Somewhere deeply embedded in my psyche was the belief I was not good enough. Wow.
A lesson learned that still makes me smile is “I tell the truth so I don’t have to remember what I said.”
Perhaps I relate to that, as there were some big lessons for me with the choice of telling the truth or dodging it with half-truths, clouding the issue, or a flat-out lie in order to avoid a consequence for some action of mine.
Another ‘Yup.’ This really is an organ-grinder and yes, he has a real monkey on top of it. This was from my last trip to Paris, about ten years ago. What does this have to do with truth and art and lies? Reasonable question. Maybe because I think it is time for me to head to France again. My next book is a novel set in eastern France. Truth in the novel? Quite a bit. Art in the novel? Oh yeah!
Kate Bowditch
June 5, 2023 at 9:49 amHello my dear Mary….. As an artist, I see the lie and the truth in what
you say. Though I balk at the word “lie”….. ( children don’t lie, they tell the reality as they saw it, interpret it, or as they wanted it to be. )
I believe the artist does this too. Maybe we artists are children at the heart of our perceptions?
Mary
June 6, 2023 at 4:58 pmKate! Hello to you. Great thoughts, thank you. Ah, we artists. Keeping at it. Blessings upon you.
Lynda Marie Condon
June 5, 2023 at 3:36 pmHi Sweet Mary~
Missing you and time together…and of course you are worthy 🙂
Love and hugs,
Lynda
Mary
June 6, 2023 at 4:59 pmHey dear heart, Thank you~~ Love & hugs to you~~
Donna M Rudiger
June 9, 2023 at 3:43 pmThis is excellent and reminded me of the quotation “Art saves lives…..”; certainly you and I have learned this first hand and have helped other broken souls to learn it too! I see a “precipice” energy in this posting……….you are on the verge of a great adventure and your passage to France will be life changing and inspiring in ways you cannot imagine at this time. This is your “3RD Act” experience……looking forward to hearing more. Namaste’
Mary
June 9, 2023 at 6:42 pmWow~ Thank you, Donna. Indeed, our precipices/doorways/on the verge~~