What to do when the president declares a surprise non-working holiday? Go to a far away museum, of course!
Pinto Museum does not only boast of a richly diverse set of artworks, but also of a beautifully well-planned layout of the grounds and architecture. It was a treat to just sit out in one of the gardens, looking out at the scenery.
While we sat under a canopy of trees, eating lunch, we noticed how many people were taking photos around the grounds. We watched, amused, as people lined up for their photo op by a staircase. Later, as we walked around the halls, pondering the paintings and sculptures, it was the same story. People rushed through the halls, looking for photo op spots or cool art pieces to have their photos taken. Very few actually stopped and truly appreciated the art pieces.
I felt sad for the artists who gave so much to every piece. I felt sad for the audience who came and left unchanged.
The whole scene led us to a discussion on how technology, for all its capacity to connect us, has inevitably disconnected us. For years, technology has been pushing society into a fast-paced way of life, that so much is now managed virtually.
There is so much art available on the internet now. People can browse through them at their convenience. But there's so much to see and so little time, that people barely take a heartbeat to look at most of them and fail to truly see each piece. Fewer, still, actually take the time to see the real thing.
(The same is true for relationships).
As a result, some fancy-looking (or fancy-packaged) "crap" are overpriced, while some real treasures are underappreciated.
Take this piece, for example. This looks like a simple painting of two birds with human-like legs. In truth, it is a 96 x 96 inches piece, painstakingly made out of thread (Yes. Thread.) and textile cloth by Raffy Napay.
This photo is a terrible representation of this piece's true grandeur upfront. And, even upfront, it is so easy to miss the beauty in the intricacy until you actually stop and look closely.
(It is true for people, too).
Pinto Museum does not only boast of a richly diverse set of artworks, but also of a beautifully well-planned layout of the grounds and architecture. It was a treat to just sit out in one of the gardens, looking out at the scenery.
While we sat under a canopy of trees, eating lunch, we noticed how many people were taking photos around the grounds. We watched, amused, as people lined up for their photo op by a staircase. Later, as we walked around the halls, pondering the paintings and sculptures, it was the same story. People rushed through the halls, looking for photo op spots or cool art pieces to have their photos taken. Very few actually stopped and truly appreciated the art pieces.
I felt sad for the artists who gave so much to every piece. I felt sad for the audience who came and left unchanged.
The whole scene led us to a discussion on how technology, for all its capacity to connect us, has inevitably disconnected us. For years, technology has been pushing society into a fast-paced way of life, that so much is now managed virtually.
There is so much art available on the internet now. People can browse through them at their convenience. But there's so much to see and so little time, that people barely take a heartbeat to look at most of them and fail to truly see each piece. Fewer, still, actually take the time to see the real thing.
(The same is true for relationships).
As a result, some fancy-looking (or fancy-packaged) "crap" are overpriced, while some real treasures are underappreciated.
Take this piece, for example. This looks like a simple painting of two birds with human-like legs. In truth, it is a 96 x 96 inches piece, painstakingly made out of thread (Yes. Thread.) and textile cloth by Raffy Napay.
This photo is a terrible representation of this piece's true grandeur upfront. And, even upfront, it is so easy to miss the beauty in the intricacy until you actually stop and look closely.
(It is true for people, too).
(Borlongan)
Mornings used to open
A flutter of nervous excitement;
She used to watch
And wait;
But they all passed her by
Barely a glance;
Once or twice
Someone stopped;
But only for a heartbeat
Never a lifetime;
She stood against the white
Hands over her face;
She grew paler
More invisible by the day;
Then
There he was;
She counted
One, two, three ... ;
She breathed
Peered through her fingers:
"What are you doing?"
He said;
"Watching you
watching me";
He smiled
So did she.
