Artists transitioned from religious to natural landscapes, embracing the beauty of asymmetry in nature.
Embracing spontaneity in art and nature is crucial for appreciating life's surprises and mysteries.
Deep dives
Evolution of Arts from Religious Icons to Landscapes
Historically, the purpose of art was mainly religious, serving as supports for contemplation or rituals. Over time, painters transitioned from solid backgrounds to incorporating landscapes, recognizing the beauty and interest they added to figures. Artists started falling in love with the asymmetry of nature, particularly captivated by non-symmetrical elements like mountains, trees, clouds, and rivers.
Intriguing Relationship Between Behavior and Aesthetics
Contrasting human concerns about good behavior and aesthetic judgments, painters do not worry about the behavior of natural elements like clouds, waves, or rocks. The freedom in natural forms intrigues artists, as these elements are not judged aesthetically or constrained by human standards. The fluidity and asymmetry found in nature captivates artists, leading to a shift from religious iconography to landscapes in artworks.
Exploration of Sound and Landscape in Chinese Philosophy
Chinese landscape painters depicted man within nature, emphasizing the relationship of organisms to their environments. They viewed landscapes with multiple vanishing points and made use of space to vitalize empty areas. The connection between soundscapes and landscapes is explored as musicians aim to capture the essence of nature through music, viewing music in a similar light to natural landscapes.
Embracing the Unpredictability and Beauty of Nature
The podcast delves into the concept of spontaneity and unpredictability in art and nature. It discusses the importance of embracing the surprises and mysteries of life, highlighting that a predictable world devoid of surprises or fools loses its essence. Encouraging listeners to appreciate the beauty in non-conventional expressions, it emphasizes the significance of engaging with the world without rigid expectations or the need for complete control.
In this recording from 1972, Alan Watts lectures on mystical vision via art, aesthetics, and Buddhist and Daoist philosophy.
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This series is made in partnership with the Alan Watts Organization. Discover the official Alan Watts archive at alanwatts.org
“You and I have all conspired with ourselves to pretend that we are not really God, but of course we are. That is perfectly obvious. We are all apertures through which the universe is looking at itself. Only it is so arranged that we don’t know that in exactly the same way as we don't look at our own eyes.” – Alan Watts
