The Mundane

The things we overlook or act in subconsciously, the mundane, are perhaps the most beautiful. Beautiful because they can happen and be at all. Georgia O'Keeffe emphasizes the bodies of flowers on a very large scale to draw attention to subjects that we never take time to appreciate or observe purely to appreciate what is consistent in our lives. Things like giving someone a hug who you hug at the same time in the same way every day, or greeting the cashier behind the front desk with a quick and uninterested "Hi, how's it goin'?" can be so over looked and unappreciated. We grow so used to things that they lose their meaning and when we experience repetition so often, we begin to see the imperfections they might possess. Similar to Andy Warhol's screen print of Green Coca Cola Bottles. There are so many stacked one after the other that at first you just see bottles and quickly glance past them, but eventually, as more and more are presented, you notice that they have become different, or maybe some of them are imperfect. I think this tendency transcends to moments in our lives as well. We become so used to a situation until it is no longer special and it becomes mundane. We lose interest, but eventually, you're forced to reevaluate, and what becomes clearer are those "imperfections" that weren't so apparent the first time. The flaws weren't visible because you could receive such satisfaction and fulfillment out of those things, people or moments just by them being there at all.

Renaissance

The overwhelming feeling of vast emptiness like an agoraphobic searching desperately for the perimeters of a dark and ominous ocean, anticipating the crashing waves to come and envelop their hopelessly thrashing body. Muscles contracting and abdomen churning, it's a sight to grimace at and turn one's cheek from. There is loneliness. The body is untitled, reduced to a crumpled package of limbs, swaying slowly down to the depths of  the sea. Yet they smile and extend their spine to its full length, forming words with such confidence and volume, surrounding themselves with mirth and distractions, even though they feel complete isolation, longing and discomfort. It's a wonder that we put ourselves in such impractical situations to being with. We do it because it's impossible not to submit ourselves to one of the greatest emotions a person can experience. But nothing is free.