In my A to Z of Becoming, one of the K verbs is KISS.
What makes us human?
There are many answers to that question of course, but it strikes me that art is one of the answers. Why art? For me, partly because art is an act of creation, and I think creating is at the heart of becoming. But also because I think art enchants life.
It seems to me that there is a lot of dis-enchantment around, so I’m exploring the ways in which we can re-enchant our lives.
Art can rekindle the magic in our lives. And, wow, can human beings create art?!
I was lucky to be in Paris last week, and popped into one of my favourite places there – the Rodin Museum. The main building is being refurbished just now but many of the great works were on display including “The Kiss”. I don’t know how many times I’ve been to the Rodin Museum but every single time the work astonishes me. That these soft, flowing, sensitive and sensual forms can be carved out of a block of marble! Really, it takes my breath away.
And look at this kiss. What a kiss!
Sometimes I think words aren’t enough…..art and kisses……words can’t substitute for either.
Heroes Not Zombies 
I know exactly what you mean – you’ve encapsulated a lot of ideas about some of the things that make us human in this short piece. Rodin is an exemplary proponent of the idea of making something from nothing. In fact from a very unforgiving and daunting material. I was lucky enough to visit the Rodin Garden at Stanford University, California at the end of last year. It was breathtaking to walk in a garden full of his works such as The Gates of Hell and the Burghers of Calais. Thank you for this post! Especially on a day when I have it in mind to make art, after a time away from it. Very inspiring.
[…] the Musée d’Orsay, and the Louvre, but some of my most favourite ones are much smaller. The Rodin museum is a long time favourite of mine. I like it best when it’s warm enough to be able to […]