Heroes Not Zombies

When I saw this window, the first thing I thought was, how beautiful. Look at the colours, the textures, the range and diversity. You can tell this is very old, and, most probably fashioned by hand. It is SO interesting. It caught my attention, stopped me, and drew me in to contemplate it for several minutes.

It doesn’t just let the light into the room, it filters and shades the light, creating what is nothing short of a dynamic artwork, changing minute by minute as the sun moves across the sky.

What it doesn’t do is let you see what is outside.

So, if you think the point of a window is to let you see what is outside, then you wouldn’t see the point of this window.

The creator of this window probably thought letting light into the room, and creating an object of true beauty while it did that, was sufficient. After all, if the main purpose was to let you see what was outside, you’d have selected plain, transparent, colourless glass, wouldn’t you?

I can’t help think, when I walk around any old town in France, that we’ve moved way, way too far down the path of mere utility. I can’t remember the last time I saw a mid 20th century tower block being blown up, and thinking, oh what a shame, what a loss…… Who mourns the passing of concrete (or, worse, “RAC”?)

There are still brilliant designers, artists and craftsmen and women. I just wish we directed more resources towards them, and less towards the get rich quick, throw up a cheap, poor quality building and pocket the profits types.

Beauty humanises.

Beauty enhances.

Beauty makes a life worth living.