Transmittal of Space By an Artist

What Did Italian Painter Giorgio Morandi Transmit?

What do you think of a man who spends his life in a small community, traveling rarely, seemingly content to refine an idea of color and shape that will transmit silence and a sweet soothing mood to those who observe the color and shape? Say what? How can this be? Color and shape? Yes, that is just it; the simple feeling from the color and shape is quite similar to the same calm that you feel from being in a high place like a mountain peak as your eyes sweep the landscape below, unencumbered, with things for your eyes to bump into. Yet, the color and shape “thing” is at once a very pleasing and uncomfortable state. Pleasing in its simplicity and quietude.

It is a state known by many humans, but I think, virtually impossible to measure, to take stock of except, “damn it”, you know it when you feel it. That un-measurability is the uncomfortableness. What is this state of unencumbered-ness, and quietude, that is, simple and pleasing? I think it could be described simply as space. It has quality of openness that is comforting. This state can be experienced on your own as I have described it, and it can also be experienced in the company of other people. In fact if done properly with others (that is by paying mutual close attention) it will descend or more likely be invoked into the room by the mere presence of the group consciousness. The mere idea that you exist as a consciousness with others who are aware of such a thing will “open the world up”. This was the world as invoked by the color and form paintings of Giorgio Morandi, an Italian painter of objects very simple objects.

So what is it that feels so nice about these paintings of color and form? Is it the subtlety of the form? Is it the feeling of the gentle intelligence that organized the shapes next to each? Is it how the merest and most quiet suggestions of a shadow are included in the paintings? Really, what is that feeling that is so pleasing? It feels basic, like some sort of primal connection. It somehow feels like a fundamental tie, but to what is the tie? The feeling is at once gentle and deliciously, delicately rich, not fragile. Is this a contradiction or maybe a paradox? It is so sweet. I think it feels like the earliest view of the world of shapes and colors. It seems to invoke the feeling of infancy, which feels tender, delicate and rich. Yet, as I stand in front of the painting there is included one other element, adult consciousness. That is, I have perceived all of this and know it is going on. I can track the flow and feel it’s movement filter free. The feeling of simple beauty, now emerges, yet it is something that seems almost other worldly. Visible for all to see, but so seldom reflected upon.