Exploring how to observe - transcribed from a journal entry dated 06.29.2020
Krishnamurti explains that to expend all of your energy on one object, to look, feel, and truly see without any desire to control it is the true art of observation. I read that this morning.
Time and time again I have been frustrated by my journey of “understanding” art and architecture. Many times I will rely on external interpretations to craft my judgment, too fearful of my inner voice who yells with truth and courage.
Usually my tendency is to seek a restart once that frustration boils over. I begin to pick scabs a bit harder, I seek refuge in my showers more often, I try to sweat out the failures with a bike ride or a run.
Rarely had I the heart to face my failure of understanding.
I realize now, with the utmost humility and timidness that is necessary to account for changes in future thought, that my countless failures was because my subject of understanding was wrong.
I spent hours trying to understand, to reach closer and closer to empathy with the artist - solely to possess that conclusion for personal gain. No person can approach art that way for the subject of art is entirely more personal than possessive.
It requires care and love to kindle the flame which burns through you the second you observe. It requires pure and absolute attention / all divestment from external distractions to truly “understand”.
And once that is internalized (like I’m beginning to do now), you will reach a kind of peace, a kind of silence which leaves you capable of observing.
