Within every season of my life, my identity at that time is fundamentally influenced by the art that surrounds me. My thoughts, perspective, and behaviors are cultivated by the art I consume. I don’t think that I am unique in this fact, either. Each of us are influenced by art in one way or another. Creation and consumption are fundamental to us as Humans. So in an attempt to better understand and guide the things I create, I’d like to make a habit of reflecting on the notable pieces I consume.
Art
Let’s start this off with a bang. In the past, I believe I have been quick to discredit an artist that had one or only a handful of exceptional pieces. An artist in desperate pursuit of something new that would rival their masterpiece, repeatedly falling short. The reality is that most artists orchestrate only one masterpiece within a lifetime, if any at all. Every person is limited to a finite number of great achievements or moments. To create something special in any capacity is an extraordinary feat. However, there are some artists that exceed the expectation of only a handful of exceptional pieces. I find myself deeply inspired by the artist who shattered the expectation of creative limitation entirely.
Pietà (1498-1499, Vatican City) - Michelangelo
An utter masterpiece. Sculpted by 23 year old Michelangelo, the sculpture depicts virgin Mary holding her son Jesus in arms after being taken down from the cross. “Pietà”, meaning “pity” or “compassion”, rests in St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, the location it was originally intended for. It is astounding to think that Michelangelo was able to free this divine depiction from a slab of marble. The lower right picture, although doing little justice to the work, was taken by me in 2022 while studying abroad in Italy.
David (1501-1504, Florence) - Michelangelo
Beginning at age 26, Michelangelo produces perhaps the most impressive sculpture of all time. His statue of David helped propel him to the great fame and recognition he enjoyed during his lifetime. His artwork was so impressive that his contemporaries went as far as to call him “Il Divino”, or “The Divine One”. Incredible.
The Creation of Adam (1508-1512, Vatican City) - Michelangelo
And just when we thought Michelangelo was a master sculpture alone, he bolsters his legacy as the greatest artist of all time by painting one of the most sacred pieces of art in western history. Depicting the Biblical story of creation from the book of Genesis, The Creation of Adam forms a portion of the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling painted by Michelangelo between the ages of 33 and 37.
Music
2093 (2024) - Yeat
Imaginal Disk (2024) - Magdalena Bay
They Left Me with a Gun (2025) - Paris Texas
Television
I’m usually not one to watch much tv. In fact, I’ve only finished a handful of tv series (in fact, maybe only Rick and Morty). Maybe it’s time for this to change…
Severance, Season 1 (2022)
