9 Comments
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How to Get Lost's avatar

I would say the broken parts are what makes people and things beautiful. Sounds trite, but when you really dwell on it, it’s true and I think this article captures that beautifully.

PJ Poscimur's avatar

They are certainly an inescapable part of what forms the wholeness of beauty, so long as we are open to seeing them that way.

David Carradini's avatar

There is so much beauty in these reflections. As I read about kintsugi, what occurs to me for the first time in my life is that the gold is like a symbol of the grace of God Christ won for us that repairs our wounds and makes these broken vessels more than they were before. Thank you for an excellent piece.

PJ Poscimur's avatar

That’s a wonderful reflection. Thank you for sharing it.

Lisa's avatar

If you have children, you'll notice how Jellycat stuffed animals and children's cartoons (Bluey, etc) Hello Kitty, I could go on...are quite popular now and are all about "round." Interesting your take on this frictionless, no demands made, positive art. What will be its impact on this new generation?

PJ Poscimur's avatar

Knowing the necessity of rough and tumble play, and that children are inherently “anti fragile” in the Nassim Taleb sense, the suspicion is an overly “smooth” childhood is not ideal.

Del Sallie's avatar

To some, "Balloon Dog" does represent impermanence, in that something so perfect cannot stay that way forever.

Del Sallie's avatar

A balloon, in and of itself, seems a fairly obvious representation of impermanence with the smoothness of youth and the inevitable decline surely to follow. But art is interpretation even from those who created it. Love the conversation.

PJ Poscimur's avatar

One could read that into the work, but then couldn’t we also read that into any object? Maybe it’s a more striking thought with the dog because of its smoothness. Would be interesting to hear Koons’ thoughts on that interpretation of his work.