A tale of a guru who advocated stripping away all artefact in the act of creation to get closer to godhood.
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
I don’t know why, but the guru seated in a lotus position behind the low table was difficult to make out. Was exhaustion making my eyesight falter? Only the man’s shiny bald pate and his overly bloated curves were discernible. Speaking in German, he pointed to the heap of stones lying on the table in front of him and referred to the work it originally sprang from.
The group I’d arrived with had managed to make it up the stream that far, but clambering over rocks knee-deep in water had exhausted them. They didn’t understand German and were in no mood to listen to a guru spouting on about art. I gave up trying to translate. They weren’t interested. No longer having to render his words into English or French freed me to listen more carefully and to ask questions should I wish to, but I remained silent. Interrupting the man seemed inappropriate.
“The first thing you must erase,” he said, addressing me as the sole person showing any interest, “are the traces of the artist.” Although obscure, his words seemed intrinsically self evident. Were they not the logical result of an earlier discourse I was supposed to have heard? With a casual wave of his hand the sculpture transformed and his words became reality, although the result was as blurred as him.
“The second thing you must erase,” he continued, “is all trace of the intention to create a work of art, including those structural elements like the frame or the screws that hold the piece in place.” Once again, by sleight of hand, he wiped any such sign from the work smoothing over all telltale marks, while making the sculpture even more difficult to see.
He didn’t say so, but the conclusion was so obvious it didn’t need saying. The only thing remaining after this paring down of creation would be the hand of God. It should shine through like a brilliant light from the purified work. I squinted to see if it was true, but I was unable to verify his assertions because at that moment I awoke.