In The Dickensian Reset, I talk about the art that was left behind by earlier patients, in particular, the piece pictured below, which was titled West Energy Wisdom.
While the revised versions contain the below image on the back cover, I felt it would be helpful to share here for readers of the Kindle edition.
There is a saying in Zen:
Before enlightenment,
mountains are mountains and rivers are rivers.
During enlightenment,
mountains are no longer mountains and rivers are no longer rivers.
After enlightenment,
mountains are once again mountains and rivers are once again rivers.
The above image reminds me of this quote, both for its depictions of mountains and rivers, but also for another reason as well.
When I first saw this image upon my first entrance to my room, I saw just a childish scribble. It inspired me to begin writing a sarcastic journal entry about the "mad house art." But as I studied the image, I became enthralled by its beauty: not for the technical skill of the artist, but for what they were able to convey with such limited materials. I found the image incredibly peaceful.
I was impressed by the artwork's accuracy in details, from rivers starting at mountains to the rendering of the moon, which is correctly lit on the proper side by the setting sun.
Moreover, it features many small vignettes:
- Two deer stand on the banks of a river; one of them has their head down, drinking from the cool waters.
- Downstream, a tree has fallen into the river and made a natural dam; salmon are jumping over the log.
- A mother bear works to pull down a beehive; nearby her cubs wait patiently.
- The river ends at a waterfall that feeds a large lake; swimming in its clear waters are two massive koi.
- On a dock, extending into the river, a man in a straw hat fishes, perhaps in hopes of catching those two kings of the lake; his loyal dog sits nearby panting.
These scenes drew me into the painting. I could almost feel what it would be like to be sitting on that dock, fishing, gazing into that forest teaming with life; you can imagine how much more I appreciated that feeling of peace while I was confined.
Now, today, while I can still appreciate the image with the same perspective I had while in mania, I also see it simply for what it is, some crayon on a wall. I can appreciate that my mania caused me to see everything as significant, including this work of art, and it was just some graffiti left behind by a former patient.
What do you see? What other things become more beautiful the longer you look at them?
