In the quiet confines of my New York apartment, a mesmerizing quote attributed to Van Gogh captures my attention. Encased in a small 30cm by 40cm frame, the quote resides on a midnight blue background adorned with golden stars. It reads: “For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.” This quote has become a familiar sight for me, but on a recent morning, as I lay in bed fixated on the words, my thoughts wandered towards the ever-evolving field of artificial intelligence. As a writer, I’ve received half-joking remarks from friends about the potential obsoletion of my services due to AI apps like ChatGPT. While I may harbor certain reservations about AI, I can’t claim to possess extensive knowledge on the topic from a technological or scientific standpoint. However, I do understand what it means to be human – to navigate through life with a wild, creative, reflective, and unpredictable nature. It’s an inherent aspect of our physical existence.
Amidst the various roles AI plays, there is one aspect that often escapes our contemplation – its ability to remind us of the priceless, immeasurable, and irreplaceable elements of being alive. And perhaps, as we reconnect with these aspects, we might rediscover a more intentional embrace of our own vitality.
An intriguing example that comes to mind is “Dream Vision,” a painting crafted by the German artist Albrecht Dürer in June 1525. Dürer, following a restless night plagued by apocalyptic visions, depicted a modest landscape in watercolor. The canvas showcased small trees scattered across terracotta-colored earth, while a large downpour of water cascaded from the blue sky, accompanied by smaller columns of falling water. Despite the cool palette, the scene emanated a sense of bleakness. Dürer accompanied the artwork with a description of the thunderous sounds of rushing water and how the intensity of his vision left him trembling upon awakening. So moved by this dream, Dürer promptly transformed it into a tangible creation.
At first glance, this painting may not seem like an obvious exemplification of the invaluable qualities of being alive. However, I find it captivating because it embodies the creative expression born from valuing our capacity to dream and wholeheartedly engaging with our dreams. During Dürer’s time, he would have been surrounded by the uncertainties and societal tensions arising from the Reformation and the German peasants’ revolt. Perhaps his apocalyptic dream stemmed from his anxieties about the state of the world he inhabited or even changed the trajectory of his life. Dreaming remains a distinctly human phenomenon, and it grants us access to a mysterious well of subconscious information that eludes us in our waking hours. As someone who regularly journals, I often make an effort to record my dreams upon waking, particularly if they possess an otherworldly quality or leave me with lingering sensations, much like Dürer’s experience. Throughout these moments, I’ve observed a consistent thread in the themes of my dreams, allowing me to glean a deeper understanding of and work through profound worries or emotional struggles.
Moving forward, let us explore the work of Xaviera Simmons, an American interdisciplinary artist based in New York. Simmons expresses her artistry through various mediums, including photography, text paintings, installations, sculpture, performance, and video. Her work delves into the formation of personal and collective identities, the implications of empire, the historical connections that shape the present, as well as the history of Africans and African diasporas. In her 2019 piece, “Sundown (Number Nineteen),” Simmons juxtaposes historical photographs with her own contemporaneous images, contemplating the experiences of black individuals across time. The term “sundown” refers to a dark period in 20th-century history when many American towns enforced rules that required black people to vacate the premises before dusk, under threat of severe consequences. In this particular work, Simmons stands against a backdrop of floral-patterned wallpaper, donning a vibrant swimming ensemble that overlays a black diving suit. With a blue swimcap atop her head, she holds an enlarged black and white photograph depicting black children swimming in segregated waters. In her other hand, she holds a box or binoculars, peering through it at an unseen entity.
To be alive entails acknowledging our connectivity to the lives of others. One of the reasons I find historical photographs so invaluable is their ability to transport me to different eras and immerse me in alternative ways of existence, often within social and cultural contexts that prove challenging to conceive of today. As a black woman, examining 19th and early 20th-century photographs of Africans captured through the colonial lens reinforces the complexities that underscore our shared history. Similarly, viewing images documenting the segregated lives endured by marginalized communities in Western countries merely six or seven decades ago evokes a profound sense of struggle. Simmons’ artwork, featuring a woman simultaneously peering into the present, the future, and showcasing the past to viewers, underscores our human capacity to engage with memory. This engagement carries with it responsibility, accountability, and the opportunity to shape a more vibrant and just world for all. Regardless of where one stands in the grand tapestry of history, every individual bears a role in working towards a better future. Our ability to see and reckon with the past empowers us to reflect on our present choices and envision a more enlightened tomorrow.
Moreover, this artwork resonates with me due to the photograph of children reveling in the waters. It serves as a testament to the enduring potential for joy in the face of unjust circumstances and the resilience we summon to persevere and flourish against all odds. Being alive necessitates recognizing ourselves as interconnected beings, understanding that our present actions ripple through time, shaping the experiences of future generations who will, in turn, contemplate the legacy of our existence and the diverse ways in which we fostered a world that was both luminous and harrowing.
Finally, we turn our attention to the renowned British-Ghanaian painter, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, celebrated for imbuing her paintings’ subjects with intricate narratives. Her work poignantly encapsulates the multifaceted nature of being alive, both as individuals and members of a collective. “Interstellar,” her 2012 painting, captivated me with its vibrant intensity and palpable energy. The canvas portrays a man clad in a green dance ensemble, frozen mid-dance pose. The central figure gracefully balances on the tips of his right foot, his other leg suspended in mid-air, while his outstretched arms mirror his dynamism. The energy emanating from this single movement envelops him and reverberates silently but perceptibly throughout the canvas.
The artist achieves this effect through pulsating brushstrokes of color. Vibrant greens blend seamlessly with warm olive tones, gradually diluting until they meld with the brown earth. The painting itself pulsates with its own life force, brimming with vitality. I am particularly drawn to this artwork because although the figure stands alone, there exists an undeniable synergy between him and his surroundings. He exudes a fervent aliveness, a profound awareness of the power and beauty inherent in embodiment. Simultaneously, he remains interconnected with the seen and unseen elements that envelop him. This piece underscores the reality that, whether we acknowledge it or not, we are entwined with the world around us. We are conduits of energy, perpetually engaged in a dance with the universe.
In essence, these artistic creations serve as poignant reminders of the complexity and richness of what it means to be alive – to embrace our humanity and forge connections with the past, present, and future. Each painting elucidates essential facets of our experience, urging us to take stock of our existence and the reverberations it sends forth. Let us revel in the immeasurable gifts that accompany our aliveness, honoring the intricate tapestry woven by those who came before us and ensuring that our contributions foster a legacy fraught with beauty, compassion, and justice.
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