A journey to the essence of art
On any morning, while the earliest readers are based on reading, I will be crossing the Mediterranean skies, with Athens as their final destination. With Heribert, my friendly friend and artist, we have come to the conclusion that the Sagrada Familia can be seen as a reinterpretation of the Parthenon, and I have been embarked on a diverse and fascinating adventure to explore this first -person idea.
Reflections on Joaquim Mir and his search for light
Heribert has shared me that Joaquim Mir, a painter with a fervent passion for Greece, found his true inspiration in Mallorca. A sailor from the Pirae, who knew the secrets of art well, suggested that he would not look beyond the Balearic Island, as he would discover the light he wanted so much.
Mallorca as a source of inspiration
One hundred years ago, traveling was a challenge and Mir discovered in Mallorca the light he needed for his work. While Heribert emphasizes that Mir produced exceptional works on Montserrat, he believes he only succeeded after having assimilated the luminous richness of the Mallorcan coast. Montserrat, with its majesty, cannot compete with the vibration and transparency offered by Mallorca.
Catalonia: a limited artistic ecosystem
Without the connection with Mallorca, Catalonia is perceived as a territory that cannot rival the grandeur of Athens. His cultural life, often marked by provincialism, cannot overcome the limitations imposed by his own history. Heribert insists that the light and the landscape of Mallorca are essential for modernist artistic sensitivity.
Gaudí’s influence
According to Lluís Racionero, the architect Antoni Gaudí intensely experienced the excursions on the island, as did MIR, which ended up losing in a ravine. For many, this connection may seem strange, but for me, a Barcelonian, it is clear that without Mallorca, Catalonia is disconnected from the artistic essence it seeks.
The search for truth in times of confusion
With our lives, demoroning and the uncertainty that surrounds us, the idea of traveling to Greece becomes more and more attractive. Heribert has told me that the light of Athens is so pure that the ancient Greeks had to design the columns of the Parthenon with a slight curvature to deceive the human eye and make them look perfect.
A reflection on the present
In Catalonia, the deformations that affect us are not from the light, but from the ghosts of the past and the social experiments of recent years. We have lost our perspective and we are in a critical moment. After October 2017, when our ability to decide our future was committed, we are now faced with the challenge of recovering our collective intelligence.
The impact of travel on personal transformation
Greece represents an opportunity to distance itself from a reality that has become confused. In the past, writers like Henry Miller found in these lands a refuge in the face of the obsession and misery of Europe. Perhaps, while readers sit down to read these lines, I will be on board a plane rereading Miller’s experiences with Giorgos Katsymbalis, reflecting on the truth that Greece provided.
The world can be a difficult place to change, but there are always new and creative ways to perceive and explain it. The trip to Greece is not only a physical getaway, but also a path to a new understanding of life.
