AMOR OMNIA VINCIT? ARS OMNIA VINCIT!

Orpheus was a gifted musician and singer (I believe he was a Justin Bieber of his times;)). As Apollo’s apprentice he played lyre and sang beautifully – louder and better than the infamous Sirens, what he proved during Argonauts’ Quest. He also loved his wife-to-be the nymph Eurydice like mad… Unfortunately at their wedding something very bad happened: the bride was chased by a brute rapist satyr, in her attempt to escape she fell into a nest of vipers, got bitten and died. After death – like all ancient Greeks – she disappeared in this mythical underworld abyss, kingdom of black god, Hades.

And her loving husband went after her! And he performed the deed that occured never before! 

The minstrel charmed with his supreme musical art not only fearsome hellhound Cerberus, but also King Hades and Queen Persephone – so touched they were that they allowed Orpheus to take Eurydice back to life. (Yes, we can call this resurrection...) Although there was one simple condition – he  had to walk first and play and sing but couldn’t look back... He had to believe that his sweetheart was following him as in the land of dead she was mute and rather not very lively... So he went first and played and sang, she was behind him. Through the black kingdom they went… across the river they went… over the forest they went… yet at the moment they reached the border between under- and upperworld Orpheus looked back.

And that was the moment Eurydice was taken from him for the second time and forever! Oh, so disconsolate and somber he became!

 The myth doesn’t explain why this poor lyre-player fell behind. He just looked, risked, failed. What for? We may try to interpret that by ourselves. To me one of the best artistic translation of the story is a painting by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot. To me this picture clearly shows that death is always problem of the alive – these who suffer because their beloved died. To me Eurydice here doesn’t show great willingness to re-live, she looks rather passive. Orpheus is strong and active for both of them, tightly holding his wife’s wrist, maybe afraid of losing her again. Yet it didn’t work, he lost her again... Too impatient? Too self-confident? Or on the contrary too insecure?

Whatever the reason, in my opinion this story tells us that love doesn’t prevail all. We have to accept death and even the greatest affection cannot change that. However art can. Orpheus lost as a lover but won as an artist. Until today he’s widely recognized as a powerful archetype of divine, cosmic artistry, stronger than time.

Did antique people believe in Resurrection like we catholic believe? I doubt that. In their world it was more like general reincarnation, circle of life, spring – summer – autumn – winter – and spring again attitude. For them Easter was a festival of fertility and the rebirth of vegetation. More to do with Persephone than Eurydice... Honestly, if I was given a choice between resurrection and reincarnation, I wouldn’t know what to choose...

THE VOICE OF COLOURS

In 2012 I was particularly fascinated by three songs which were released independently to each other yet according to me they have something in common: truly artistic videoclips connected with body painting on vision. When I realized that, I conducted a small 'experiment': watched them all one by one with no sound, trying to forget the lyrics. They say "A picture is worth a thousand words" so what exactly did I see?

Symbolic Polica – in searching of its sense I imagined four elements dancing around the old lady: alight air, fascinating fire, solid soil, wild water. Another words sources of our nature, human and animal shapes in one being... Also the visualisation of fact that every meeting leaves a trace - outside, inside... The most mysterious moment to me is this 'star circle' of girls in white costumes. Perhaps they symbolize innocent life, getting more and more colours of existence, until black death comes? They are mixing, exchanging, united in one dance, making the same yet different movements on and on... The video is touching and impressive, I'm not ashamed to admit it makes my eyes wet and gives me shiver-fever – that eventual esthetic thrill...

Sad story of Gotye and Kimbra – starts with dull, pale colours; geometrical shapes, sharp lines. The only strong colour – green – seems to be connected with a woman; the way they stand suggests total lack of communication; at the end she clears herself of any paint and goes away. Maybe she gives up on hope... As for him wearing colours of the background in a cameleon way is safe but also imprisoning, according to me it makes him stiff, not flexible, so closed in his sadness, so impenetrable to her point of view... And somehow the way they stand: man en face, woman side-face, corresponds with that facebook’s drawing, which I found thanks to Kasia J., a teacher of German:

Conclusion: at some point male-female communication is not only impossible, but also impracticable and unbelievable... You just have to give it up...

Dancing with colours – are they antagonists or counterparts? I don’t like the idea that love is continuous fight full of frustration but they both seem to be equal in this struggle and that's what appeals to me. The man is like chiseled, I do agree, but somehow mostly P!nk attracts my attention: she seems to be ready for rivalry, then down to her feet, then up in a 'champion pose'... Kind of sporty behaviour? But is it a fair play or rather a dirty dance? Still, all the time they stay close to each other and exchange body colours - that appears optimistic... Although if they were a true couple in a real relationship, I would advise them non-violent communication training;)

All in all I simply love these videos. People, who created them, firmly succeeded in harmonious combination of lyrics, tunes, movements and colours. I wish that to be a new trend in show business! I wish to see more and more clips following this path of creative expression. I hope I will:)