Art and Spiritual Awakening

“True art takes note not merely of form but also of what lies behind.”
—Mahatma Gandhi

The 20^th century brought us into the age of scientific reasoning. The promise of objective knowledge eroded religious and mythological beliefs to create a new culture of science and materialism. Even today, science continues to advance human knowledge and revolutionize the world.

Spiritual Crisis

However, the scientific revolution was also a time of spiritual crisis. Many artists and designers created a spiritual counterculture rejecting materialism in pursuit of abstraction. They believed as Gandhi in the quote above that behind the veil of matter lies the secrets of the metaphysical and spiritual world. Drawing from various mystical traditions and esoteric studies, these artists delved into abstract thought and feeling to reintroduce mystery and the mystical into everyday life through aesthetic experience of art. Even today, people flock to National Parks for the beauty of nature to experience this spiritual aspect of life.

The Pursuit of Abstraction

 

“The Pursuit of Abstraction” is an exhibit organized by The Wolfsonian—Florida International University with art from the early 20^th century and currently at The Baker Museum at Artis-Naples until July 23, 2017. The exhibit draws from very eclectic sources like the image above to create a view into this spiritual counterculture as the age of science began.

Art and Spiritual Awakening

At the exhibit, I was struck by the idea of art and spiritual awakening which seems to be at the heart of the intention of these artists. Through the abstraction of art, they create an appreciation of beauty and the mystery that underlies our world. They echo back to the ancient mandalas and the Tibetan cave paintings that perhaps encapsulate spiritual wisdom through art. We are meant to meditate and contemplate to create insight through abstract feeling and thought, rather than concrete knowledge and scientific observation.

Today, the age of science is moving us further and further into abstract thought as well, and we are moving into the realm of mystery. For anyone who has studied quantum physics, there is mystery. I recommend reading the Tao of Physics that shows the parallel of mysticism and science at the start of the quantum age. With exceptional clarity, Fritjof Capra (who I happened to meet a few summers ago) describes mystical traditions and religions of the world as well as the science of quantum physics, and then shows the parallels between them. Science and art seem to go in opposite directions, but the paradox is that they are going into the same place. At the heart of our world is mystery, both science and art are trying to unravel that mystery, each in its own way.