Jackson Pollock’s paintings are a piece of absolute music if you hear it with your eyes
A few months back, I visited the MET and MoMa to experience Jackson Pollock’s paintings. I specifically chose to explore his art because I greatly appreciate it, and the movie “Mona Lisa Smile” left an impression on me. In the movie, Professor Katherine Watson, teaching art history, captivated her class by showcasing Pollock’s “Number 1, Lavender Mist.” Her words stuck with me: “Do me a favor. Do yourselves a favor. Stop talking, and look. You’re not required to write a paper. You’re not even required to like it. You are required to consider it.”
This moment inspired me to see Pollock’s work in person, challenging me to view things from a different perspective. The film, set in the rigidly defined roles for women in the 1950s, depicted an era where success for women was often measured by marriage. However, Professor Watson, through art, encouraged her students to envision a more enlightened future, challenging societal norms.
At the exhibition, I discovered Pollock’s renowned technique of pouring and splashing liquid household paint onto a horizontal surface. Rather than mimicking or creating optical illusions, he captured motion on the canvas through the act of dripping color. There was no central point, hierarchy, or traditional composition. Each painting seemed to live its own life, inviting me to observe every detail.
While some may perceive chaos in Pollock’s paintings, I found a sense of peace and heard music through my eyes. The color twirls and lines generated intense energy that reflected from the canvas. Staring at the painting allowed me to lose myself in its intricacies and, simultaneously, find a piece of myself within the artwork.
As I go back to my daily routine, I wonder: How much do we let art change how we see things and make us think differently? Can welcoming surprises and not having strict rules help us find new meanings in our own stories? Maybe, in life’s messy and unpredictable picture, the important thing is not always finding solutions but being ready for all the different things that can happen when we take a moment to stop, look, and really think.
