MARIA

Usually people seek the feeling of ecstasy through, more or less, legal means, or use substances to help them achieve it more easily. However, is it possible to do it through art? Which artistic form makes the human being reach such a state of euphoria? Follow me.

In the Christian religion, to achieve ecstasy it would mean to be in contact with God, but how was this represented? By using the golden/silverish colours. It was used in paintings, as well as in churches decorations, temples and also in garments to represent the Holy light. Without trying to dull you with all of this religion in art talk, truth is centuries ago that was the main theme in art all around Europe!

Someone who also played with light was Andy Warhol, at his New York loft -The Factory- , where he covered the walls with tin foil. The colour silver was not only present in his loft, but also on his greyish/silverish wigs, even though he used them for aesthetic reasons, these metallic shades still possess the same connotation as the above mentioned.

Moving on to another artistic field, music. When we attend a concert, we observe the musicians on stage and one could think they’re just doing their job, playing or singing. Nevertheless, some of them become one with with their art, whether they are singing or playing an instrument. When it comes to the spectator, he or she can also be influenced by that ecstasy!

According to the Irish painter Sean Scully, it is not a piece of art that transmits ecstasy to one, but we, ourselves, attribute that quality to it, we allow it to move us in that way. However, that opinion does not apply to sculpture. The proof of that is Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the 17th century Italian sculptor. In all of his pieces, he was able to freeze a moment in time. Using marble, he captured facial expressions that would normally pass us by. Bernini was so obsessed with this that he even cut himself in front of a mirror, to analyse his own expression.  But the real challenge was to sculpt something he couldn’t witness. Like the ecstasy found in certain commissioned religious narratives, like the Ecstasy of Saint Theresa. To represent it, he interpreted it in his own way using, as an example, the closest feeling he knew: sexual pleasure. The result is this:

• 

• 

• 

Impressive, right? I recommend you to do some research on his other works, they are absolutely breathtaking! Fun fact: in his David sculpture, the face is actually a self portrait, he used himself to study the expression he desired.

Given these points, yes, I do think it is possible to reach ecstasy through art, but of course, it all depends on how willing we are to let ourselves go with the flow of the artistic form in matter and of other external factors. If you haven’t experienced anything like this, take it from me, let loose, take your time and let yourself be taken away by what you are admiring, it is a one of a kind feeling.