I am inspired to write this blog post because last time I heard one of the interviews with the famous Polish painter, Zdzislaw Beksinski.
He told me something that gave me a lot to think. Moreover, I suppose that his statement gave me some direction to develop my motto in life. Beksinski said that if we have to wait for completion and fulfillment of the meaninglessness of our existence, it is better to spend a lifetime in comfort by sitting in the armchair than sitting on the cactus. I agree with the second part of his statement in 100%. I do not agree with the first part of his sentence because I believe that our lives indeed possess a meaningful but impossible to understand, purpose. Beksinski, in another part of the interview, also said that he is conformist. Both utterances are consistent with each other. In this concrete case, I agree with Beksinski.
I think it is much easier to possess a conforming character in one’s life. One of the proofs that Beksinski is consistent with his beliefs is the fact that he moved from his hometown – Sanok. This city is situated in southern-eastern Poland. He moved to Warsaw, the capital of Poland (located in the central part of this country). He moved with his family from one part of the country to another. The length from one city to another is 345 km (~215 miles). As he said, he did it to have more comfortable possibilities to sell his artworks.
For me, it is a clear signal. Beksinski’s doings were consistent with the messages he was giving.
It is much easier to try to adapt to any situation which can occur in our lives. We should try to be like water. Seneca, Bruce Lee, and Beksinski, all these philosophers and artists want to tell us the same thing: always attempt to adapt, do not feel pain, do not hear insults. When someone attacks you, behave like you do not see this attack. Moreover, Seneca added that we should thank our enemy for the experience which he gave us. We should treat our defeats as lessons, not failures.
That is why we should not afraid of risk and failure.
We all going to die. Thus we should not waste our time and energy on meaningless skirmishes and doings. “So what I should do now?” – You could probably ask. I think that no matter what issues life brings to you, undoubtedly, we all should focus on our loved ones and, if it’s possible, on the creation of Art. I think that’s the best we can do for ourselves, our family, friends, and society as a whole.
