Being an artist, stories beneath the surface

A STORY

Several years ago I was contacted by a person who organizes an exhibition in the Embassy of Iraq in Rome. I was to produce a painting that would possibly be selected for a collective exhibition. The theme was PEACE.

I asked myself, "What contribution can I do, what would express my feelings about the world, and the main subject that interests me most: bringing people of all nations together. THAT would be my theme.

I don't consider myself an artist who appreciates banal subject matter. Basically I love irony, but I also love beauty. How could I get MY own personal view across, and something that for the Embassy in Rome of Iraq, something that would not offend....

I imagined this: a sea, a pool of water where all people from all over the world could relax and meditate, they would be together, in harmony. Water would bring these people together, and all would be at peace.

I began my rough sketch. But I had one problem, or perhaps more than one: if the people were shown nude, or at least with no straps of bathing suits showing, would that be permissable? Would that be offensive?

The water in my painting began to cover more bare skin. THAT was a solution I believed.

I even asked a friend what she thought, and she believed it was alright, that it would not offend, and that the idea was a good one.

Now, about three years later.....I just saw the pubblicity for a film that has a very similar image. People of different races are in the water, they do look like migrants, they look as if they may not have the abillity to be saved, in their shirts, in the water and with serious expressions.

When I saw this photo I thought back to my painting and thought "My idea seems to have been before its time. It seems to have seen ahead, many people in the water, together, but my people have the ability to meditate and to come out happier, not sadder or desperate.

This story isn't over actually....because my painting was not accepted into the show.

I was quite disappointed, I IMAGINE that it offended someone, because perhaps of the "imagined" nudity.

Maybe it isn't a good painting.

Maybe it is too far out of reality of peace (no doves flying, no mother holding a baby, no flowers, or hearts). Just an imagined world where everyone could be together, peacefully, in an element that helps us all feel peaceful:water.