WATCHING THE SKY (August 28, 2025)
As I grow longer in the tooth, watching the sky is an ever-greater joy in my life. Shifting shapes and colors, as well as continual movement, engage me for ever-longer stretches of time as of late. The beauty of it all is mesmerizing most of the time. But there is one thing that attracts me to this show ever more persuasively: there are no artists behind it. No authors, inventors, or creators, either. All there is to it boils down to a whole bunch of natural laws, most of which are within grasp of natural sciences by now. And there is nowhere else but the sky where this pertains any longer. Alas, there is no landscape on planet earth that has not been tampered with by my fellow humans, and in earnest! The seas and oceans are similar to the sky in this respect, and I enjoy watching the waves driven by shifting winds, but they offer much less by way of enthralling beauty. The sky is the winner, no doubt whatsoever. Trails left by airplanes can sometimes spoil it, but never for too long. And the terrace of my house on top of the Motovun hill is the place to enjoy its wonders to the hilt. By comparison with the landscape, the sky above it appears way bigger. It dominates the view by a huge margin. All it takes on my part is to bring out one of my lounge chairs, stretch out, relax my muscles, tilt my head upwards, and watch the dazzling show for as long as I wish. Three cheers for art without artists!