With Whose Eyes Do You See?
The French scholar, writer, philosopher, Rene Hughe, is reported to have said that, “what is innate in the artist is his (or her) ebullient inner life, the secret that he (or she) possesses and desires to manifest, or inscribe, in the exterior world. Technical skill is the material medium through which he (she) is able to imbue an object with the expressive power emanating from his (her) interior life. Consequently, something can exist as a valid work of art, only if it originates from the force of the interior life, from the innate. Obviously, this interior life must enrich other human beings, by enlarging and expanding and elevating their ordinary awareness of the world and themselves."
This sculpture, "With Whose Eyes Do You See?" invites each of you, as the observer, to take a "journey to discovery": that is not an invitation for you to assume the persona of the artist, or to get into the heart and mind of the artist, or even for you to "see what he sees"; rather, the invitation (and the challenge) is for you to, simply, "open yourself to the experience" and get in touch with your own momentary 'inner reality' (your artistic soul and/or your non-artistic soul); not to "see what the artist sees", or to "see what you think the artist wants you to see", but with the freedom to "be who you are", to "come from where you are coming from" and to "see what you see", given that freedom, in that life-moment.
Your momentary life-condition, superimposed upon your fundamental life-tendency will color everything you think, or see, or say, or do. This instance, of course, will not be an exception: so, please, understand where you are coming from", become increasingly aware of "the way that you see", whether it means the way that you see the world, yourself, the people around you, or this insignificant piece of art. Look inside of yourself, as well as, look outside yourself and try to live up to your highest, most enlightened potential as a human being. Ultimately, strive to "see with the enlightened eye of the Buddha" (see with wisdom, compassion, mercy, truth and love). Just "be the best you which you can be and "see the best which you can see", inside and outside of yourself; but, most of all please, do not take yourself, or this piece of art, too seriously !!
Personal statement from the artist/ sculptor, Mr. Emmett Amos