I have read that, when asked why he had painted so many naked people on the ceiling of a church, Michelangelo’s response was:
“What spirit is so empty, what eye so blind, that it cannot see that the foot is more beautiful than the shoe, and the skin more lovely than the garment in which it is clothed?”
It’s been 500 years and most people still haven’t caught up with him. As your piece points out so well, the world would be a much better place if we did.
Glad you liked it. You’ll like this even more. The guy who was so disapproving of Michelangelo’s work on the ceiling of the chapel was a bishop, and Michelangelo never forgot the insult, and 16 years later when he was asked to come back and paint the Last Judgment on the wall of the chapel, he painted that bishop in hell, with a special torment that fit the insult. He painted the bishop nude, with a huge serpent wrapped around him, and with the serpent’s massive fangs chewing on the bishop’s cock. And this part of the painting is right next to the door you come through when you enter the chapel so you can’t miss it. Just Google “The Last Judgment” and zoom into the bottom right corner and you’ll see it.
This was gorgeous. I want to come back again and again and savor the deeper truths in here... sooo much I resist about myself. To embrace would unfuck so many things.
i'm so glad you enjoyed it Megan... ane yes, it's deep territory, a lifetime of exploration i think. i have this little saying i remind myself of: go fuck yourself to unfuck yourself. to be applied in any way you like ♥️
i think you’re right, and i am speaking primarily to women from my own feminine perspective. while men definitely experience insecurity and disconnection, it is amplified in women, especially as she is “the earth”, the physical, movement, feeling - while the masculine is more rooted in spaciousness, presence, structure, mission to feel connected (from what i have experienced). would be interested to hear more of your perspective on this if you want to share.
SO, if you’re not willing to be with your naked body, you have a lot to learn.” SO true! I’ve experienced this myself in real time….. it’s a magical thing!
Great advice! I’ve actually started to take more self portraits to really look at and accept my body. To appreciate it for what it is instead of what I wish it would be.
If we are lucky to reach old age, what a gift we would have given ourselves to have stacks and digital folders full of photographs of us through the years.
"To appreciate it for what it is instead of what I wish it would be." What a beautiful practice. Makes me think about how we can only create change when we begin from exactly where we are.
I think I really needed to see this, as someone that's so uncomfortable with being naked because it feels so vulnerable but not only that it also makes me find many things that need fixing because social media and pornified culture ruined my ability to view myself as beautiful or "normal" even
i couldn’t agree more. i’m a photographer and it’s been a rough year so i deleted social media, and have been taking nude self portraits and honoring myself in this way. it’s altering, and we should be doing it more! it makes you realize how unkind you are to self.
Your words deeply resonate with me, and remind me of a poem I've written thinking of the first time I went skinny dipping and allowed my body to be naked in the presence of nature and how empowering that was.
This is a brilliant article, well said!
And I love the quote from Anaïs Nin, “We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.” - and all the depth that holds.
so glad you enjoyed it Andy, thank you! that Anaïs Nin does rear its head in many a circumstance.
I love this.
Sorry, but I can’t help myself:
Well, my body could use a little slimmin'
I keep my shirt on when I go swimmin'
And I ain't seen my feet since 1984
The old lady wants to roll in the hay
We turn the lights down all the way
Cuz I don't look good naked anymore
No I don't look good naked anymore
I'm a deep-fried, double-wide version of the man I was before
If I keep on like I'm doing I won't fit through the door
And I don't look good naked anymore
Well, I used to be a helluva man
I chopped wood with just one hand
But I can't do the things I've done before
Well, it all happened kinda slow
But I guess I kinda let myself go
Now I don't look good naked anymore
No I don't look good naked anymore
I'm a deep-fried, double-wide version of the man I was before
If I keep on like I'm doing I won't fit through the door
And I don't look good naked anymore
With each and every passing year
Came a lot of french fries and beer
And my belly hung a little closer to the floor
Now my belly is big as a truck
And the old lady don't wanna-- SHE DON'T WANNA!
Cuz I don't look good naked anymore
No I don't look good naked anymore
I'm a deep-fried, double-wide version of the man I was before If
I keep on like I'm doing I won't fit through the door
And I don't look good naked anymore
No I don't look good naked anymore
I'm a deep-fried, double-wide version of the man I was before
If I keep on like I'm doing I won't fit through the door
And I don't look good naked anymore
No I don't look good naked anymore
I have read that, when asked why he had painted so many naked people on the ceiling of a church, Michelangelo’s response was:
“What spirit is so empty, what eye so blind, that it cannot see that the foot is more beautiful than the shoe, and the skin more lovely than the garment in which it is clothed?”
It’s been 500 years and most people still haven’t caught up with him. As your piece points out so well, the world would be a much better place if we did.
Dave
wow I love this quote so much! thank you for sharing it, just gorgeous. and thank you for reading <3
Glad you liked it. You’ll like this even more. The guy who was so disapproving of Michelangelo’s work on the ceiling of the chapel was a bishop, and Michelangelo never forgot the insult, and 16 years later when he was asked to come back and paint the Last Judgment on the wall of the chapel, he painted that bishop in hell, with a special torment that fit the insult. He painted the bishop nude, with a huge serpent wrapped around him, and with the serpent’s massive fangs chewing on the bishop’s cock. And this part of the painting is right next to the door you come through when you enter the chapel so you can’t miss it. Just Google “The Last Judgment” and zoom into the bottom right corner and you’ll see it.
Yes! I’ve done exactly this. I used photography and video to heal and changed completely my relationship with my body.
how wonderful to hear this Georgia! it really is a powerful tool and experience.
This was gorgeous. I want to come back again and again and savor the deeper truths in here... sooo much I resist about myself. To embrace would unfuck so many things.
i'm so glad you enjoyed it Megan... ane yes, it's deep territory, a lifetime of exploration i think. i have this little saying i remind myself of: go fuck yourself to unfuck yourself. to be applied in any way you like ♥️
ooooooh I looooove that little saying! 🖤🖤🖤 I shall borrow!
I really wonder if it has the same impact on men it has on women. Think we are generally way less identified with our bodies.
i think you’re right, and i am speaking primarily to women from my own feminine perspective. while men definitely experience insecurity and disconnection, it is amplified in women, especially as she is “the earth”, the physical, movement, feeling - while the masculine is more rooted in spaciousness, presence, structure, mission to feel connected (from what i have experienced). would be interested to hear more of your perspective on this if you want to share.
Powerful. And I think the power lies in knowing viscerally we are masterpieces despite our "imperfections."
I've definitely got work to do here, thanks for the reminder ❤️❤️🔥
yes, exactly! i've found this practice to be an expansive portal into that visceral experience because it brings the resistance front and center.
...i'll be doing the work with you ♥️🪞thanks for your reflection Holly
“…. art is, at its heart, an erotic process.
SO, if you’re not willing to be with your naked body, you have a lot to learn.” SO true! I’ve experienced this myself in real time….. it’s a magical thing!
Great advice! I’ve actually started to take more self portraits to really look at and accept my body. To appreciate it for what it is instead of what I wish it would be.
If we are lucky to reach old age, what a gift we would have given ourselves to have stacks and digital folders full of photographs of us through the years.
"To appreciate it for what it is instead of what I wish it would be." What a beautiful practice. Makes me think about how we can only create change when we begin from exactly where we are.
Nudes? I call it historical documentation of my divine beauty
lol I support this in every way
So brilliant, thank you for this, it really made me think ✨
I think I really needed to see this, as someone that's so uncomfortable with being naked because it feels so vulnerable but not only that it also makes me find many things that need fixing because social media and pornified culture ruined my ability to view myself as beautiful or "normal" even
You’re so right gotta be happy with looking at yourself naked then how can you be vulnerable enough to make authentic art
i couldn’t agree more. i’m a photographer and it’s been a rough year so i deleted social media, and have been taking nude self portraits and honoring myself in this way. it’s altering, and we should be doing it more! it makes you realize how unkind you are to self.
Your words deeply resonate with me, and remind me of a poem I've written thinking of the first time I went skinny dipping and allowed my body to be naked in the presence of nature and how empowering that was.
OH!! YESSSS~ ! Yes yes!!! Reposting! 🌟👏🏻🌟👏🏻💖