Á Deux

2

- What do you think is the meaning and value of second-rate works at the National Gallery? I do not mean some mediocre paintings, but the real ones, just short of a masterpiece.

- Perhaps it makes sense to talk not about painting but their authors? Because what else could you expect from the painting? It can change nothing.

- Might be. Although you would probably agree that the life of a canvass continues in its relationship with the audience. And the outcome of such a relationship is unpredictable.

- If I understand correctly you take a collection of paintings as a symbol of the whole Creation with all its possible variety of universes – from more perfect to barely deserving to exist. What a beautiful image! I can appreciate it, somewhat vicariously though. But who is the spectator? Who could drop by such a gallery beside you? And who for the sake of its fullness and perfection evaluate according to their merit those second-rate pictures? Their second-ratedness by the way you have already settled. It is rather vague a metaphor. Within the limits of one of those painting, I could not even have a relationship with neighboring masterpieces. Where is life here? Your man can not accept the role of a dead sapphire in a luxurious jewelry store. This is not likeness. Not even an image. Or am I wrong?

- What about g*****a?

- You seem to mingle with different perspectives. Or it might be me who has no strength to soar with you, so I see you as a pure sophist. What g*****a has to do with this? From the gallery point of view, a statue has much more value than a girl that came to life and made the sculptor alone happy. She would desert the gallery in a flash since for her there was nothing to do there any longer. Also, it means that the author – in this case, it must have been you, I suppose – has come across some new super-aesthetic ideas. But if you opted to turn a lifeless masterpiece into a live creature, we would have to part with the art gallery symbol. And then, what kind of a nursery you have in mind? It might be fascinating but “Pygmalion and g*****a” is a different myth, the secondary one, not primordial. It is not about creation but love. I am afraid this visit did not go well. What if you go back, wind down. I will also take a break if you do not mind. Otherwise, we venture into “a jail of wastes with no gates” 1… Have you heard of this one?

- I have.