The Flight II

The Language of Art

The language of art addresses primarily the senses rather than reason.

I remember being afraid of a red house as a child, of its baroque gable, its gateway, and the red machines in its shop windows.

I was afraid of all red houses; they were always associated with the idea of hospital, slaughterhouse, execution.

Fear comes as naturally to the human being as the longing for beauty, for redemption. And in our fears and longings we cannot be alone, we need communication. This communication can take the form of great art, and art is bound to want to communicate.

Art need not be understandable to all, but understandable. The artist derives the greatest satisfaction not from thinking that a painting has succeeded, but when it speaks to someone, when the communication arrives:that is when it has succeeded a human level.
(Text: Wolfgang Lettl)