The last arrow penetrates the yellow heart of the target board and the tip of the fencing sword pierces through thin air - these were common sites during the recent, rather odd Olympic games. The radiating gold, bay leaves, and vigorous athletes of the Olympics always present great excitement. However, such experiences can easily feel different when you stay confined and physically restricted - like the current lockdown status of Vietnam.
Anonymous
Henri Matisse, Dance (1909-1910)
The study of ‘movement’ has consistently evolved throughout art history, and Henri Matisse is arguably one of the finest in capturing the most vehement motions in its simplest forms. Matisse was born in Le Cateau Cambrésis in Northern France, 1869, and was renowned for defining revolutionary developments in modern visual arts. Matisse’s Dance is one of his most famous works and is an ode to life, joy, and most importantly physical agency. The simplicity and energy characterize Dance, and the aesthetic choices for this painting - crudely applied colors and the barbaric, primitive nature - spotlights the movement of the ambiguous figures and their heavy contours rather than focusing on the landscape or perspective depth.
Despite not being able to dramatically move or stay active as before, I see the Olympics as an opportunity to revitalize our sense of community and agency - even just as ‘spectators’. Like the individuals who are lost in their Dance, we can be oblivious to daily obligations from time to time. Like how Matisse sheds light on the movement and rhythm that the individuals create together, we can - as a community enduring such rough times - take this opportunity to reconcile as individuals and once again strengthen the shared bonds.
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