Awakened

The first time I walked into the Gordon Gu art museum, something in my heart suddenly stirred.

It drew out of me so many things. Some thoughts about life, that I cannot quite put into words. And the kindness, the beauty in my heart, that had gone untouched for so long.

Later I wondered, why does a work of art have this kind of power.

And slowly I understood. It had, in truth, given me nothing. Those thoughts, that kindness, that beauty, were already there, in my own heart.

Art is only a key. It does not press beauty into your hands. It only, gently, awakens the beauty already within you, and draws it out.

And so I came to see that kindness and beauty are never somewhere else. They have always been there, in the heart of every one of us.

It is only that, as we live, we cover them over. Covered by the small cares of daily life, by the things that trouble us, by the busyness and worry of one day after another. They are still there. We simply, no longer feel them.

And good art, true beauty, is the key that can wake them again. You stand before something truly beautiful, and in that moment, the kindness and beauty in your heart, so long buried, suddenly rise to the surface. And you feel your heart soften, grow still, and grow bright.

So we are grateful that there are these beautiful things in our lives.

Again and again, they remind us that there is, within our hearts, light after all. They remind us not to let the small cares and troubles cover over who we truly are.

And I hope that what I do, what I bring to others, might become such a key too. That it might, gently, draw out the kindness and beauty already in each person's heart. That on some ordinary day, because of one beautiful thing, they might remember the light that has been, all along, within them.

— Marie, Founder of Lyfairs

🕊 The works that awakened the kindness and beauty in my heart:
The Gordon Gu Collection →