A painting is the sum of its destruction. It is something alive, does it understand? ... it is transforming, dies and lives while it is born, until the artist says enough. Only then ends. And really dies.
The quote from Arturo Pérez-Reverte's book "Sabotage" reflects on the nature of painting as a dynamic and evolving process. It suggests that a painting undergoes a cycle of transformation, where it is continually shaped and reshaped by the artist's hand. This cyclical creation and destruction give the artwork its vitality, indicating that it possesses a kind of life as it develops. The artist's decisions influence this journey until they decide the piece is complete.
Moreover, the notion of a painting 'dying' when the artist considers it finished implies a deep connection between the creator and their work. Until that moment of finality, the painting exists in a state of flux, experiencing a metaphorical life. This perspective challenges the notion of art being static, emphasizing instead that art is a living entity, shaped by both the creative process and the artist’s intent, culminating in a work that embodies both struggle and resolution.
