Architecture Is Art Too

Many people miss the beauty of art because they fail to notice all the forms in which it can be expressed. I will use the Louvre courtyard as an example. People are in such a hurry to get inside the Louvre to see the art, they fail to take the time to notice the artistic details of the architecture surrounding it. How else could you explain the wart placed in the center of the courtyard? Don't get me wrong, the Louvre Pyramid is artistic and beautiful, but it was placed on an existing piece of art. Would we let someone modify or "add" to the Mona Lisa? The Mona Lisa is a recognized masterpiece, but the building and courtyard surrounding it are neglected.

All I ask is for you to take a moment to notice something, anything, which you would normally take for granted. Pause for just one moment before you enter a building (see the little extras in the facade). Look at a bridge (it's designed with more than structural support). Or even examine a manhole cover (you'll notice it's not just functional).

The same goes for nature. See the branching pattern of a tree or even a dead leaf. Pick up a blade of grass and look closely. Mother Nature is a master artisan.

And I just mentioned your visual senses. Try just once to notice the art of taste, smell, hearing and touch. It's not much to ask. Just pause for one moment and "smell the roses."