(«Clouds Without Rain»/Francisco Bravo Cabrera/All Rights Reserved)
CENTRAL PARK
Who can change the course of history? Who can stop the wheels of time? Think you can? Think they can? Who is they? And who are you to presume?
History is a mystery
Questions like these and many more, bounce off the thin layer of surface water that fills the depths of the reservoir in Central Park. While it is quite necessary to investigate the lectionary, Never should one doubt, there are absolutes, there are unchanging laws.
There‘s right and wrong, there’s Ten Commandments, miraculously carved in stone. There’s the way of light and the way of darkness, and you’re free to choose, take your pick, light or dark, or take from both.
But human souls need human comforting, We’ve all wandered far from home…
On a rotting bench, close to Central Park West, sitting proper is Rosemary a retired secretary. Her mind races from through to thought, used to precision, speed and so forth. But now quite old she’s not as bold and not as fast, so when Augusts’ nights shine bright with Augusts’ lightning, she still sits alone under the rain and through her ears travels the rhythm and the cadence of an old, old song, always the same.
I stood one clear January morning near The Castle in Central Park, and snow covered the ground, I thought of summer and not a question crossed my mind.
C.2021, Francisco Bravo Cabrera, 20 NOV 2021/30 AUG 2025, València, Spain/Izmir, Türkiye
(Unknown author who retains the rights/used only for educational purposes)
I sustain that cats are superior animals, meaning they are superior to dogs. And I am sorry if I upset/anger those who think dogs are the ultimate pets. But a dog just cannot compare with the intelligence, agility, usefulness and absolute brilliance of a cat. Most artists have loved cats and have had cats. Mark Twain even rented cats when he travelled then he sent money to the owners to ensure the wellbeing of his feline friends. When cats purr they send healing vibrations. They can sense danger. They can jump more than six times their height, they can see in the dark. And, as opposed to their canine friends (or enemies), they never lost the instinct to hunt and to be wild, although they repress those instincts willingly around their adopted humans…
I do not know why all those people in Europe and in America who, supposedly, hate war, only think of the war in Gaza. They complain about genocide and have been even committing crimes against Israelis in such places like Spain and the US. Yet, there are many armed conflicts going on around the world that they seem to ignore. The most important one is the war in Ukraine. I do not see huge manifestations of these peace-seeking people against the government of Putin. I do not see them manifesting against Kim Jung Un and the fact that he uses Koreans as slave labour to build his fabulous structures, especially the new beach resort. And who exactly is that beach resort in North Korea for? These lovers of Palestinians don’t seem to care for Venezuelans being driven out of their country by dictator Maduro, or Cubans, whose civil and human rights have been denied for decades by the Castro-communist regime on the island. I think these are the children of hypocrisy and I am sick and tired of having to hear the propaganda that they have manged to place in just about every news entity in the Western World.
And Picasso? Leave him alone. Now apparently some crazed out, irrational and bellicose feminists have started to label Pablo as a misogynist and an abuser, even a macho man who used women without proper respect. Well, I say that you do not judge people from other times with the standards of yours. And if he was so bad then why didn’t any of these supposed victims accuse him? On the contrary, they all loved him and he was quite generous with all of them. So piss off…
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Sostengo que los gatos son animales superiores, lo que significa que son superiores a los perros. Y lamento si molesto/enfado a aquellos que piensan que los perros son las mascotas definitivas. Pero un perro simplemente no puede compararse con la inteligencia, agilidad, utilidad y absoluta brillantez de un gato. La mayoría de los artistas han amado a los gatos y han tenido gatos. Mark Twain incluso alquilaba gatos cuando viajaba y luego les enviaba dinero a los dueños para asegurar el bienestar de sus amigos felinos. Cuando los gatos ronronean, envían vibraciones curativas. Pueden sentir el peligro. Pueden saltar más de seis veces su altura, pueden ver en la oscuridad. Y, a diferencia de sus amigos (o enemigos) caninos, nunca han perdido el instinto de cazar y ser salvajes, aunque reprimen esos instintos voluntariamente alrededor de sus humanos adoptados…
No sé por qué todas esas personas en Europa y América que, supuestamente, odian la guerra, solo piensan en la guerra en Gaza. Se quejan de genocidio e incluso han cometido crímenes contra israelíes en lugares como España y Estados Unidos. Sin embargo, hay muchos conflictos armados en todo el mundo que parecen ignorar. El más importante es la guerra en Ucrania. No veo grandes manifestaciones, de estas personas que buscan la paz, en contra del gobierno de Putin. No los veo manifestándose contra Kim Jong Un y el hecho de que utiliza a los coreanos como mano de obra esclava para construir sus fabulosas estructuras, especialmente el nuevo complejo turístico. ¿Y para quién exactamente es ese complejo turístico en Corea del Norte? Estos amantes de los palestinos parecen no preocuparse por los venezolanos que son desplazados de su país por el dictador Maduro, o por los cubanos, cuyos derechos civiles y humanos han sido negados durante décadas por el régimen comunista de Castro en la isla. Creo que estos son los hijos de la hipocresía y estoy cansado de tener que escuchar la propaganda que han logrado colocar en prácticamente todas las entidades informativas del mundo occidental.
Y Picasso? Mejor dejadlo tranquilo pues resulta que ahora un grupúsculo de loquillas, irracionales, o sea feministas belicosas, quiere condenar al genio del Siglo 20 y tacharlo de misógino, de machista y de abusador. Escuchad bien antes de contar por ahí esas chorradas y dejad de juzgar a la gente de otra época por los estándares de esta. Además, Pablito no pudo haber sido tan malo porque ninguna de sus mujeres lo acuso y él, en cambio, era muy generoso con ellas todas. Asi que no vengáis aqui a cortar el bacalao y mejor iros a freír espárragos…
(«Coming Back-Self Portrait»/Francisco Bravo Cabrera/All Rights Reserved)
Well, Lao Tzu might not have said it exactly as in the translation above, but he did say that an excellent soldier is not a furious man. This could also mean that the «accomplished person is not an aggressive person». In any event it means that one must not confuse anger and violent tendencies from the work that one does, even if that work is the work and the duty of the soldier. I was glad to have learned that (as I did study the Tao) early in life before joining the military…
So I thought we could talk a bit about Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching…
Lao Tzu, although I believe he was real, is thought of as a semi-legendary Chinese philosopher believed to have lived in the 6th century B.C. (of course some «experts» place him later). He is traditionally regarded as the founder of Taoism (Daoism) and the author of its foundational text, the Tao Te Ching. His name is also a title which means «Old Master,» and much of his life remains shrouded in myth. Legend says he was an archivist in the imperial court and when he retired and left China a border guard asked him to to write down his wisdom. His wisdom became the Tao Te Ching.
Tao Te Ching means The Book of the Way and Its Virtue which is composed of short, poetic texts that explore the nature of the Tao, which is The Way, the fundamental, and ineffable force that underlies all existence. It emphasizes themes such as:
Non-action (wu wei): acting in harmony with the natural flow rather than through force or struggle
Simplicity and humility: embracing a quiet, modest life
Balance and duality: recognizing the interplay of opposites (yin and yang)
Inner wisdom: valuing intuitive understanding over rigid logic or ambition
The Tao Te Ching has had a profound influence on Chinese philosophy, religion, politics, and art. It is a cornerstone of philosophical Taoism, and its teachings also shaped Chinese Buddhism, Confucianism, and various martial and meditative traditions.
Both Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching continue to inspire people around the world seeking a life of balance, peace, and alignment with nature.
(“Peces en la ciudad”/Francisco Bravo Cabrera/All Rights Reserved)
“Time is not lineal, it spirals, twists and turns, that’s why we dream and talk to ourselves because inside we are still what we’ve always been.” (Francisco Bravo Cabrera)
(«Self-Portrait as a Magritte Painting»/Bodo Vespaciano/All Rights Reserved)
The Art World Today: Failed, Advancing, or Stagnant?
The art world is not failed, but neither static: it is going through a deep transformation, with clear stagnation at the “super-sales” level, alongside growing dynamism at more accessible tiers, driven by new generations, emerging regions, and technology. Here’s a detailed overview:
Decline at the High-End Market
In 2024, the global art market fell 12%, reaching around USD 57.5 billion.
Works above USD 10 million dropped sharply: both volume and value fell between 39–45%.
Resale returns are at their lowest point in 20 years: more than half sell at a loss.
Traditional auction houses, especially in London, face difficulties with plunging sales and profits.
Ultra-high-value art investments lost appeal: sales of works over USD 10 million fell 44%, and art’s share in wealthy portfolios shrank from 24% to 15% (2022–2024).
In short: the luxury tier is stagnating or declining.
Renewal at Accessible Levels
Total transactions actually rose 3%, driven by small works (<USD 5,000).
The mid-market (USD 100k–1 million) is holding strong and shows potential.
Affordable art segments grew in both value and number: low-cost works rose up to 7% in revenue and 13% in lots sold.
Online sales now make up 18–20% of the total, with many new buyers entering this way.
This shows a democratization of the market, with broader access and participation.
New Protagonists: Generations, Regions, and Formats
Millennials and Gen Z are reshaping the market: they dominate auctions, buy for cultural value more than investment, and prefer authenticity and transparency.
Diversity is accelerating: emerging artists — especially women and creators from Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia — are gaining visibility.
Geography is shifting: U.S. leads (~43%), U.K. rebounds (~18%), China collapses (~31%), while the Middle East, India, and Africa gain traction.
Fairs like Art Basel Paris and Liste Basel highlight focus on emerging talent.
This global recalibration suggests a more inclusive and culturally rooted future.
Technology, Innovation, and Immersive Art
Immersive art — interactive, multi-sensory formats — is on the rise, from Tokyo to immersive exhibitions like LOWRY 360.
NFTs and digital art are evolving: less speculation, more emphasis on curation, authenticity, and artistic value.
Digital platforms and AI are opening new paths in creation, pricing analysis, and accessibility.
Technology isn’t replacing art but expanding it.
Voices from the Art Community
On forums like Reddit, artists and gallerists stress the fatigue of the traditional market, post-COVID financial strain, and a disconnect between contemporary art and collectors:
“It’s been the worst couple of years for many artists… I showed 23 new paintings and only sold two…” Calls for transparency and decentralization are rising: “democratize art and make it part of the community, with reasonable prices.”
Conclusion: Failed, Advancing, or Stagnant?
Not failed, but the elite tier is struggling.
Advancing in breadth: more transactions, new buyers, greater accessibility.
Transforming, driven by new regions, younger generations, technology, and values like inclusion and sustainability.
The art world is restructuring its center, shifting from the spectacular to the meaningful, from speculative to authentic.
These are facts, and supposedly the opinion of «experts» (good grief experts!) who offer opinions according to who knows what «expertise». Most of these so-called experts are not artists but «analysts», who, like the talking heads that want to interpret the news for us, want to tell us that what they think is the truth.
In my opinion the art world, per se, does not exist any more. It is the art business (as you can tell by the facts provided above). Artists today have an opportunity to set their own pace as successful outsiders. No one needs a gallery any more if one knows how to use the internet to advantage. Your gallery is the world wide web and your collectors come from all over the world. You set your prices, you create your trends, you develop your style and if you are successful, well, then it is your new «vanguard of the 21st Century».
And yes, digital programmes and AI are tools and if one is wise one will use them wisely and create. There is no stopping the creative process so do not be afraid of technology. Just do not get sold on fads and on those who laud and applaud mediocre and bad artists.
(«Egeo»/Francisco Bravo Cabrera/All Rights Reserved)
Just like in art in general, in abstract art, being that art is totally objective, there are good and bad examples. In other words there is good and bad abstract art. Here are some examples as seen from my point of view.
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JaZzArt en València 