JaZzArt en València

So this is the Euro-Ku

Well, a traditional Haiku it is not…
It is hybrid, like all of us in the Western World. We are perhaps not as deep or as spiritual as the Japanese who invented the original poem that we know as the “Haiku”.
Those are structured rigorously. They are short poems that speak of the impression caused by contemplation of nature or of daily life. They are written in three lines, the first containing five syllables, the second one seven and the third one five.
We were not put in the Western World to live as if we were Orientals. It’s impossible no matter how many Yoga classes we take or how much we engage in Tai-Chi or Qi-Gong. However, we do admire and learn from our brothers of the East. Then, our attempts at creating Haikus…which are a very powerful way to express ideas…should not reflect the values or literary traditions of that ancient culture.
On the contrary, it should reflect the Greco-Roman culture that has nourished us but not in its classical splendour, instead in its contemporary manifestation and colour. It should be filled with our present-day madness and our psychedelic-surrealistic paranoia.
The Euro-Ku will still be a poem limited to three verses, but there are no other rules, except that there should be some degrees of consistency as well as coherence in the purpose and the meaning, i.e. the words used and the message transmitted. Although it need not rhyme or flow, the words should be as easy to understand as the lyrics of a popular tune.

Here is Number One…

D U C K S

The sky dips carefully, his index finger melts the ice,

and makes the waters warm and blue,

but fear keeps ducks on the cold white ice, as it does you..

C.2022, Francisco Bravo Cabrera, 22-02-2022, Valencia, Spain

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CHEERS

He estudiado el arte de la guerra, pues fui soldado, también leyes, fui policía, también arte, pues soy artista, pero también he estudiado Yoga, Tai-Chi, Zen y los ejercicios espirituales de los santos místicos del catolicismo (cristianismo). He estudiado, con el mismo ahínco, el arte de la paz y por eso creo en la omnipresencia de Dios y en la fuerza de la fe. No me aparto del camino, ni me distraigo, estoy arraigado en mis creencias. No creo en la teoría de la «evolución» ni en la explicación «científica» del origen del cosmos ni del origen de la Tierra. Creo en la Palabra de Dios que nos ha llegado, a través de los siglos, de muchas maneras, aunque estoy más apegado a la interpretación europea ya que eso soy y uno tiene que ser fiel a su realidad y a su historia. Pero no fanático, ni de la historia ni de las creencias, ni tampoco predicar que las de uno son superiores a las de los demás. Hay que respetar a los hombres y a las naciones. Detesto el nacionalismo. Creo en el internacionalismo, para mi es la forma idónea para crear un mundo mejor, un mundo donde lo más valorado sea la vida, la libertad y la búsqueda de la felicidad. Pero creo que la búsqueda comienza en la mente de cada uno de nosotros, y en el espíritu que se intercomunica con todo. Por eso creo en el poder de la meditación y el del aprendizaje que libera la mente, aclara los pensamientos y nos permite conocer que somos mucho más que lo que nos imaginamos que somos…

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I have studied the art of war, as I was a soldier, also law, as I was a police officer, and also the Fine Arts, as I am an artist. But I have also studied Yoga, Tai Chi, Zen, and the spiritual exercises of the mystical saints of Catholicism (Christianity). With the same dedication, I have studied the art of peace, and that is why I believe in the omnipresence of God and in the power of faith. I do not stray from the path, nor do I get distracted; I am rooted in my beliefs. I do not believe in the theory of «evolution» or in the «scientific» explanation of the origins of the cosmos or the origins of the Earth. I believe in the Word of God that has come to us, through the centuries, in many ways, although I am more attached to the European interpretation, since that is what I am, and one must be true to one’s reality and one’s history. But not fanatical, neither about history nor beliefs, nor preaching that it is superior to the beliefs of others. We must respect men and nations. I detest nationalism. I believe in internationalism as the ideal way to create a better world, a world where life, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness are most valued. But I believe that the search begins in the mind of each of us, and in the spirit that intercommunicates with everything. That is why I believe in the power of meditation and that of learning, which frees the mind, clarifies thoughts, and allows us to know that we are much more than what we imagine we are…

EL ARTE TAMBIEN NOS TRANSFORMA ESPIRITUALMENTE – ART ALSO TRANSFORMS US SPIRITUALLY

GRACIAS – CHEERS

Paul McCartney, the maestro himself, penned a delightful little ditty called «Picasso’s Last Words.» And in this whimsical tune, he regales us with a tale of the great painter’s demise, claiming that he took his final breath precisely at the ungodly hour of three o’clock in the morning. Oh, but that’s not all! The song asserts that Picasso’s parting words were, and I quote, «Drink to me, drink to my health, you know I can’t drink anymore.» Now, this gem of a track was actually recorded back in the groovy year of 1973, smack dab in the heart of Nigeria. And let me tell you, my friend, it found a forever home in what I personally consider Paul’s finest album, the one and only Band on the Run. Trust me, it’s pure gold!

It’s amazing to think that fifty years have passed since Picasso’s passing and the birth of that extraordinary song! Time truly flies, doesn’t it? Picasso remains an unparalleled titan in the art world. His remarkable paintings continue to fetch millions of euros or dollars*, and his profound influence on the art scene is still vibrant and unmistakable. Even though Picasso was a man of the XIX Century, his philosophy, aesthetics, and artistry seamlessly transcend into the XXI Century, leaving an indelible mark.

There is no other artist in art history who can boast as many museums dedicated to his name and his art. Surprisingly, I have had the opportunity to visit some of them, including the Picasso museums in Barcelona, Madrid, Málaga, Paris, Antibes, and the Kunstmuseum of Munster. Excitingly, a new museum is on its way to Aix-en-provence. Picasso once remarked that if given a museum, he would fill it with his artworks. True to his word, he has already filled six museums, and soon, there will be a seventh.

Frankly, I am not surprised by the sheer dedication that Picasso, a remarkably industrious artist, possessed. It is difficult to establish an exact measure of his artistic output. Consider the multitude of mediums he ventured into: ceramics, sculpture, book illustration, theatre design, ballet design, lithographs, and countless other works. If we counted those we would undoubtedly encounter astonishing figures.

According to various sources, it is said that Picasso created approximately 13,500 paintings and designs, over 100,000 engravings or lithographs, and roughly 34,000 illustrations for books. Moreover, his masterful hands gave life to around 300 sculptures or ceramics. However, these numbers, as impressive as they may be, remain approximate, leaving room for more or fewer works yet to be discovered.

Now, when the art world decided to take a journey down various twisted paths, let’s say around the time of Pollock’s Action Painting and other movements, Picasso had the opportunity to experience them all. But he gave them all a big, resounding thumbs down. He embraced his inner rebel and became the ultimate «outsider», watching as the new wave of art evolved without him.

But fear not, dear readers, for Picasso was not one to fade away quietly into the shadows. Instead, he decided to reinvent himself as the one and only «buffoon». Picture this: Picasso gracing the cover of TIME and LOOK magazines, on multiple occasions, with flowers adorning his ears. And that’s not all! He would often go incognito, dressing up as a bullfighter or even daring to bare it all in his skivvies. The man knew how to make a spectacle of himself, captivating the media and the masses alike, even at the ripe old age of seventy-five. It’s safe to say that Picasso was truly a master of artistic reinvention and self-expression, in more ways than one.

I believe that despite all efforts made, it was impossible to restrain the influence of the eminent artist. Only death had the power to hinder him. He witnessed, accepted, and captured death in his paintings. Thus, it is unsurprising that he concluded his artistic journey with this eloquent and poignant statement: «Drink to me, drink to my health, you know I can’t drink anymore.» I express my sincere gratitude to Paul McCartney for transforming these words into a remarkable song.

Regarding those books that are being published now, claiming that Picasso was simply a person who abused his wife and committed acts of «gender violence,» and suggesting that his artworks should be discarded and forgotten, my response is simple: Mind your own business! It is unfair to judge individuals from the past based on contemporary beliefs and values.

Travelling…

The movement forward is the catalyst for the motivation

and the motivation is to seek the dreams lost in the night, in an old medieval street of a bustling, modern town…

(C.2023, Francisco Bravo Cabrera, 03 NOV 2023, Valencia, Spain)

You crown the tops of the tallest waves of the North Sea, for silver is the night, no, never gold,

and a mirror for the Queen you’re meant to be,

whose reflection you allow us to behold.

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C.2023, Francisco Bravo Cabrera/27 DEC 2023/València, España 🇪🇸

(I began experimenting…the search…with poetic forms that I like, especially the Haiku as I love brevity, and on February 2022 I came up with the Euro-Ku. This is my homage to Japanese poetry but done from a Western mindset as one must be true to one’s place and one’s time to be able to load one’s work with spirituality. It is a work in progress, as is life, and this is the last Euro-Ku of 2023. I reckon the style and my craft will reach another level of development in 2024 and beyond. What do you think?)

Algunos jamás adquirirán la gloria solo el fruto soez de su ambición…

El arte de la pintura y la escultura… Los museos se llenan… Por muchos barrios de nuestras ciudades murales anuncian que el are le encanta a la gente… Se subastan cuadros por millones y millones de euros… Las academias particulares están por doquier y entrenando a futuros artistas… Y hasta las facultades de Bellas Artes se llenan de aspirantes, jóvenes de todas las edades que quieren llegar a ser artistas. Por eso digo que el arte es un universo y aquí está el mío…

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Art, painting and sculpture… The museums are always full… On the walls of our cities murals announce that art is loved by people… Paintings are auctioned for millions and millions of pounds… Private academies are everywhere training future artists… And even the Schools of Fine Arts are filled with aspirants, young people of all ages wanting to become artists. That’s why I say that art is a universe and here’s mine…

GRACIAS – CHEERS