Adrift Aboard an Uncertain Ship

So I am walking around an art exhibit with this lovely, smart woman, taking in all of the conceptual art, making snarky remarks that I hope she finds clever. Then I wander into this dark room and see the video above playing.  It hits me like a baseball bat to the gut.

I find out later that this “floating sculpture” is called “Love Love” by French artist Julien Berthier.  Something about it just destroys me.  I know what it feels like to be alone, adrift on a capsizing vessel.

What if we are all sailors on boats of various sizes and capacities, making out way through uncertain seas? Some of us are on gigantic yachts, attended by an expert crew to get us to where we want to go.  Others are on ferries, barges, or sloops, not really in charge of our destination, just going wherever the ship is headed next.  At least there is safety in numbers.

And some are on tiny skiffs by ourselves, charting our own courses, facing whatever dangers and risks we encounter alone.

I’m moved by how casually the man just sits there on what looks like a capsizing boat, just drifting along, apparently unworried about his predicament.  His situation seems dire and precarious, and yet he just keeps putting along as best he can.  I find that beautiful and sad.