Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. - Thomas Merton
Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. - Thomas Merton
The quote by Thomas Merton, "Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time," reflects the dual nature of artistic expression and experience. On one hand, art provides a medium through which individuals can explore their inner thoughts, emotions, and identities, leading to greater self-discovery and understanding. Engaging with or creating art allows people to delve into their feelings, beliefs, and perspectives, thus "finding" themselves. On the other hand, art also has the power to transport us beyond our everyday realities, inviting us to immerse ourselves in different experiences, concepts, and emotions. This immersion can create a sense of losing oneself, as we become absorbed in the beauty, narratives, or ideas presented through various forms of art. In this way, Merton suggests that the experience of art is both a journey inward and an escape outward, blending self-discovery with transcendence.