Mining the MIA - Beauty

The three pieces I found at the MIA were "Dressing Bureau" by the Crawford Riddle's Journeymen Cabinet Makers, "Psyche Abandoned" by Augustin Pajou, and a piece I could not attach a title or artist to (no signs at museum that I could find, not on MIA site).

These are the images:


"Psyche Abandoned"


(Unknown title/author)


"Dressing Bureau"

I would set up these pieces in a plain hallway - dark wood floors and white or very light grey walls.

First you would walk by the sculpture ("Psyche Abandoned"), which depicts a woman, Psyche, distraught by her love's abandonment. Distress is visible on her face, yet her curvaceous figure and soft features are pleasing to the eye regardless of how broken and unattractive she may feel (much as anyone's self esteem may be damaged after someone he or she loves leaves him or her).

Up ahead would be a 90-degree turn in the hallway - on the wall facing you as you approach the turn is the painting of the fallen men. Once again, it is obvious that these figures have been through something terrible - they appear weary, their bodies in awkward positions and their faces drained of any sign of joy. Again, despite the sadness one feels from the painting, the beautiful colors and shading don't allow you to look away - these people are, like Psyche, attractive despite what they have suffered.

The common trait is that both of these pieces of art depict beauty within suffering.

As you round the corner, the final object is at the end of the hall - the bureau with the mirror situated on top. This piece seems to be the 'odd one out;' it displays no people, no suffering, and though it is beautiful, it is in a different way than the other pieces. However, as you near the bureau, you see your own reflection in the mirror. "So?" you might ask. "I've seen my reflection a thousand times before."

What I would like this series to show is the beauty you can find in suffering and in those that suffer. So often people are heartbroken by something and can not find any good in the situation, or in themselves. It's really quite upsetting when you look in the mirror and can only focus on parts of yourself that you dislike. So, at the end of the exhibit, when you face the mirror, I would hope that you might not just notice the hair that fell out of place or the way your eyes look a little too tired - the beauty you have already seen should allow you to see the beauty in your own life.