ART & SILENCE. Meditation in the CGAC
After a very long period spanning millennia, during which meditation was seen as a technique accessible only to great minds who had devoted themselves almost entirely to their training, advances in human intellectual development and greater openness to abstract thought allow us to reach meditative states more quickly.
Why meditate with art? Meditation and artistic perception share some very obvious similarities and hold enormous potential. Those who practise meditation open themselves up to states of consciousness that transcend logic, seeking a level of openness in which the mind moves beyond the safety of the familiar to fully grasp the nuances of a wonderful, endless journey. We enter a dimension that seems to expand boundlessly, standing in contrast to the narrow confines of everyday life.
In turn, art emerges as an infinite language that leads to new emotions and profound insights into the ways we perceive the external world and our own inner selves. It operates entirely freely, transcending all artificial boundaries, whether we are talking about geographical limits, language differences, beliefs or social customs.
Art affects every person differently. When we focus our attention on a work of art, we extend the creative process through vision, as well as emotional and intellectual perception, but it often leaves a lasting impression that becomes an integral part of our very being. Opening ourselves up to art through meditation, or to meditation through art, allows us to amplify these effects.
The aim of the activity is to guide the group to a balanced state of mental stillness. This creates a dialogue with the artwork from an unconventional perspective. We’ll go beyond the conscious level to access the message of artistic creation, drawing less on formal knowledge than on the accumulated wisdom and experience we each possess
Carlos Arias
This Sunday, the meditation session will revolve around three works from the exhibition Under Construction: Building Blocks (2011) by Fernanda Fragateiro, Red Sea (1986) by María Luisa Fernández, and De/Construcción (2017) by Héctor Zamora.
CARLOS ARIAS (Lugo, 1959) trained in meditation at various schools and has been offering one-to-one sessions since 2000. From 2011 to 2017 he attended the Medita Today international school. He is developing his own project, drawing on experience gained through work carried out in both Spain and France as well as his personal growth. For over ten years, he has been offering meditation sessions and workshops around Galicia, as well as extended meditation sessions in natural settings. A graduate in Hispanic Philology, he focuses on verbal expression, viewing words as a powerful instrument of mental freedom. He has published literary works and essays such as O barco de seixo (Novo Século, 1995), Libro das capitulacións de Xulio Corveira Andrade (Toxosoutos, 2003), Eugenio Granell (Xunta de Galicia, 2005), Ríos que se abrazan (Toxosoutos, 2008), Dor da claridade (Bubela, 2008), Sobol (Sermos Galiza, 2014) or Eugenio Granell. Un hereje contemporáneo (Fundación Eugenio Granell, 2018). Since 2006, he’s been a member of the Sentimentalismo - Vangarda Artística Galega movement.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Adults, regardless of their level of knowledge or familiarity with art or meditation. Nonetheless, anyone currently undergoing any form of psychological or psychiatric treatment should consult a specialist about the potential impact this practice may have on their progress.
PARTICIPATION
No advance booking is required to participate in this activity. The group will be formed on a first-come, first-served basis in the lobby of the CGAC.