I agree about the unfinished work of Michelangelo. It reveals both the truth and the limitations of his quotes: “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”
And: “No great work of art is ever finished.”
Helplessly, my pop mind skipped over to an old memory from an early Saturday Night Live Weekend Update: “In a tragic note from Paris, vandals broke into the Louvre Museum last night, and put the arms back on the Venus de Milo.”
Such an emotionally moving post. All too often we forget the beauty in brokenness, vulnerability and the “flaw”. Especially overachievers and perfectionists like myself. Perfection is nothing more than protection, while the true strength and beauty, as you say, is in the vulnerability, in the cracks. Thank you for sharing 🙏
Love this — Cohen is a favorite of mine too. Tom Waits said, ‘There’s no such thing as a perfect song, only a perfect mistake.’ Travel proves the same — it’s the cracks and detours where the light (and the stories) get in.
The works presented are stunning, but only as much as the power of your descriptions and empathy you breathe into the works themselves. Thank you. Your contributions exalt the passions of the artists.
In the exquisite art of the Kintsugi, those bold gold lines mimic the capillaries that circulate blood and oxygen around our bodies, heart, and head, enriching us and continuing life.
Hello James, the works of art you used to exemplify the meaning or your piece are indeed beautiful. But your words are more so. I am in complete agreement with every aspect of what you said in The Beauty of Imperfection. Personally, when I think of an object which is considered "perfect," I automatically think of something made in an assembly line, or in some fashion other than by human thought or by human hands. Such items have their uses and are necessary. But concerning objects that are "optional," for want of a better word, even my home is adorned only with artwork and hand crafted items. There is almost nothing artificial or made by a machine. I say this only to underscore how emphatically I relate to your piece. I love this. I am also ever more uncomfortable with the emergence of AI in the arena of the arts and all things creative. For me, the question of authenticity is a question of ethics as well. Where does an artist or writer draw the line when putting his name to something they created with the "aid" of AI? Should they really receive recognition for something they did not entirely use their gifts, time and efforts to create?
Ah, what moved me here the most was the reminder that imperfection isn’t a flaw to be excused — it’s the evidence of being human. Cracks aren’t shameful; they’re proof of life lived. And when we stop hiding them, we create connection instead of performance. Thank you for naming that beauty lives in what the system tries to erase.
Did you mean unfrozen by spring? Or thawed by spring?
I love this: "Some seeds have to be frozen to crack." I never thought of this. I regularly walk through a forest near my home in Michigan and this time if year I enjoy seeing the acorns, walnuts, hickory nuts and beech nuts on the forest trail. Now I will think of them frozen in the winter months, waiting for spring.
I can always find beauty in purposeful art, but it is difficult to describe human beings as beautiful because of our flaws. The difference is breathing humans have many secret beauty secrets. A smile, a tear, head thrown back in laughter, the open wide eyes of shock. Humanity surprises us. Look closer. You'll find a Living God in those faces.
You said, it Donna, it's not the classic beauty of a woman that is transformative, it's a babies laughter, a funny look, a smile, a hand holding yours in sorrow or fresh love, weeping happy tears, surprised eyes, or beaming from within looking at the one you love as you dive into a kiss. That's a deeper personal beauty, the essence of beauty.
I love this exploration of different ways of seeing imperfections and what 'fixed' actually looks like. I'm currently obsessed with kishōtenketsu, an East Asian narrative tradition that doesn't centre conflict or resolution as part of its structure. It's utterly antithetical to current Western narrative traditions but feels like a missing link for the world we inhabit right now. Thank you for the reminder that it's there across cultures and time.
I love this post, thank you! Such beautiful examples - though I found the photo at the top both inspirational & yet triggering. Guess that's my stuff to work on, right there! 😅😉
I agree about the unfinished work of Michelangelo. It reveals both the truth and the limitations of his quotes: “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”
And: “No great work of art is ever finished.”
Helplessly, my pop mind skipped over to an old memory from an early Saturday Night Live Weekend Update: “In a tragic note from Paris, vandals broke into the Louvre Museum last night, and put the arms back on the Venus de Milo.”
I love this! It sounds like Norm, was it him?
November 8, 1975 – Candice Bergen / Esther Phillips (S1 E4)
Wonderful article James… Enjoyed the sculptures. Some truly timeless.
Thank you so much CE!
Such an emotionally moving post. All too often we forget the beauty in brokenness, vulnerability and the “flaw”. Especially overachievers and perfectionists like myself. Perfection is nothing more than protection, while the true strength and beauty, as you say, is in the vulnerability, in the cracks. Thank you for sharing 🙏
Love this — Cohen is a favorite of mine too. Tom Waits said, ‘There’s no such thing as a perfect song, only a perfect mistake.’ Travel proves the same — it’s the cracks and detours where the light (and the stories) get in.
Beautifully said. I love Tom Waits.
The works presented are stunning, but only as much as the power of your descriptions and empathy you breathe into the works themselves. Thank you. Your contributions exalt the passions of the artists.
Thank you so much, Kevin.
In the exquisite art of the Kintsugi, those bold gold lines mimic the capillaries that circulate blood and oxygen around our bodies, heart, and head, enriching us and continuing life.
Hello James, the works of art you used to exemplify the meaning or your piece are indeed beautiful. But your words are more so. I am in complete agreement with every aspect of what you said in The Beauty of Imperfection. Personally, when I think of an object which is considered "perfect," I automatically think of something made in an assembly line, or in some fashion other than by human thought or by human hands. Such items have their uses and are necessary. But concerning objects that are "optional," for want of a better word, even my home is adorned only with artwork and hand crafted items. There is almost nothing artificial or made by a machine. I say this only to underscore how emphatically I relate to your piece. I love this. I am also ever more uncomfortable with the emergence of AI in the arena of the arts and all things creative. For me, the question of authenticity is a question of ethics as well. Where does an artist or writer draw the line when putting his name to something they created with the "aid" of AI? Should they really receive recognition for something they did not entirely use their gifts, time and efforts to create?
I agree with Henry Moore, re Michelangelo’s Rondanini Pieta.
And with you of course, for featuring it. I’d forgotten it.
Glad it brought it back to mind!
It’s important to remind the modern west of classical culture, to attenuate its otherwise inevitable collapse into dross.
Ah, what moved me here the most was the reminder that imperfection isn’t a flaw to be excused — it’s the evidence of being human. Cracks aren’t shameful; they’re proof of life lived. And when we stop hiding them, we create connection instead of performance. Thank you for naming that beauty lives in what the system tries to erase.
Some seeds have to be frozen before they crack.
Frozen through winter. Water frozen, expanding the seed casing, until the shell cracks.
Unthawed by spring.
Invigorated by the change, the seed germinates and sprouts roots, which break through the cracks of the seed and bring life to the soil.
Yes thawed by spring. Unfrozen is what I was thinking. Appreciate your clarity
Thanks for this, Leonardo.
Did you mean unfrozen by spring? Or thawed by spring?
I love this: "Some seeds have to be frozen to crack." I never thought of this. I regularly walk through a forest near my home in Michigan and this time if year I enjoy seeing the acorns, walnuts, hickory nuts and beech nuts on the forest trail. Now I will think of them frozen in the winter months, waiting for spring.
This is a beautiful and much needed piece. Thank you for this - looking forward to perusing all of your posts.
Thank you Elizabeth, it means the world to me.
I can always find beauty in purposeful art, but it is difficult to describe human beings as beautiful because of our flaws. The difference is breathing humans have many secret beauty secrets. A smile, a tear, head thrown back in laughter, the open wide eyes of shock. Humanity surprises us. Look closer. You'll find a Living God in those faces.
You said, it Donna, it's not the classic beauty of a woman that is transformative, it's a babies laughter, a funny look, a smile, a hand holding yours in sorrow or fresh love, weeping happy tears, surprised eyes, or beaming from within looking at the one you love as you dive into a kiss. That's a deeper personal beauty, the essence of beauty.
This is amazing! Thanks for sharing 💖
I love this exploration of different ways of seeing imperfections and what 'fixed' actually looks like. I'm currently obsessed with kishōtenketsu, an East Asian narrative tradition that doesn't centre conflict or resolution as part of its structure. It's utterly antithetical to current Western narrative traditions but feels like a missing link for the world we inhabit right now. Thank you for the reminder that it's there across cultures and time.
Beautiful article. The way the “broken” pieces are made more beautiful, even showcasing their flaws is extraordinary and moving.
I love this post, thank you! Such beautiful examples - though I found the photo at the top both inspirational & yet triggering. Guess that's my stuff to work on, right there! 😅😉