In Buddhism there is a concept called The Hungry Ghost... where a ghost stuffs everything into its tiny mouth in an attempt to fill its huge body.
I am a hungry ghost. I hope that in time I can admire and appreciate something without wanting to possess it. I'm not there yet.
Timing is everything, and sure enough, right after hearing about The Hungry Ghost, I went to the Yayoi Kusama exhibit at The Broad Museum, where the Universe served up a concrete example of said ghost.
The exhibit features a series of rooms. Visitors are allowed 30 seconds in each room before the door opens for the next person or group. That's 30 precious seconds to appreciate the art ... and get the perfect picture. That half a minute goes FAST.
For the last room of the exhibit, the artist requested all cameras and phones to be left in the bin outside the door. Something like magic happened in this room. The 30 seconds felt like enough. A LOT WENT ON IN 30 SECONDS. I remembered to look up. I looked at my kids' faces to see their reaction. I saw a calm in my husband. I thought about infinity. I soaked it in.
I was disappointed that this experience was at the end of the exhibit, because I then wanted to do all the rooms again without the distraction of picture taking.
To be clear, I was told. An article in Time Out Los Angeles said to forget taking pictures and enjoy it, then buy the photo book in the gift shop. This was sage advice that I didn't follow, and wish I had.
It all goes back to wanting to possess it. I wanted to carry that exhibit in the palm of my hand. But that last room... that is what sticks with me.
Real Talk: Museums with My kids can get...
But Then so worth it for moments like these...
