I do a lot of writing at Hotel Indigo on New York’s Lower East Side. The snacks are too expensive to even consider purchasing, but there’s free strawberry lemonade and the air that streams through the vents smells purposely perfumed. One night, walking home from an especially harrowing battle with a blank page, I turned my eyes to the sky. After completing this particular walk countless times over the past few months, I noticed an illuminated mural on top of a tall building for the first time. I felt like I’d discovered a secret in plain sight. Now, every time I sit in the hotel’s glass-walled lobby, I marvel at the work of art from eye level. It provokes a feeling of camaraderie between the city and me that provides comfort.
Serbian artist Artez recently completed his own mural in the sky in Belgrade. His work, titled “Above the Clouds” occupies the highest facade of a massive residential building. In a statement regarding the piece, Artez explains that the “project was initiated and organized by the neighbors that live in the building on which the mural was painted, and it is a great example of how a small group of people can make a big impact that will influence the whole neighborhood.”
In his statement, the artist also calls “Above the Clouds” his “most challenging project so far.” The mural was completed in ten days with the use of “ropes, rope descending equipment, and rappelling devices.” He elaborates that the “biggest challenge was staying safe while putting all the attention into painting” and “that is probably the reason why it took so long to finish the project.”
Still, Artez was able to persevere through the exacting artistic setup and bring this beautiful work to fruition. He wisely notes that “leaving your comfort zone is important. Being on the edge of the unknown makes you stay focused and the fear that is constantly there never lets you relax. You need to be sober, to live the moment, to feel the gentle breeze on your face, try to embrace it and finally…enjoy!”
Though I consider writing a talent of mine, writing for publication takes me out of my comfort zone. I am, at this point, one year into the writing career that I spent five years avoiding out of fear. Though the trepidation has faded, it’s still present. Writers share their own internal voices directly with readers, risking criticism that can feel like an attack at their very sense of self. I never know how a work will be received, but through self-compassion and a good sense of humor, I too have learned to embrace fear and enjoy the uncertainty.
With “Above the Clouds” Artez pays homage to the written word, continuing his use of this motif, present throughout his body of work. In the mural, a girl perches upon a barebones chair amongst two potted plants and a wandering butterfly. The mural possesses a sense of motion, as she looks up above the horizon from the book in her hand. The chair seems to rock backwards from the force of her action, and the plant to her right reacts from the movement. The visual harmony that results from his composition portrays fresh dynamism. In his signature playful style, Artez illustrates the excitement and comfort that can be found in ordinary places, if only we take a moment to look above the clouds.
