“Remember You Cannot Look at the Sun or Death for Very Long” is an artwork by David Hockney depicting a picturesque landscape with a rising sun. As the sun gets higher above the horizon the arms of light from the sun extend throughout a landscaped hill and pasture artwork. I saw this living artwork in Paris 2021 at the Musée de l’Orangerie. But it was more the title of the work that impressed me than the artwork itself. Of course, the relaxing state that the room full of monitors depicting the artist’s work was impressive, and I certainly got lost in time reliving the digital sunrise over and over. LSD or mescaline might of enhanced it just a bit, but I think the artist did justice without the need for the indulgence.
But again, the artwork is not what this is all about, this is about the title of the artwork “Remember You Cannot Look at the Sun or Death for Very Long”. Death is very relevant to me, as having dealt with it via a very close lover and friend, and of course my own finite existence. The title of the artwork grabbed me and has for more than a year kept me thinking of what it itself was describing. The first part of the title seems self explanatory, if looking at the sun for an extended period, extremely intense ultraviolet rays from the sun enter your eye through your pupil and are focused on the retina, searing the tissue that makes sight possible. You cannot look at the sun for very long without losing something very important to functioning your life.
Two thoughts on the latter part of the title, you cannot look at death for very long. There is the demise of others and your own timely end. A conflict between past, present and future. To remain in the past being concerned with your previous love and their death can be a detriment to your present situation, a not letting go situation. But, looking into and living in the future and holding on the fact that you’ll die one day is also stagnant to the present. Always expecting something to come at you to cause your personal death should be prepared for but not lived as death is your imminent future.
I believe Mr. Hockney’s title is an expression that not everything lasts forever, in either a good or bad way. It’s the flow of nature there is a spring to winter, an autumn to summer. Follow me here, if we live in spring all the time we cannot enjoy the light of summer, the warmth that it brings. If we live in summer all the time we cannot enjoy the crispness of winter, the bite of the cold air on our faces. Autumn brings the start of the cycle of death, but with it the colors and smells of nature starting its natural compost getting ready for the rebirth that spring brings. We can live with death of loved ones, but like looking at the sun it can be detrimental. It needs to be lived with for only so long that it can be cycled into the next spring, or regrowth. The same with looking at death in the future. Remaining in the future, limits the joys of the present, the rays of existence, and the pleasure of living.
Romantic Roads 