Etel Adnan on lightning-strike paintings and words as gestures

Artist Etel Adnan has dedicated her life to creating poetry and visual art. Here she explains how she began working in those mediums and what she sees as the unique potentials of both.

[@rr7firefly]

Axis Mundi -- how beautiful. We all need a center point (symbolic or actual) for our mental and spiritual well-being. Etel Adnan had the good fortune to find hers early on. It seems to me that many problems people have in life can be traced to the lack of some grounding reference. Floating through life without one (or two) can limit one's ability to exercise genuine freedom. Because the best kind of motion, of growth, of learning is the type that allows you to come back to a safe place where you are never lost. Adventure is a great thing but without a real home you are always at the mercy of the world. It does not look after you. It has more important things to do.

[@mypucci4587]

a very profound comment! thank u !

[@CarolinaVilcapoma]

I wish this video was an hour long. So so good! I love Etel Adan, she's my biggest inspiration these days. She has a special place in my heart.

[@matcha8865]

These videos are really true art. Im surprised you guys dont have more subscribers

[@machips4573]

Me too

[@andydobbieart]

Love her work and loved hearing her speak about it

[@jeffreyolson2139]

What an amazing presentation of an amazing artist. I'm stunned to learn that she attended my Alma Mater & began her painting career there. I feel this is going to have a profound effect on my work & artistic vision!

[@clarice8672]

A great woman, a great poet.

[@edwardmclaughlin7935]

I could listen to her all day long.

[@SouthArtDealer]

Simply genial We were delighted to learn about Etel Adnan and her poetic thoughts about life and painting, congrats SF MOMA for such a simple yet powerful video clip!

[@Gonzalez2500]

Enjoyed seeing these works. Glad to see this video and hear words from the artist herself.

[@Eva-iy6vy]

I love her work .

[@KRsurendra]

glad to see the video. her words are toooo good........

[@sholokov]

Great lady. Very inspiring. But that art, I don't know what people see in it. I understand it is her expressing herself in a manner that makes sense to her. But I don't understand how it makes any sense to others. And I am not talking about understanding her state of mind. I mean how does someone actually end up liking 3 colored mountains with a wavy red sun. If I see it on a kindergarten wall, I will clap for the kindergartener who made it.

[@elvasway]

Such an inspiring woman.

[@thomasschonberger8672]

Thanks for sharing this great source of inspiration. - One small thing: You've spelled Etel's name wrong in the video title!

[@sfmoma]

Thanks for catching that!

[@CuriousMind1011]

One amazing Arab woman!