Invisible Art

Sometimes the beauty of artwork lies in what we don’t see.

For instance, Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night” is more than an abstract city view. The piece is an impressionist painting that uses rich colors and imprecise strokes to convey emotion. It’s not something you see to understand, but something you feel.

Having lived in Chicago for only a couple of years, I am constantly discovering new art. Some of it doesn’t make sense to me, and some of it is just plain graffiti. All of it, however, is thought-provoking.

My latest discovery is Robert Wyland’s “The Windy Whales,” a 90-foot mural on the side of downtown’s InterContinental Hotel. At least, it used to be. In 2006, the once majestic depiction of five humpback whales swimming through peaceful depths became nothing more than a blue sliver behind the walls of the Avenue East condominiums (160 E Illinois).

Like all of his works, Wyland painted the oceanic scene using life-size dimensions to promote the appreciation and understanding of aquatic life. Wyland’s positive environmental message is just as much a part of the artwork as the paint itself.

Even though “The Windy Whales” was swallowed by an ever-growing metropolis, I will always be aware of its presence.

So the mural is hidden, and its consciousness and beauty still impacts me? Now that is some powerful content.

Know of other invisible artworks? Share them with us in the comments.

Cover Photo Source: Devyn Caldwell via Flickr
Photo Source 1: Vincent van Gogh via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Source 2: Dan via Flickr