The Window
10 September 2004
When I was a child I’d stand at the window that the adults looked out of with so much ease. Sometimes an indulgent adult would pick me up to look out and then with an “ooof” put me back since I was ‘too old’ to be carried. Up on tiptoes, my chin would barely reach the window base and I’d wonder if I would ever be able to look out onto the world with ease and not even think about it.
At 14 my eyeline crossed the top of mom’s head, at 16 I could look into the eyes of every guy I knew and look down to most of them. I don’t look out of the window much anymore…there doesn’t seem to be anything worth looking at. It’s like the world in a photo frame and that’s so…mundane.
I prefer standing on the balcony at night and looking at the blackness above the buildings towering above me and imagining stars that I can’t see through the pollution. But I guess I’m just looking up to a bigger window that I can’t reach just yet.
@ Anil: A smoke-screen I’d be, then.
Unless of course you decide to become the window people can look out of!
@ Sumanth: 🙂
True, but I tell you, it gives the term ‘art appreciation’ a whole new meaning! 🙂
@ Sumanth: Well-deserved I’d think, considering a lot of local artisans don’t get compensated enough for their talent, while the middle-men make all the moolah in their air-conditioned gift shops!
They’re quick, much faster than you’d imagine. And they’ll do demonstrations on demand, then put a hefty price tag on the little doodle before you can blink!
But such beautiful pictures!
@ Salvador Dali: Tsk, tsk…you boys!
@ infinity: That’s profound. And a good comment-thought to this post. Thenk yew! 🙂
@ greekalphabet: As do you, my dear…. 🙂
@ Chrissy: Thank you!
@ Sumanth: I am not familiar with Rajasthani minatures but I imagine it must have been a wonderful experience to actually watch the artist at work?
I do, indeed. There are some great artists in Udaipur who do miniatures in the Rajasthani style. I found a couple who use old manuscript paper for their paintings. It’s an incredible effect, the yellow paper, greying old ink, bright blues and yellows and maharajas on elephants and horses…
Nice
Smithy smithy ..you always pull these strings in the heart
@salvador dali: hehehe…
hmmm…interesting…but i’d like to say that no window or balcony will show you anything that is not already inside you…that’s where each of us needs to look more than anywhere else…
I was thinking of making indecent joke about where boys would be looking when 16 but then thought it better to complement you on choice of painting 😛
@ Vi: I can only imagine what those look like. But my favorite painting is ‘The Blue Cart’ by Van Gogh. Have you seen it? And…the extra inches come in very handy so no…! 😀
@ Rambler: I guess I’m looking for a taller person too just as I’m looking for a bigger window.
@ Apoorva: Nooo…then I have no way of knowing how many people are reading my blog!
@ Sumanth: That’s an interesting thought. Smaller frames give you an eye for detail. I imagine you love Mughal miniatures?
I love windows. They’re like a snapshot-view of the world, rather than the panorama of a balcony. Panoramic views give you a spread, but the window is where you find the details that make life truly interesting – the peeping-dog sticker on a hatchback car, the garish colours on the beggar’s shirt, how the rich woman’s top has a pattern that must have come from her poodle’s behind…
Can I have the complete feeds back?
“At 14 my eyeline crossed the top of mom’s head, at 16 I could look into the eyes of every guy I knew and look down to most of them. I”
how about now?, more importantly how do you want it to be?
1) When I see myself looking out of windows, towering buildings would be the last thing I hope to see. Wide open fields, please.
2) “But I guess I’m just looking up to a bigger window that I can’t reach just yet.” Very aptly put.
3) Feel like giving me a bit of those inches? At barely 5’3, I’m forever looking up at people.