As part of the interpretation process for the exhibition Titian: Women, Myth & Power, the Gardner Museum worked with six collaborators who brought their individual perspectives to this exhibition. Each person chose a different Titian painting, crafted a response, and recorded their contribution. Those audio recordings are available both in the exhibition gallery and online. One of our authors, Visiting Curator of Performing Arts, Helga Davis, shares her response to Diana and Callisto.
Titian (Italian, about 1488–1576), Diana and Callisto, 1556–1559. Oil on canvas, 187 x 204.5 cm (73 5/8 x 80 1/2 in.)
The National Gallery, London and National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh (NG6616/NG2844). See it in the special exhibition “Titian: Women, Myth & Power,” August 12, 2021 - January 2, 2022.
There Is You
There! There is you
in the many, in the powerful
in the absent, in the few
in the question in the answer in the clue
in the step in the run in the pride before the Fall
in the lips in the promise in the writing on the wall
where I see but am blind
words uttered and unkind
That’s where I find You.
By the water, at its
edge
underneath hides the broken pledge
in a hurry in a bind just about to lose my mind
when I’m tired when I’m bored feelin’ virgin smellin’ whore
when got ground up, turned to fodder fell asleep and didn’t bother
Didn’t notice didn’t worry didn’t run didn’t hurry…
Turned it all ‘round in my head
then forgot all that you said
looking for you in the valley ‘long the mountain in the alley
don’t know where all this is goin’, heaven help me what it’s showing
no more honor no more tasks no more sorrow no more mask
I’ll remember all I forgot, let go of all I’m not
Now uncovered, now discovered
Cast in doubt, now
Cast, now out,
Now, out,
Now
Out.
*This post is taken from the text of our online Gallery Guide.