A One-Afternoon-Stand with Michelangelo's David :-)

It took a journey of 500 odd years for David and me to meet again and every bit worth it!

500 odd years of separation and an uncanny reunion 

To see him and to be mesmerized ….. and just stare over and over again – to remind myself that we had finally met!!

If I sound like an overwhelmed lover – how do i help it? Especially since I am talking about a piece of cold marble…. or does it have something to do with this being a male nude  sculpted by the most celebrated sculptor of all times Michelangelo Buonarroti

 As Robert Fulghum’s book title says “May Be, May Be Not”…..

Just a month and a half ago I had the privilege of travelling to Florence for the River To River Film Fest because our film “Balls” was selected for a screening and as creative producers, four of us, with 2 mommies in tow, landed there – nervously happy – because this was a first for us!

My childhood friend sent me a text message just before I caught my flight – ” i hope you will meet David there, finally”

As our itinerary filled up, we kept ticking our to-do list:

i) attend festival opening and be within 2 feet of India’s most celebrated star Mr. Amitabh Bachchan as guest of honour – done!

ii) See the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Tuscany Countryside, San Gimignano (all in a day’s work) followed by a simply Tuscan meal – done!

iii) Screening of our film at the grand Odeon Cinema with a resounding applause and appreciation – done!

As we sat that night planning for the next day, we shortlisted a few day-packages, and then we realised that the following morning would change our plans.

Sometimes, “going with the flow” is the only way to go!

That’s what brought 2 of us to the Galleria Academia, buying 12 euro entry passes and walking in – because David was “in there” all of 17 odd feet and breathtakingly spectacular

I looked up at him and was spellbound and overawed….  David’s presence was overpowering. Every sinewy muscle, every finger nerve and toe was chiselled to perfection. I sat there and watched for 15 minutes because i was seeing something created 500 odd years ago. The lump in my throat was of absolute joy…….

Here i was witnessing the proof that Michelangelo had really walked the earth (and 90+ years at that!!!!!!)

Here was a block of shapeless marble that lay neglected for more than 25 years. But then in the hands of a Master, it turned into a masterpiece because Michelango saw the stone and spotted David hiding in there……  and carved until he set him free

Here was an unlikely Biblical hero ….. a teenager who killed Goliath with his slingshot and a bag of stones, because he was “FAITH IN ACTION”

Here was the work of a sculptor who decided to show the vulnerability in the face of this teenage slayer as he played his part. A sculptor, who taught himself anatomy, by dissecting dead bodies secretly (as did his contemporary Leonardo Da Vinci)

Here was something apparently created by human hands but I stood there and wondered…. did God just decide to have some fun, come in as a sculptor and leave the planet more spectacular than it had ever been??

May be, May Be Not 

I had had a ‘one afternoon stand’ with David and the pouring rain when i stepped out on the cold, wintry streets of Florence could not dampen my Love

Suhana