For you, today is the day of the revelation and for me, a rather late acknowledgement. After 26 chapters and nebulous answers, I finally connected the dots and am now able to expose the main motive behind the conception of The Blue Neon.

As I’m writing in the heat of the moment, take no notice of me mixing all the pronouns again (I, you and we), my different titles (citizen, creator and writer) and the various status of this place (art gallery, universe and spiritual chamber).

My unconsciousness has worked its way through the multiple layers defining this country and decided that everything could come to light. Does it mean that apologies are in order for having dragged you on this pseudo-philosophical excursion without displaying a complete understanding of it myself? Could be, but am I to blame for the meandering pattern of the mind?

I swear my intent has remained genuine over time and don’t underestimate my relief as to being able to describe our purpose here, something I’ve sensed from the start. Where we are going, what we are doing and how we are doing it; all at once. In a way, welcome to The Blue Neon - yes, fully aware that it is the 3rd or 4th occurrence of this ‘welcome part’, one for every reckoning.

After having clarified at length the tenets - even the choice of the word betrays the original aspiration - of this platform: the pillars it relies on, the relationship with you the wanderer (see chapter X), the relationship with you the artist, the specificity compared to other galleries and the infinite sea of questions. It is happening.

All of this cosmos is designed for the pursuit of the sacred. Yes, that ... simple.

I mentioned in the early part of our discussion how speed is your new religion, and while still true, it only scraped the surface of the issue. First, the term religion sounds inadequate as it implies a moral code and a set of rules within the chosen belief system - semantic overthinking perhaps - and hence cannot be replaced stricto sensu by a technology, i.e. speed.

Second, by considering spirituality a paramount need for humans, the decline of religion in your modern society over the past centuries has created a gap to be filled, given it was the sole ‘official’ medium to engage with spirituality. It also echoes with what I declared about the value in not democratising art, as it should keep its higher aspiration.

For long, art and spirituality were one, inseparable in their purpose and aspect, so it seems quite natural to bring these two back together.

It wouldn’t be an exhaustive exploration without referring to the concept of sublime. Not all artworks should offer an immediate awe-inspiring moment, yet all (at least, and I hope, the ones displayed here) have a potential of wonder. I had to think twice about what would you rather encounter, the sublime or the sacred?

Because there is no need for me to badly parrot what I read, I’ll rely on the definitions: the sacred is rooted in a spiritual or religious framework, whereas the sublime is a broader philosophical and aesthetic experience. The former relates to an experience of contradicting feelings, as being overwhelmed and terrified at the same time. Meaning that the sublime can reveal itself as the sacred in the presence of art.

A good artwork leaves you with more questions than answers, yet with a feeling of completeness. The repetition of such an experience creates a pattern paving the way for the sacred. That is the ultimate and lofty goal of this gallery and I have come to peace with it.

To conclude in the only possible manner, let me remind us of the central role the artists play in The Blue Neon: we benefit from their artworks to access higher levels of attention and consciousness; in return, we provide them with an audience and a platform - we hope - for their art to come to life.

Nothing like a pinch of spirituality these days.

Yours Sincerely,

BLUE