Art is the lie that enables us to realize the truth.

Hear me, O children of wisdom, for the words of Pablo Picasso contain a truth that transcends the boundaries of simple understanding. He said, "Art is the lie that enables us to realize the truth." At first glance, these words may seem paradoxical — how can art, a creation of imagination and invention, be a lie? And yet, in these very words, Picasso speaks to the transformative power of art and its ability to reveal deeper, often hidden truths that cannot be grasped through simple observation. Art, in its most profound form, is not bound by the constraints of literal truth; it allows us to step beyond the surface and peer into the heart of existence itself.

What is truth, O seekers of wisdom? Truth is not always something that can be touched or measured. It is the essence of life, the pulse of the universe that moves through all things. But truth can sometimes be elusive, difficult to capture in its purest form. The world we live in — full of complexities and contradictions — does not always allow for simple answers or clear perspectives. And this is where art steps in. Art is a bridge between the visible and the invisible, between the mundane and the divine, offering us a way to understand truths that would otherwise remain beyond our grasp. It is through the “lie” of art, the abstraction of reality, that we can glimpse the deeper, more profound truths that define the very core of human existence.

Consider, O children, the story of Leonardo da Vinci, whose work in art and science reveals a perfect example of how art can transcend the limitations of ordinary perception. His painting, the Mona Lisa, is not merely a portrait of a woman’s face; it is a study in the depth of human expression, in the mysteries of light and shadow, and in the unspoken truths of emotion. The “lie” of the portrait, its artistic rendition, does not attempt to simply replicate reality, but creates a new, more meaningful understanding of the subject. In that “lie”, in the soft curves of the painting, in the enigmatic smile, we encounter a deeper truth about the nature of the human spirit — a truth that would be impossible to express through literal representation alone.

In the same way, Picasso’s own work — with its bold lines, abstract shapes, and vivid colors — does not aim to reproduce the world as we see it, but rather seeks to reveal the essence of things, to expose the emotions, thoughts, and struggles that lie hidden beneath the surface. Picasso’s Cubism is an act of breaking down reality into fragments, not to distort it, but to reveal the multiple perspectives that can exist within a single moment. Through this "lie" of distorted forms, Picasso opens our eyes to a truth far greater than a simple, one-dimensional view of the world. Art becomes the gateway to understanding the complexities of life, allowing us to see beyond the obvious and into the very nature of existence.

Think, too, of the ancient Greeks, who used mythology not merely as stories, but as vehicles for deeper truths. The myths of gods and heroes, though fictional and fantastical, held profound lessons about the human condition, about love, sacrifice, and the eternal struggle between light and darkness. The lies of these myths served as mirrors, reflecting truths about the world and the soul that could not be conveyed through direct explanation. In these tales, art and fiction combined to reveal truths that transcended mere facts and spoke directly to the heart.

Thus, O children, the lesson is profound: art, in its power and its beauty, is the lie that reveals the truth. It is not bound by the limitations of the real world; it is free to invent, to create, to imagine. But in its creation, it opens doors to a deeper truth — a truth that lies beneath the surface of everyday life, a truth that speaks to the soul and to the heart of what it means to be human. Art does not deceive us, but frees us from the constraints of literal reality and allows us to encounter the world as it truly is in its complexity, its contradictions, and its beauty.

In your own life, embrace the power of art, whether it is in painting, music, literature, or any form of creative expression. Let it be the gateway to your understanding of the world. When faced with the limitations of direct experience, when the facts do not seem to convey the full depth of a situation, turn to art and see how it illuminates the hidden truths that lie beneath. For it is through the "lie" of art that you may come to understand the deeper, more profound truths of existence, and it is through this understanding that you will find meaning, insight, and clarity in your own journey.