Last Wednesday, my group explored the High Line between 14th street and the entrance of the Hudson Yard. The most outstanding artwork to me was the 25-foot Buddha sculpture. This being my first ever visit to the High Line and I was curious to see in person the 25-foot Buddha sculpture as I have seen it only online. At first glance, I was wowed by its size and the contrast between the ancient-looking figure and the modern skyscrapers surrounding it. Although the sculpture can certainly be photographed, I do not think it can truly be replicated in the same way that a painting can. It felt different walking around it, and actually experiencing it firsthand.
Per our classroom discussion, John Berger argues that paintings can be reproduced through photographs, books, and digital media, making them accessible almost anywhere. So, a photograph of the Buddha sculpture can show its appearance, but it cannot recreate the experience of standing beside it. Seeing the sculpture in person allowed me to appreciate its large size, its weathered texture, and the way its golden hands shine in the sunlight. One cannot experience these details by viewing only a photograph. These details made the work feel much more powerful than any image could communicate. A photograph captures only one angle and one moment, while seeing it in person allowed me to walk around it, observe it from different perspectives.
I think this visit to the High Line further helped me better understand Berger’s argument that reproductions change the way we experience art.
