For the flight of a single butterfly
the entire sky is needed.
~ Paul Claudel, 1868 – 1955, French poet and dramatist.
Notes:
- Photo Source: My Modern Met. France-based street artist Mantra transforms multi-story buildings into gigantic butterfly specimen cases in a series of clever, trick-of-the-eye 3D murals. The enormous, hyper-realistic butterflies appear to be set within wooden-framed boxes, recessed into the side of each building. Long shadows and subtle details, which suggest a transparent glass surface, create a convincing level of depth that helps to enforce the head-turning optical illusions.
- Prior “Lightly child, lightly” Posts? Connect here.
- Post Title & Inspiration: Aldous Huxley: “It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them.”
i love these. impossible not to be uplifted by seeing them or being in their presence. love the quote, too.
So agrre Beth. Felt the same.
Absolutely magical!
😌you must know how much I love this…
Sure day.
Very cool. Urban-downtown art.
It is…
Such a fantastic share, DK…Amazing work from the artist Mantra…. I remember the last time I held a butterfly, we were on vacation and had just pulled into a Shell station out in desert country, we exited the car and noticed a Swallowtail in distress…we new it was dying, we appreciated its beauty, then I gently picked it up, talked to it …I took it with me as I walked away from the busy gas pump area with the scorching concrete…I gently laid the beautiful bright butterfly, in a wild area, adjacent to the station, where it would take it last breath in the shaded, peace and wild of the desert…the beautiful butterfly gifted me and all living things deserve dignity as they die…/// Just last evening my daughter was talking with me about a new art project and how she needs some more shadow boxes for he bugs, butterflies, leaves, etc, …we love butterflies at our home.,. my area also has public art that we appreciate…
Would love to see your daughter’s new project!
Oh, the second photo with the apartment bldg that has the two unsightly, twin pipes attached to it…I find it interesting (though I know it is an old bldg) that the bldg wasn’t designed so that all the apartments could have a small balcony not just one apartment, and what a bonus to have an air conditioner…
Yes. All the buildings seem to have character.
that bldg might be from the 1930’s but with the location being in France it could easily be older…
How very cool is that ???
Very cool’
Beautiful – where is this?
“So far, his butterflies have appeared in Spain, Austria, France, and Bogota.”
This is über-wonderful…. We spent a few days in Lyon a short while ago and I also took dozens of photos of ‘wall-paintings’ – explaining all the owners, shops, businesses and art owners who lived in each individual building. Endless entertainment and illustrative education. The ‘poem’ is magnificent too. Love it – Thank You.
I would have loves to have seen the murals in Lyon. Some day. Some day.
Clever and beautiful … yet I feel sad when I see dead butterflies in specimen cases.
Me too!
The butterflies are beautiful. We can learn a lot from other species. But in this post I was especially captivated by the quote. It seemed a startling revelation 🙂
I too loved the quote. So few words, such a big beautiful message.
These are fabulous. Great find!!!
They are. Thanks!