In 1970, renowned conceptual artist John Baldessari burned hundreds of his paintings in a symbolic act, forever altering the way we view art and our relationship to it. This poem, "The Beauty He Burned?" reflects on that transformative moment and asks questions about the value of our creative efforts, especially in an age where digital art and memes can disappear in an instant.
What were in those paintings
That Baldessari burned?
His graduation, his manifesto, his kisses
Resting in an urn.
Baldessari's paintings were more than just artworks—they represented phases of his life, artistic milestones, and perhaps his own personal revelations. When he burned them, he wasn’t just destroying canvases, he was making a powerful statement about impermanence, the transient nature of creativity, and the ways we value our work. In today’s world, where digital creations can vanish with a click, the act of destruction has taken on a new relevance. Are our fleeting creations just as valuable as those that endure?
A walk upon the ocean
His true love met at dawn
An oil still life painting
A watercolor gone
This stanza evokes the imagery of what could have been lost—moments of beauty, love, and artistic expression—burned, like memories fading over time. These are universal moments, feelings we all understand, whether captured in art or simply lived. The art we make, whether it's a grand oil painting or a quickly sketched idea, is always tinged with these personal experiences.
How can an artist see his days
As unimportant work?
Were they truly boring
Or did they have more worth?
Baldessari’s act of destruction raises the question: What makes art important? Is it the work itself, the process, or how the world reacts to it? If we devalue our own creations, as Baldessari seemingly did, are we missing something profound? Is every discarded sketch or unfinished project worth more than we realize?
If I make a meme and delete it
Or share it with the world?
Could I have a truth
That simply goes unheard
In today’s fast-paced, meme-driven culture, our creations often feel ephemeral, disappearing into the digital void. Yet even the smallest creative acts have potential to touch others, to reveal a truth about the world, or about ourselves. Just because something is deleted doesn’t mean it lacked value.
Is this not the truth
Of universal life?
That all is unimportant
Upon the day we die
The poem touches on the existential reality that, in the end, much of what we create and strive for may seem unimportant. But it’s in the creating, in the fleeting moments of expression and connection, that we find meaning. Baldessari’s decision to burn his paintings wasn’t about their lack of value, but about redefining what value means.
That I will never be
A John Baldessari
But does this have the message
Of what will become of me?
None of us may ever become a John Baldessari, but that doesn’t mean our creations are any less significant. This final reflection asks us to consider how our own creative journey will unfold and what legacy, if any, we will leave behind. The beauty we create may be temporary, but it’s part of the ever-evolving conversation about art, life, and meaning.
In the end, Baldessari’s act of burning his art wasn’t about destruction—it was about rebirth. It was a way to question the very nature of art and to make space for something new. And perhaps that’s the message for all of us: What we create, whether it's burned, deleted, or shared with the world, has its moment. And in that moment, it matters.
This blog post is a reflection on the poem and on Baldessari’s symbolic act, drawing connections between traditional art and our contemporary creative landscape. What do you think? Is the art we create in the digital age less meaningful, or does it carry a deeper, more urgent significance? Share your thoughts below!
by Dan and Bonkers
SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS NOW!!!
