E.O. Wilson On The Value of Metaphor in Art

“The creative writer, composer, or visual artist conveys, often obliquely by abstraction or deliberate distortion, his own perceptions and the feelings he hopes to evoke — about something, about anything, real or imagined. He seeks to bring forth in an original way some truth or other about the human experience. He tries to pass what he creates directly along the channel of human experience, from his mind to your mind. His work is judged by the power and beauty of its metaphors. He obeys a dictum ascribed to Picasso: art is the lie that shows us the truth.” E. O. Wilson

I read this, then smiled and read it again. In addition to being a brilliant biologist, E.O. Wilson describes the essence of art as well as anyone I’ve heard or read.