A tall middle-aged man in his early 30s stood in the middle of a grand hall. He looked intently at something above him, his neck arched at almost a 90-degree angle. That is why he did not notice a dark-haired woman as she entered the train station through one of the wide-arched doors that connects the platform to the main hall.
Carrying a sage green travel backpack and a black ukelele case, she scanned the faces around her, seemingly looking for someone in particular. The man still did not notice the woman even as she stood slightly opposite him and looked up at the same thing he was looking at. They stayed like that for some time until the man looked sideways and noticed her presence. She caught his glance at the same time.
Oh, it’s you! Gabriel! Ida said with a big smile, revealing a dimple in her left cheek. Now that she can see his head upfront, she recognized him. Look for a tall guy with salt and pepper hair, he aptly described himself in email.
Salut Ida! How was your trip, everything OK? He asked her, immediately enamored by her radiant smile. He wanted to give her the obligatory kiss on the cheeks but hesitated. Instead, he offered his left hand.
Yes, everything was perfect, thank you. She answered as she shook his hand. While doing so, the strap of the ukelele case fell down on her left shoulder. She pulled it back up.
Do you mind if we stay a bit longer? He said pointing up. It’s the Gare de Perpignan painting by Dali, I mean, a replica of it. They just recently renovated the station and they added this as finishing touch. It’s the first time I’ve seen it here.
No, not at all. I was wondering about it… She replied as she stood beside him.
Let me help you with that. He gestured to take her bag.
Oh that’s alright, I need to get used to carrying it by myself. Thank you. She said politely. She pulled the backpack closer to her body, making it bounce up slightly.
He nodded and they both looked up again without saying anything else. A bunch of people came out of the train that just arrived at the platform. Some hurriedly walked past them, looking up quickly while some couldn’t be bothered at all. At some point, only the two of them stood there in the middle of the hall.
What do you think the painting is about? Gabriel broke their silence.
Oh, no, no, please don’t ask me, I’m very bad at that. Ida answered, anxiously waving her hand left and right. But do tell me, I’m quite curious.
From what I remember reading before, whenever Dali comes to this train station, his mind, umm, ejaculates. Gabriel looked at her reaction and cleared his throat. That’s the word he used, not mine, just to be clear. On one particular day, he claimed to have a vision inspired by the cosmos. In that ecstatic moment, he declared this station to be the center of the universe.
That’s a strong statement, only someone like Dali could make. She said, the corner of her mouth curled into a smile.
Pointing at something in the painting, Gabriel continued. When you look closely at it, you’ll see the homage to this train station. He believes that it’s the literal and metaphysical central hub of the universe.
I can definitely see the reference to the train station, pointing to an image of a locomotive. That part I get but honestly, I’m still not sure what it’s really about.
I can tell you more of what I know especially it’s strong religious and mystical undertones. But if you’ll oblige, let’s try something else instead. What do you see?
Hmmm. Ida paused and observed the painting more closely. She doesn’t know where to look at first but the bright center showing a man floating in midair captured her attention. Behind this man, she could see a subtle image of the crucified Christ, mentally noting what Gabriel said of it’s religious nature. But her eyes wandered on the different images surrounding it — dramatic depictions of people suspended in mundane moments : a woman with her head bowed in prayer, a man solemnly looking at his hat, a couple of workers placing bags on a cart, a man on top of a wooden boat floating on the sea. Her gaze lingered on what appears to be a naked man holding a bent naked woman by the waist, who herself is reaching some sack on the ground. Well, there seems to be a lot of sacks and luggages in this painting. Probably referring again to the train station as a transport hub… Ida started to say as she looked tentatively at Gabriel.
Go on, say what you feel without thinking. What part captures you the most? Gabriel prodded encouragingly at her.
That man…he seems to be falling into a void. Drawing a vertical line in the air, she continued. Here you see him at the top near the locomotive and him again in the center. He’s swallowed by the mundane and harsh realities of life, trying to find meaning. He’s helpless, his arms spread out, flailing. He’s trying to make sense of it all but he can’t, so he just free falls…
Interesting, he said. He looked at her, arms folded, his left hand resting lightly against his cheek.
Really, you think so? I hope there are no art critics around who heard that. I bet they’re shaking their heads. You’re not secretly one, are you? She said, almost whispering.
You know that’s perfectly fine, he replied in a reassuring voice. The way I see it, we interpret art as we perceive it. We give meaning to it. We don’t need someone to dictate to us what it’s about, not even if Dali was right here beside you. He can tell you what his work is about but what you feel about is what’s most important. You can even make things up, imagine something else. At least that’s my opinion. He paused. They both looked on.
After a few moments, he faced her. I’m not, by the way, an art critic. I just want to know something about you before I take you back home. He gave her a little wink.
Ah, so that’s how you round up people, asking them how they feel about a random artwork? she said, her eyes smiling.
Art as a conversation piece. He simply said, with a wide grin.
That probably works well in France, with artworks everywhere! She commented, laughing. And you, what do you see?
I find myself drawn to that man. He said pointing at the bottom of the painting. There he is, on top of a cart of some sort or a more like a boat, like you said. For me, this man is observing the other man who’s falling, maybe it is himself or humans in general, against a backdrop of hardships and suffering. He’s pondering how he can help or hoping that there’s some hope and redemption in the end for him and all of humanity. He finished by pointing at the center of the image and tracing the four bright rays of light emanating from it.
Interesting…Ida said while crossing her arms, somewhat mimicking his earlier stance.
Ah, no! I see what you’re doing…he grinned again, this time, wider than before. See, at least we now know something about each other. He said.
You mean how we’re both so serious about life? How depressing! Ida placed her two hands on her cheeks.
They both laughed.
They were joined then by a couple who had been waiting for their train and got curious on what they were staring at. They craned their necks and circled around them, talking in whispers. They didn’t stay long.
Do you believe what Dali felt, about the energies of this place, that it’s the center of the Universe? This time, Ida broke their silence.
I think it’s a bit far off, to be honest. He answered. And you?
Well, I love the idea of it, that I’m on the “center of the Universe”, making air quotes as she said it. It makes me feel like there’s potentiality, some magic in this place.
Because someone says so?
But he’s not just someone, he’s Daliii. She said. But seriously, say there’s really this magical center of the universe, I wouldn’t mind picking the same place as Dali. I’d trust his vision, his intuition. Also, isn’t it brilliantly obscure, a train station in the South of France as the central hub of the universe? It works.
Mysteriously banal. Gabriel nodded and smiled. He looked at her then and noticed her big round eyes, his face reflected right in the middle.
But what does it really mean to be at the center of the universe anyway? Do you know? Ida said, meeting his gaze.
Well, physicists and astronomers generally agree that the Universe doesn’t have a center because there’s no known edge to the universe. Theoretically, the universe is continuously expanding, so we can’t define its edge and so ultimately there’s no center. Everything could then become relative, meaning, any place can be the center or any person for that matter because each of us are occupying a space in the universe that’s expanding outwards. So if we see it this way, it was not entirely wrong for Ptolemy to think, the earth was the center of universe during his time, or Dali at that, with this train station.
Maybe that’s why it’s so natural of us to think that we’re at the center of the world, or that the whole universe revolves around us. There’s some kind of truth to it. Ida said and paused. She then decided at this point to put down her backpack, keeping just the ukelele case on her left shoulder. Makes me wonder though, if there really was a center and we’re standing on top of it, what do you imagine it could be exactly?
Ah probably some kind of headquarters of the universe, where the big boss, can go in and out as he pleases checking if everything in the hub is in order…
That’s a funny thought. She said, scrunching up her nose.
And what’s your take? He said, arching his right eyebrow.
I think it could be some sort of portal, where people can go…She started to answer him but was interrupted by a feeble yet clear voice.
Bonjour, excusez-moi. It came from a person in his 70’s who’s suddenly in front of them. They haven’t noticed him approaching, nor him observing them for a while, all along sitting on a bench tucked at the right corner of the hall.
Bonjour monsieur. Gabriel addressed him, his tone kind, encouraging him to continue.
Je voudrais juste vous dire que vous êtes mignons. Je vous observe. Said the elderly man, who was wearing a dark gray beret and holding a cane in his left hand. He looked the kind of man who’s well-meaning and earnest, dressed impeccably like he was coming from a formal celebration – a wedding party perhaps.
Gabriel chuckled and answered him. Oh non, on n’est pas ensemble, on vient de se rencontrer, actuellement. En tout cas, merci bien. C’est gentil.
Oh, c’est dommage. Vous devriez être ensemble. Au revoir. The old man said with a smile.
Au revoir. Gabriel replied while Ida gave him an awkward little wave.
But the old man did not immediately leave. He took his time to look closely at them, like an artist looking at their just finished masterpiece. Only once he was satisfied did he leave, walking towards the platform, leaving Gabriel and Ida standing there, both a little perplexed.
What was that all about? Ida asked.
Well, apparently, he had been observing us from a distance. He thinks we’re together and he finds us “mignons”, you know, cute. Gabriel smiled a little while saying that. I explained to him that we actually just met. I thanked him anyway, I think it was a nice gesture. He continued to explain while keeping an eye on the old man but he lost him in the crowd that was rushing towards the train that just arrived.
Oh, she blushed. That’s all that he said?
More or less. He touched the back of his head with his left hand. And, that we should be together… Funny man.
He sounds very sweet and nostalgic. Ida said. Maybe he misses someone.
Or longing for someone. Gabriel added.
They looked at each other’s eyes then and held there for a moment, until Ida looked away.
Thanks for indulging me. He abruptly said, looking at his watch. But we must head out, it’s an hour and a half drive from here. I want to arrive before the sun sets. He turned around and pointed to the exit. She nodded and followed him, still feeling the warm tingle that had spread on her cheeks.
As they exited the station with the facade of the Perpignan station behind them, Gabriel turned to Ida.
So, ready to see The Night Sky?