THE WATER FORMULA

Mistakes and regrets, lessons and memories

It is an opportunity to offer comfort and support, even just by being there. You are aware that visiting a sick person is a touching experience. Feeling someone’s pain and suffering could arouse a deep sense of empathy and compassion. An encounter with mortality can even lead to reflection on the choices we have made in life. As you pack your suitcase, you unconsciously sense that something important is slipping into it, along with your toothbrush, toothpaste and change of underwear, the kind of priorities you have given yourself. You appreciate the little things, even the formula for the water you received as a gift from the person you are about to see again. “Talking, listening and sharing can help you create a deeper connection with others,” she had told you. At the airport, as your suitcase slides on the conveyor belt, you reflect on the oxygen you breathe and the two molecules of hydrogen. You accept the reality that death can be difficult. You know your presence will bring inner peace, but you don’t want to show up empty-handed. “I want to express gratitude for the times we shared and the lessons we learned. Bringing her a gift could be a way to honor her life.”

Thinking in images, you are aware that the formula of water represents the harmony and balance between different elements. “They come together to create something essential and vital. Each water molecule has its own tension that allows it to play a role in biological interactions: it regulates sweating and breathing, eliminates toxins, lubricates joints, helps dissolve nutrients and facilitates digestion. Just as two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom combine to achieve a common goal, we also harmonize skills with others. Yes, we adapt and transform according to circumstances.” Water confirms the importance of finding a balance between emotions and rationality. The harmony between different elements that come together creates something new, it even finds inspiration in the works of artists who – depending on age, sex and body composition – are 70% water like us. “We are creativity that flows, unites and flourishes between different elements. We are sparks in the water, each a different reflection. We are creators of dreams without heroes. We are harmony, life and connection.” Since fentanyl is more potent than morphine, you’ll need to stick to your doctor’s prescription to treat the pain of the expectant mother. “The contents of those transdermal patches require attention. I need to avoid overdosing.”

You observe clouds filled with water. You imagine that the person waiting for you is sitting on a window. The old lady you see in your mind has become a beautiful young woman. Flying to Italy, you reflect on the Italian Renaissance. “Even Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo drew inspiration from the Greek and Roman classics, reinterpreting them in innovative ways. Their ability to transform and rework influences into something new is identical to the ability that allowed me to reinterpret them digitally.” You have discovered that the digital approach also involves assimilating the historical and personal context of the artists it is inspired by. Interacting with your smartphone, you have discovered that Dastilige Nevante combines the analysis of traditional painting techniques with the use of digital tools. During the landing maneuver, you think of the city he left behind, of those you had observed from inside a taxi, as if it were a window on those lives. “Unique perspective. Historic buildings, modern skyscrapers and parks. Some go to work, some sleep rough between two cardboard sheets, some go shopping and some walk the dog, young lives high on fentanyl and so much loneliness.” You remember cataloging their expressions. “A palette of smiles and laughter, moments of sadness or worry. Each face a story in itself. Different ethnicities, religions and cultural backgrounds, but all with my identical water content.”

You accidentally discovered Meeting Benches. “It serves as a virtual meeting place and source of inspiration for travelers, artists, thinkers and dreamers from all over the world.” Reading a post by the digital artist who created that website, you discover where his inspiration comes from. “He loves to be inspired by nature, immerse himself in the history of places and interact with the people who live there. The atmosphere of each place he visits, each with its own energy, influences his creations.” You read that the austere beauty of nature and the lunar landscapes of Pag inspired him to create works related to the style of Zvest Apollonio and Zoran Music, Zlatko Prica, Zdzisław Beksiński and Yoshiro Tachibana. The crystalline waters and beaches of that Croatian island, with their shades of sea and sky, have even influenced his use of color. Browsing the Youtube galleries created by Dastilige Nevante, you discover that the combination of natural elements and different cultures allows him to create works that resonate deeply with those who observe them. “The two shores of the Adriatic, Italian and Croatian, their history, culture and natural beauty, have offered him a fantastic ground for inspiration.”

You have arrived at your destination; you get off the train and push your suitcase full of certainties. You even hypothesize an immortal existence. Before leaving the station, you ask the newsagent for something. “I am looking for a unique book for a special person, something that talks about victories and betrayals.” The other smiles, looks at his shelf full of books and suggests a Hemingway novel. “Islands in the Stream, he can’t be wrong. It’s a novel that honors the present with vital gestures.” Another taxi, a few minutes and you will arrive at a country house. There is someone who gave you the formula for water. Reflect on the canals of Venice that, with their unique atmosphere of mystery and beauty, inspired that digital artist to compare himself with Tintoretto and Georges Corominas. “The natural scenery, the basilicas and palaces, even the coastal cuisine based on fresh fish and seafood, gave him something to draw inspiration from. Beyond language barriers, consider water as an opportunity for connection, an invitation to explore themes of transformation and adaptability.”

You have arrived at your destination; you get out of the taxi and drag your suitcase full of certainties to the gate. You ring the intercom, you observe lemon trees, a pool with water lilies floating on the water. They create a play of light and shadow; they anticipate the themes of introspection and emotional depth that you are about to experience. A nurse comes towards you. She is holding an elderly woman, the synthesis of a life that is about to end. For you it is a moment of deep reflection, an opportunity to look back and evaluate the experiences lived, the relationships built and the lessons learned. As you hug her, you think about the synchronicities you experienced during the journey, manifestations of an unfathomable order that led you back to the formula of the water that the woman had given you. “It is natural to reflect on the mistakes made and the regrets. However, those moments can also offer opportunities for forgiveness and reconciliation. Think about how your life has influenced others. Consider the legacy you leave behind, but not just in material terms, but rather, in terms of values, teachings and memories.”

Your return home is a moment full of emotions. Coming back means reconnecting with a personal space, objects and people you love, but not only that. The airplane window offers you a cloudless sky and the opportunity to reflect on what you have just experienced. However, you can’t help but look at what the man sitting next to you is doing. He is working on the computer, apparently on digital projects. He realizes that his work has piqued your curiosity, smiles and starts telling you about it. “It will be a gift for a special sister. I am creating images inspired by her and the formula of water. Metaphorically, I transform H₂O into two people breathing the same oxygen, everywhere and regardless of their skin color. You can also see it on my Youtube channel. I saw you looking at the Adriatic Sea from the porthole. About 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, a vital resource, don’t you think? I forgot…, Dastilige, my name is Dastilige Nevante. Who are you? Tell me something about yourself.”