The white dot

Leonardo has grown up. He recently turned five, he is starting to ask detailed questions, to entrust you with his whys, with the unique gaze of someone who is looking at the world and things for the first time. It is the age when children build memories, gather experiences, learn to know and also to trust. Leonardo knows his stuff, whether it is in front of his favorite toy, a cartoon he loves, or a painting he has never seen.

Accompanying him to a contemporary art exhibition was one of the most special experiences of this year. Seeing him happy, amazed, jumping from one image to another, intrigued by shapes and colors. In this case too, so many questions, so much life.

Never underestimate children and see the risk of boredom where it doesn’t exist. Leonardo stopped only at the end of the path, in front of a large wall on which visitors could freely write thoughts and suggestions. “Can I too?”. “Sure, Leonardo.” “Sure?”. “Sure, go ahead.” He approached the table prepared by the curators, chose his marker and then, with a decisive step, went towards the wall. He looked at the whole for a moment, searched for and pointed his white corner among a thousand writings and drawings, thought for a few seconds and finally began to give shape to his thoughts: a large L, then an E, finally an O. “Did you see my name? Now write yours.” Having reached his goal, more drawings, shapes, colors. And, after a while, a simple sentence: “I’ve finished, let’s go!”. With a smile this big.

Leo's adventure at the museum is a minimal story, but it's nice to think that we can learn something from this candor.

A new year, after all, what is it if not a blank spot in history on which to try to leave a mark? A spot to look for, perhaps among a thousand scribbles and traces of those who came before. A spot to imagine, to enrich with new ideas and thoughts, to shape with the best we are capable of. A spot that is waiting only for us, because we are all different and each one can bring their own unique and unrepeatable contribution.

That spot is nothing other than the piece of space and time that is entrusted to us and that we have the right to inhabit with courage, with determination, with respect for everyone.
Leonardo teaches us the method. Choose your own line and color, approach delicately, think, trust and then go straight to the point: leave your name, give meaning to your passage. And finally, have the humility to say: "I'm done, let's go! Someone else will come and complete the work". May this be the way for everyone in the new year that comes our way. With a smile this big!


Matteo Spicuglia
NP January 2025