Schrödinger’s Cat Never Stood a Chance

Title: Schrödinger’s Cat Never Stood a Chance

 

Synopsis:

This essay explores the nature of abstract art as a reflection of the human experience—an embrace of uncertainty, action, and transformation. Using the paradox of Schrödinger’s cat, it draws a parallel between the quantum state of possibilities and the artistic process, where meaning unfolds through creation rather than predetermined structure. The piece challenges the reader to reject complacency and engage with life through exploration, courage, and the pursuit of personal truth.  By embracing the unknown, questioning assumptions, and living fully in the present, we find meaning not in rigid answers but in the act of seeking itself. Like abstract art, life thrives in the realm of possibility, where change is inevitable and creation is the ultimate form of engagement.

 

Schrödinger’s Cat Never Stood a Chance

Abstract art is often misunderstood, dismissed as a chaotic mess of lines, shapes, and colors that "just don’t make sense." However, the true beauty of abstract art lies in its open-endedness, its willingness to embrace uncertainty, and its ability to reflect the very essence of what it means to be human: searching for meaning in an inherently senseless world. To view abstract art is to engage with this unknown, just as living fully in the moment means embracing the reality that we live within the confines of the inherently unknowable.

Consider Schrödinger's cat. The cat, trapped in a box of quantum uncertainty, is both alive and dead until observed. And if we absolutely insist on looking at it? Well, sorry, cat… it was nice knowing you! This paradox mirrors the artistic process—the creation of abstract art is an act of simultaneously existing within multiple possibilities, where the creator isn’t bound by the logical constraints of representation. It’s the space where everything and nothing are true at once, and where the artist must trust that the meaning will unfold as they engage with the canvas—just as Schrödinger's cat exists as both alive and dead, and yet is neither until seen. The act of creation itself—not the final product—becomes the point of exploration.

Abstract art asks us to confront the reality it presents as we perceive it, the dream of what was, and what could be again, all at once. And while many artists are considered mere dreamers, having the dream itself is not enough—the art cannot exist without the action. The metaphors are almost too obvious to state. Both art and life require action, courage, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty. It’s not about having a neat and tidy answer; it’s about the messy process of figuring it all out, in the moment, whatever the heck it all is.

Yet, most people choose not to pursue their dreams, instead justifying their existence via the convenient logic of inaction. I’ve never been able to accept such passivity. To me, living means proactively pursuing empirical truth. It’s why I wrote this! But we can’t deny that it’s far easier to soothe our egos with false logic as a means of validating our present states. We might even call it ‘maturity’ in order to maintain our contentment in choosing not to change, not to act on dreams, and not to seek empirical truth. Too many choose that path of peaceful resignation. But I prefer to call it for what it is: complacency.

Seeking one's own truth is messy and elusive. And if you’ve ever seen my art studio, "messy" is indeed the right word! The truth about ourselves, our world, and our place in it cannot always be dissected and categorized. It requires exploration that doesn’t always result in concrete answers, much like aesthetic expression cannot always be understood at face value. We must step back, live in the moment, and allow our own truths to unfold, no matter how uncomfortable or incomprehensible they may seem at first.

The only true way to engage with the world is to have vigilant curiosity and take steps toward change. In creating abstract art, the artist must push beyond what they already know, questioning assumptions, breaking boundaries, and living in the moment of transformation. Art is not static—it evolves, just as we must.

But if we are to adhere to such noble values, we must then face the daunting task of trying to make a difference in the world. And in my life, when I have examined the enormity of that task, I remind myself simply of this:

I cannot change the world
I can only change myself
And in doing so
The world has changed

That is the crux. The artist cannot control how the world will respond to their work, but by embracing their creative freedom, they can change themselves. The act of creation is transformative, and in that transformation, the world around them inevitably shifts. Each brushstroke, each decision, purposeful or random, is a moment lived fully, where the artist releases themselves from the need for a specific outcome, trusting that meaning will arise from the process alone.

As we age, we often feel that more of the road lies behind us than ahead. When I am sometimes saddened by that reality, I remind myself of this fact: in my whole life, I was never guaranteed to see the end of a single day. Not a one. The only certainty is, and has ever been, that each day, each moment, is unique. In the face of such uncertainty, we must savor the now. So I take heart in the savoring of yesterday, today, and tomorrow alike, reveling in life’s possibilities, not its certainties. Abstract art teaches us that even when we cannot predict what will emerge from the canvas, there is value in simply creating, in living, and in embracing the unknown.

If you’ve read this far, I have your attention, so let’s stop screwing around and take a shot at the big question: Why are we really here? Why are you looking at this art? Why are you reading this? Why do you ask questions? Why are you seeking meaning in anything? Heck—why do you bother to live at all? I simply proffer this: The endless pursuit of meaning is the essence of sentience. Cease doing so, and you are no longer alive; you are no longer human. There is always more to seek, more to understand, more to explore. The artist, like the philosopher, like the person living fully, is in a constant state of becoming. The search for meaning is not a mere intellectual exercise; it’s the heartbeat of our very existence.

And so, we paint, I paint, we live, we create, and we find meaning in the doing itself—not in the answer! The true beauty of both art and life lies not in the final product, but in the journey. Sorry… I know that’s a pithy statement, but based on my journey, I find it to be empirically true.

Abstract art is a reminder that we cannot always make sense of everything. The magic happens when we stop trying to impose meaning and instead allow it to emerge from the raw material of the moment. Perhaps, in that, we find our truest form of freedom: the ability to live amidst chaos, to embrace uncertainty, and to create meaning out of the world as we see fit—as utterly impossible as that is.

Just ask Schrödinger's cat.
-jh

Web: jasonhatchell.com

IG: @yoridokoroart