A fine opinion piece in the WSJ, “Art for Life’s Sake,” made the point that:
Few of us are unlikely to forget the evils of existence. The real risk is that we will fall into depression and despair; the danger is that we will lose hope in the human project.
Many believe that artists should reflect their culture, which post-WWI art certainly does. Surrealism, Expressionism, Abstraction, Pop all point to the artists’ reaction to a world without god, and therefore a world without love, which provides the context for our experience of life. Generally, fear, alienation, anxiety and an obsession with the inner workings of the subconscious mind of the artist continue to dominate art, especially as taught in the academies, but no response is offered.
Beautiful Art can be a balm and in our frenzied efforts to avoid thinking about anything seriously, the flippancy that hides our fear and alienation from the world. However, art cannot be delusion, and anxiety and alienation are a natural response to the situation we all find ourselves in. Therefore, Art can and should deal with the difficulties of life, but it can and should also present a response to these difficulties, not just surrender to them. In our era, Artists should lead by affirming their love of the human experience despite its difficulties through the creation of beautiful Art. To do this, artists may need to change from within. If Artists are humble and quiet they will again be open; once open, the love will be felt; once felt, the Artist will be move to speak because without love we are unable to see that God is in this place.
No. 49: “Amor mi mosse, che mi fa parlare” (Love moved me and made me speak.)
A fine opinion piece in the WSJ, “Art for Life’s Sake,” made the point that:
Few of us are unlikely to forget the evils of existence. The real risk is that we will fall into depression and despair; the danger is that we will lose hope in the human project.
Many believe that artists should reflect their culture, which post-WWI art certainly does. Surrealism, Expressionism, Abstraction, Pop all point to the artists’ reaction to a world without god, and therefore a world without love, which provides the context for our experience of life. Generally, fear, alienation, anxiety and an obsession with the inner workings of the subconscious mind of the artist continue to dominate art, especially as taught in the academies, but no response is offered.
Beautiful Art can be a balm and in our frenzied efforts to avoid thinking about anything seriously, the flippancy that hides our fear and alienation from the world. However, art cannot be delusion, and anxiety and alienation are a natural response to the situation we all find ourselves in. Therefore, Art can and should deal with the difficulties of life, but it can and should also present a response to these difficulties, not just surrender to them. In our era, Artists should lead by affirming their love of the human experience despite its difficulties through the creation of beautiful Art. To do this, artists may need to change from within. If Artists are humble and quiet they will again be open; once open, the love will be felt; once felt, the Artist will be move to speak because without love we are unable to see that God is in this place.