What do you think an artist is? ... he is a political being, constantly aware of the heart breaking, passionate, or delightful things that happen in the world, shaping himself completely in their image. Painting is not done to decorate apartments. It is an instrument of war.
- Pablo Picasso.
I struggle with (ever since Goddard) the feeling that I should be making art that says something, art that isn't just something pretty, something decorative... It is so easy to generate more crap... the world is full of crap.
I don't really have an answer here - mostly just more questions. But I do like the thought that art is an instrument of war - not for actual war (or violence of any kind), but a war of thoughts and emotions and ideas, yeah, I can definitely get behind that sort of war - especially when it happens inside my own head and heart.
While I'm thinking about this I'm listening to The Battle of Harlaw by Old Blind Dogs, which is also about war (wikipedia article song lyrics and additional info).
1 comment:
Art is war has always resonated with me. Though I have to admit, usually this is a war within myself, to get through my own resistance and create the time, create the space, and sit down and write... or otherwise create. Much of my life is creative, coaching, teaching yoga... but somehow it's so much easier when there's other folks I'm showing up for. It is much more of a struggle to sit down with myself and write for instance...
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