Some thoughts on the state of our arts: When was the last time any of us used the terms awesome or beautiful or uplifting for contemporary works of art? Music, painting, theater, sculpture, architecture, literature, etc. When was the last time any of the above moved you in a spiritual manner? Are we becoming immune to beauty? Have we lost touch with our inner feelings? Or has the art itself become trivialized or uncommunicative or irrelevant? Are we losing our ability to feel deep-seated emotions? It it the art? Or is it us? Whatever the case, we are not connecting.
Have we reached a saturation point? Is there so much music, visual arts, literature, etc, that we have become numb to anything specific in the arts or everything in general? Is everything so accessible that it has lost its meaning? Has everything become mediocre just by sheer quantity and weight? Are we mass-producing art in every way that makes all of the above possible? And what are the long-term effects of this? Will our children and grandchildren forget how to appreciate something special because there is nothing special anymore? And, how do we reverse this?
How do we take the numbers and the business commodity aspect out of our arts? Any solution will take time to implement. True art takes time. The crafting of anything takes time, especially when it is one-of-a-kind. One special painting rather than one thousand. Something unique in any of the arts rather than everything in general. But then, how does the artist of any kind exist?
Survival of the artist is paramount if there is to be art at all. And survival means money and money means mass-producing, and then we have come full circle. Back to the present. In the past there was a system of patronage. The patron provided funding and the artist provided the art. This seemed to work at times in the past. Now, I’m not so sure. Complacency can enter the scene: just produce anything and get paid. Not a good idea for the arts. Is the starving artist the solution? Art of any kind does not exist in a vacuum. It needs fresh air. Does art reflect our times or does it cause trends? Is it active or passive?
What will last indefinitely can’t be recognized in its own time. Our own feelings are too adaptable and malleable. Art is a hook, but we have trouble because of this when we try to make judgments or discriminate within a style. Ancient art is specific to its own times. It is special because of its craft and also its limited quantity. It is special, unique and one-of-a-kind. Some of today’s art will become special and unique and also limited. Keep in mind that all artists have an expiration date. Art does not. The artist lives long enough to produce. There are no parameters, only time. Present likes and dislikes become irrelevant . Future likes and dislikes will determine what is special and lasting.
For now we produce our art of whatever kind and hope for the best. Truth and beauty will ultimately win over quantity and the expedient. Auto-exoticism. Only time will tell. Time after time.