“Can Art Save the World?” LinkedIn.com Discussion: 2/9 - 2/14 2010. Topic Created and Edited for PlanetShifter.com by Willi Paul.
Submitted by Willi Paul on Sun, 02/14/2010 - 19:31
Axis:Image:
“Can Art Save the World?” LinkedIn.com Discussion: 2/9 - 2/14 2010. Topic Created and Edited for PlanetShifter.com by Willi Paul.
No sure what the IG quote means, so maybe I'm mentally not equipped to answer the question. But I must first ask, and not to be too Clinton-esque about it, what do you mean by "art" and "save" and "world."
I will assume for the moment that since this is a Writing Mafia entry that by art it is something created by the written word. By save, you must consider what something is being saved from or if it needs to be saved. By world, do you mean the natural world, the man-made world, the personal world, all these parts, none of them. I think the written arts can add something to the world, can present a way of seeing, understanding, grasping the world, the man-made, personal, and natural in a way it has not been before. I think the written arts are necessary, for without them the world would make much less sense than it does and be less enjoyable and provocative. But touching the soul of somebody who reads your work is not the same as saving that soul. Awakening a soul to new possibilities is inherent in the creative act, and sadly, an interchange not appreciated as well as it should be, but I don't know if it is the same thing as saving the world.
Art can help transform a world or transform an understanding of a world, but transformation is not the same as saving.
I am in complete agreement with you about Olafur. I think art can save the world. Art to me is about larger ideas and the spreading of the idea in a visual way, which can manifest itself differently for any individual. I think that if more people were educated to make art a part of their lifestyle, there would be more world harmony. There is something within a work of art that can remain true and steadfast, unlike politicians, and if there is enough exposure of the work, the art could even produce a paradigm-shift.
The world as we now know it, is the most profound art we have, we are in a world that lives art.
Paul Ulett - Quite Frankly Water
Natural Event use art to promote and attract people to use sustainable sanitation facilities at rock festivals
Finally, an enlightened topic of discussion, I am on my way to pick up 36 paintings and a beautiful bronze sculpture of a ballerina (among other things, to place at Berlage. Already I have commissioned 12 larger than life bronzes and a logo and am in the market for someone who can make the 8 presidents from Virginia in Virginia Granite, a beautiful stone, also larger than life, to adorn our principle buildings and grounds. Amsterdam's secret has always been a combination of commerce and art. Art is the spring for our steps, it lifts us from the earth into the imagination. Paintings have their place, also mosaics, also sculpture, also art in building form, landscaping, anything can be an art. Building can be an art. Clothing can be an art. Life can be an art. There is that magical attention to detail and care for esthetics that transforms an object into something very special that makes all the difference.As you approach a building do you just look and then look at something else?
Then the architects have failed. If your eye does not constantly take in more details and your mind begin to marvel at the beauty that the builders have been able to create out of the materials, the opportunity is missed. I notice, here, that most of the buildings have no transition to the sky, they just end. Flat roofs, whatever. This is very jarring to my Europeanized mind. I say to my architects, "put a hat on them." All but one building they have submitted has had a tower or two but when it is missing it is obvious.Art can help to lift us up to the point where we can save the world. The idea that it will, in and of itself, save the world is nonesense, obviously, but the way we work is that certain things clearly help. For example, when ME and Estelle Quarrels cleared my farm in Virginia out of the woods they lived in the early part of the century. The house was built in 1910, 20 years before the Depression. They responded by building it for dancing and held dances virtually every Saturday night thru the 20's and beyond. Many people have told me that they had met their spouses at those dances and now they have 17 grandchildren, whatever. Art can lift us up, any sort of art. Particularly the sort which brings people together.
Build bridges, not walls and we will save the world for the things we value.
I think art is a way of interpreting the world, not necessarily formed to save it. Then again, some say that to interpret the world gives way to understand it, or at least accept it, thus saving humanity from rampant chaotic wandering. Maybe this is not a question that cannot be answered, maybe you knew this before asking it. If someone wants to be saved, they will be. It could be art that they want to save them, it could be God or it could be finding solace in doing drugs. People of the world are too diverse in preference. To be able to say that one thing can 'save' humanity would mean we are much less unique than I would like to believe we are.
Anyway: "Art, visual art and theatre in particular, can greatly contribute to clarifying and deepening our understanding of vital social and political processes."
art is not knows or percieved as 'healer' .. performing or visual art is an overflow of one's emotions..whereas comprehension of artist's emotions are difficult because of invasion of modern distorted art into today's world.. but yes i think art in any form if one gets addicted to it, can soothe minds ......
rick i agree with you .art can feed the minds only...not the hunger.. the part of the world where i come from is infested by terrorism .. in those extreme cases what could act as a saviour ...art? they dont even have an access to it !
vineeta tendon
Art has changed the world since its inception. And it has also banged its head against brick walls for change. Does not matter. It is done, at least for me, because it has to be said. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. The artist does and says what they have to. The rest follows.
It hasn't saved it yet.
Art has had enormous influence on the world and the way we see life. It has caused us to think differently and feel more deeply. Any outstanding art work causes a paradigm shift in our minds and may bring us closer to our hearts. It shifts us a little bit closer to the ideals of Beauty, Harmony, and Truth.
Art puts order to chaos, and it has the power to remind people of what's important in life. More art, less war within ourselves, and less war with others.
I'd like to meet him if he can... (save the world)
Can art save the world? Musicians, visual artists, etc. create messages that the world can now see simultaneously through international media. Remember 'We are the World', the latest performances to raise money for Haiti Earthquake Relief, and more. We have fought for American Farmers, Medical Diseases, etc. Artists and entertainers of performance art, poets and visual artists have been changing the world for a long time. Adding green aspects to the concert arena, and sending messages stimulating grassroots environmental programs is better yet.
if the world ever gets saved, art will only do so indirectly. Since artists are here to lead us up to/show people the doorway, it's up to others to open it and walk through it. Usually, we'll cast the first stone, but we're not exactly qualified to execute what needs to be done to solve big-picture situations.
Art can save the world one individual at a time, by giving them the tools to develop themselves. I write on the relationship of creativity and personal development in my books and my blog. My blog (parallelmind.wordpress.com) particularly addresses the idea that art has a profound impact on us.
But the tenor of what I have been writing recently is related to the power and responsibility that artists and other creatives (what I call conscious creatives) have in creating a new world. Beyond corporate social responsibility, we are evolving a new standard of consciousness and creative empowerment.
I think that we are in an unparalleled time in history: for the first time we have the power to develop truly independent-thinking individuals who can move towards creating a better society.
In terms of the question posed – I don't know if art can "save the world". But I do know that it's valuable in ways we can't always articulate. Someone once said to me, in response to a somewhat self-deprecating statement I had made about being an artist instead of doing something like finding a cure for cancer... "how do you know it didn't? (cure someone...)" I was deeply moved by that sentiment, and guided to recognize the impact art truly can have on individuals.
I believe that art is Art when it makes you think and reflect. Maybe the artist is able to focus your thoughts just where he or she wanted, or maybe his or her piece allows you to think in your own life, your desires, your fears, your friends, your country, the humanity as a whole…the point is thanks to Art you are giving time to your mind for arriving to upper levels of comprehension. If we would use more time for reflecting instead of just acting I am sure that we would behave in a way closer to word needs, therefore the world would be a better place and we would have saved the world, at least our own part of it.
Art is an essential part of culture, it is a creative expression that everybody expires too. Art is an instinctive appreciation of beauty, it transcends time and promotes culteral awareness. Art widens personal perception of asthetics
and is important for human development. It also acts as a guide to take a wider view and encourages tolerance in society. Art & Beauty will save the world.
Sometimes it is just one person that can change the world but artists collectively energy wise can lift the world up. So each of us in our corner of the world are creatively helping humanity change for the better. Yes, there are bad energies out there but the creatives bring a positive voice. Healing yourself and others through your own journey is the purpose that God gave each of us. I wrote on my website http://Landisart.com an article on my news page at the last about healing a sick person with a painting. Renee Phillips of Http://ManhattanArts.com has written a blog called "Healing PowerofArt.blogspot.com". Lori http://LandisArt.com
I love this discussion but see the issue at two extremes. The "negative" view is that a starving person cares not for art - only food. The "positive" version is that art can be enlightening, entertaining, educational and most important - meaningful. I believe that it can act on people’s lives in many ways, both conscious and unconscious. There are countless examples of art influencing the course of history - especially if we accept broad definitions of what art is. (Have you seen the movie "The Train" about the attempted export of art from France to Germany during WWII as one dramatic example?) There are also countless examples of art having a deep and profound impact on individuals who have, in turn, changed at least "their world." Personally IMHO, I don't believe that art has to "change the world." A positive impact on one individual is enough in and of itself. Who knows where the "butterfly effect" will lead?
Last, I just want to add that it is a deep irony that such a wonderful field can have a negative impact on health when toxic materials are used - both for the artist and the viewer in extreme circumstances. Oil paints can outgas VOCs. Varnishes can be particularly nasty. People with chemical sensitivity are particularly vulnerable. Cadmium yellow contains carcinogenic pigments. Silver in traditional photographs is a heavy metal and potentially carcinogenic. The list goes on. Want to know more? Send me an email for a brief non-promotional white paper on art and health.
Thanks for the forum.
Right now? No it isn't changing the world because "no one" is buying it. Our online gallery business has literally stopped in its tracks. I wish that people would realize that art is healing, wonderful and an investment to pass onto generations.
Kathy - Qoro Fine Art Services www.qoroart.com
See ecologically sustainable Annandale art exhibition
http://ramin.com.au/annandale/eco-annandale-2010.shtml
Yes, I certainly felt that a recent Bar Camp, I attended in Canberra, was very much theatre and performance. Judge for yourself:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/92795775@N00/sets/72157623235604863/?page=2
An Eco-Festival called Footprints is in the planning, to be centred at Whites Creek Valley
http://www.ramin.com.au/annandale/whitescreek.shtml
Possibly for June 6 2010, the day after world environment day and I have been lining up performance and visual "amateur artists".
I am passing on suggestions to the organisers.
FRACTAL UTOPIA is a project of exhibition that focuses on a better understanding of life from a perspective of Global Representation. In a series of nine (9) consecutive rooms FRACTAL UTOPIA explores different aspects and global perspectives concerning the state of life as human being. The experience unfold with a sense of poetry, magic and contrast. The Art, the Media and the Technology that is designing and producing FRACTAL UTOPIA invent from some of the most significant aspects and concepts of the last fifty years in contemporary art (Painting / photography / architecture / design / digital composition / drawing / installation / video-DVD / computer interactive website projection / light / text / music-sound / etc.).
The purpose of this exhibition is to provoke feelings, stimulate reflection and induce in viewers a sense of contribution concerning the factors affecting the present and long-term future of humanity, in a universe of beauty, mystery, and unfolding drama. FRACTAL UTOPIA wants to be part of the movement for a more creative and sustainable way of life for our global civilization which is in an accelerating mode towards the future.
It is in that spirit that FRACTAL UTOPIA also aims, inherently by its culture, at touring and sharing worldwide this multimedia art exhibition exposing its Global Vision in progress.
Save it as in keeping a back up copy? Douglas Adams would be proud.
(1 vote)
