Artists

“Artists, we presume, live on some faulty edge of reality, poets are essentially unrealistic, sensualists are not to be taken seriously, and, by the way, can’t you make a little money?”

(Laura Sewall)

We’ve lived for too long with the idea that art should serve business.

A little like mindfulness, wellbeing or compassion, art has become a ‘tool’ to pursue new ideas on the way to better market share, increased efficiency, or a host of other ‘performance indicators’.

Yet in this time of separation, confinement and constraint, we have become used to the idea that our concerts, theatre, opera, galleries or more simple, appreciative experiences of the world, walking, making and creating, writing and drawing are essential to our health and wellbeing.

Life without our music, streaming services, TV, movement or creativity, in whatever form we prefer, quickly becomes intolerable.

And while I’m not sure what edge of faulty reality the grafitti artists of Barcelona live on but, as I turned a corner on an otherwise dull morning in El Gòtic, their fabulous mural made my day.

I’ve come to know that art itself is the key to a well-lived life.

Writer and ethologist Ellen Dissanayake tells us that,

“Without any special encouragement, humans take great pleasure and find positive reinforcement in performing activities and seeking out environments that are biologically essential to our (and our species) survival: eating, resting, being in familiar and secure surroundings, having sex, children, intimate friends; talking; engaging in activity that is perceived as useful and appropriate; and noticeably also engaging in song, dance, poetic language, drama with costumes and masks, music, self adornment, and embellishing personal and public artefacts.”

Not just nice…. biologically essential.

So, what if we moved art closer towards the centre of our effort and industry?

It would mean that art, poetry and sensuality become something more than a workshop on the way to a set of business performance indicators.

Art itself would be the objective. And so Life might become the objective.

It might even make a little money.

Notes:

I’ve quoted from Ellen Dissanayake’s Homo Aestheticus: Where Art Comes From and Why but, if her ethological view of the world appeals, also take a look at Art and Intimacy: How the Arts Began. Ellen makes the case that art is ‘for life’s sake’ and, amongst other things, argues strongly for a broadly-based arts education.

Looking at the wider picture of business as a force for good, take a look at the stringent requirements to become a B Corp. It’s not just for the Patagonia’s of the world, every business should be made this way….

I’m reminded by Alan Moore (@alansmlxl) that European leaders are advocating for the establishment of a new Bauhaus to and that designers should “match style with sustainability.” I think artists might do better than that.

Finally, a little resolution to coincide with a big birthday; I’m trying to add to the art in the world by sharing a photo each morning on Twitter (starts Monday). Follow me @DrSteveMarshall and see how long I can keep the pace!