By Jonathan Shih
“We are all Artists.”, this statement is a popular one amongst so-called ‘Art Circles’ and ‘Art gatherings’ in the Philippines. Spoken and talked about in so-called ’Art’ discussions and given as advice to people who aspire to be artists. They say that we are all creations of God and we possess the powers of creativity. We have the intellect and the hands to create things. But is it true? Is it a valid statement?
Human beings, the Almighty’s ultimate creation, are capable of doing so many things. After all, humans dominate this planet given to us by God. And to that effect, had been successful in his endeavors, in all aspects of science, engineering, and the arts. And one of man’s many intellectual capabilities is the appreciation of beauty. Beauty in all forms, and in every variety, although each one of us appreciates in a different way, either positive or negative. But aside from that, we have a taste for the beautiful.
So we all, in one way or another, appreciate Art. But can we be all ‘artists’, as these self-righteous and self-proclaimed individuals assert?
Besides Art and beauty, can we also appreciate other things? The answer to that would be yes. I myself, appreciate medicine, but that doesn’t mean I’m a Doctor. I appreciate the splendor of buildings and structures, but that doesn’t mean I’m an architect or engineer. I appreciate the written word, but that doesn’t mean I’m a writer. I appreciate music, but that doesn’t mean I’m a musician. I appreciate films and acting but that doesn’t mean I’m an actor or film director.
You might say (and the self-proclaimed ‘Artists‘), well, that’s different? You need a Degree in Medicine to become a Doctor. You need to have studied, graduated, and passed the Board Examination to become an Architect or Engineer. You need to have a degree in Journalism to become a Writer. You need to have studied Music and Theater Arts to become a Musician and Actor.
So, what are you saying then? To become an ’Artist’, you just have to be, a human being? Just as long as you appreciate Art and beauty. Just as long as you can create something with your hands, you are an ’Artist’. Just as long as you can manipulate your hands to draw, you are an ’Artist’. You don’t need to have studied, learned, and draw or paint beautifully, you are already an ’Artist’ because we are all ’Artists’, right?
Are we not living in reality here? Are we living in Fantasy Land? Where everything is possible and we can be whoever and whatever we want to be? Are we living in a dream? Where your every thought can become true?
Unless you have a mental disorder or already a nut case, we are still living in reality here. Where everything is governed by rules and we are created by the Almighty as individuals. We are not created equally. We each possess unique and individual gifts and capabilities. Now, isn’t that closer to reality than saying, ’we are all Artists’?
It’s true that we can all learn to draw, paint, make a sculpture or other ‘artistic‘ activities. But does that mean that the moment we draw or paint something on a surface, we are already ‘Artists’? Or the instance that we appreciate something beautiful and our emotions are touched and moved by its beauty, we are already ‘Artists’? Or when we discover the beauty hidden in ordinary and mundane things and are stirred by it, we are already ‘Artists’? That’s what these self-proclaimed and self-righteous individuals who call themselves ‘Artists’ are declaring.
The thing is, this world of reality that we live in is governed by rules. A balance of the laws. Where we each have our own gifts, our own calling, our own place in nature. If we were destined to be only one thing. This world of ours would be in utter chaos.
Let me sight an analogy if a cow had a mind to think, and he wanted to be a horse because he’s thinking he can carry a man on his back, and bring him to his desired destination. He can also run fast and participate in races, just like what a horse can do. And what if he can speak to the farmer and tell the farmer that he can be one of the farm’s horses and not just to be slaughtered for food. What do you think the farmer would say to that poor cow?
Think for a while that that farm is the world and the farmer is the Creator and Master of the world. And the individual animals are the people that populate that world. And then suddenly all of the animals wanted to be a horse. And the rest is chaotic history.
So, are we all ‘Artists’? As stated by the self-proclaimed ’Artists’? I would have to disagree. The Arts (I’m pertaining here to the Visual Arts), like any discipline and endeavor, has laws and rules governing it. You can’t just say to yourself, I’m an artist, just because some self-righteous individual claiming to be an ’Artist’ says, “we are all Artists”.
So, does this indicate that the self-proclaimed and self-righteous ‘Artists’ of this country are living in Fantasy Land?
No comments:
Post a Comment