JOIN USSustaining the artistic mind in times of gloom
I am more amused by the statements of some artists on their current situation due to the global meltdown. An established young artist friend of mine even declared that he was going to stop buying art books and curtail his travels. Art books are expensive, so is travel.
Last decade saw a great boom in Indian art. Sales and prices of most artists rose considerably as did the number of dealers in art. It saw many artists — most of them newcomers — enjoying big sales and more earnings. The inevitable lavish lifestyle came along with it. This also necessitated the artist to produce more. Many had to work according to the dictates of the art dealers and promoters.
Galleries sprouted across cities. Garages and basements became art galleries and housewives art promoters. Everybody wanted a share in the pie that the boom had brought in. The new rich and the unseasoned collectors were tuned by the art aficionados to a certain kind of fares that is fashionable and party conversation pieces, to say the least.
It is often argued that art thrives only if it is accepted by the prevailing social conditions, and society’s dictates. But history tells us such arguments fail to substantiate. There are countless instances when artists have dictated their own term to the society. Though there were initial rejections, most of them succeeded in making society accept and understand their principles and arguments.
Many of the masterpieces that we revere and keep in high esteem today are the result of such uncompromising attitude the artists took.
It is a well documented fact that the Nazi and Communist regimes dictated their own brand of aesthetics and conditions to creative people. But true creative people escaped their clutches at times leaving everything rather than heeding to their dictates. Many went into hiding and pursued what they believed in. Some even dictated their own terms to the rulers at the risk of their lives.
The great German artist Kathe-Kolwitz was one of those who dared the might of Hitler and carried on her creative direction that challenged the rules set by the Nazi regime.
She portrayed the oppressed and downtrodden. These works began asking demanding questions to the society at large. The dictatorship did not like the idea that such facts were highlighted and demanded the artists paint pretty pictures only.
While few artists resist such temptations, many fall for the lure of money and comfort that eventually result in aesthetic degeneration of their works.
It is not the intention here to portray that comfort level of an artist would affect his creative integrity. We have ample examples of artists who lived in luxurious comfort but were never effected by it. Picasso was one of the best examples of this. After a few years of poverty and struggle in Paris he rose to the heights of acclaim and material comfort. He drove the best automobiles, dined at the most expensive restaurants, courted most beautiful women and lived in palatial homes.
But none of this affected his output or the quality of work. Not only that, he went on innovating and inventing new isms and initiatives in art, he never compromised on his work schedule. It is said that he finished a canvas the night before he died peacefully at the age of 93. It is the attitude that counts.
MF Hussain at the age of 94 with his Bugatis and Rolls Royces, paints at lightning speed and creates some of his best in this twilight period of his life. For these artists their work is the most important thing in the world.
It is sad to note that some artists slack when their comfort level ups. And they get into a very predictable groove. At times they stoop to unacceptable levels to keep their comfort and wealth intact.
Many hit upon a success formula and keep producing a salable commodity in the name of art, unaware that history will never forgive them. They are blind to those who struggle for perfection in creative pursuit.
It is said Ernest Hemingway wrote the last chapter of the Old Man and Sea 200 times till he got it right. Well, his struggle paid off, didn’t it?