Heart and soul in artistic works

I had the privilege of sharing my views on a range of art issues to an audience of artists last Sunday. The event was the culminating activity of the month-long Ortigas Art Festival. My copanelist was art curator and esteemed writer Gwen Bautista, and the talk was moderated by acclaimed painter Manny Garibay who fielded questions for the two speakers.

We also responded to an interesting variety of questions from the audience.

One of the questions that a young artist asked was, what advice could I give to artists who are starting in their careers. It sounded like a simple question on the surface, but it is a life question on one of the most difficult careers in the world. A career in the arts—whether as painter, sculptor, musician, singer, dancer, or writer—has such a negative reputation as a sure road to an impoverished life. Many parents strongly discourage their children from pursuing a career in any field of the arts, as a consequence. The young artist’s question was a plea for guidance on how to avoid the curse of damnation associated with an art career. My viewpoints as art collector and gallery co-owner were being summoned for advice.

In my role as a weekly opinion writer in this paper, I have been asked the same question by aspiring writers and students who dream of a career in journalism. I told the young artist that my advice to him is the same advice I have given to young writers. And it’s the same advice that I would give to an artist in any field—you must enrich your life with experiences, and good and bad, and you must expose yourself to a wide range of viewpoints.

There are visual artists who are outstanding in their technical skills, even superior to senior and famous artists, but whose artistic works are wanting in impact. Their works are visually delightful because of their near-photographic faithfulness to details, or whose assemblage of images and colors are pleasing to the eyes. But beyond the momentary visual delight, there’s no emotion engendered, there’s lack of a novel concept, and there’s the absence of an endearing narrative that can be mined.

There are also writers who are exceptional wordsmiths, with impressive vocabulary, impeccable attention to grammar, and remarkable command of allegorical expressions. Despite the excellent writing skills, however, the words noticeably sound hollow.

What is usually deficient in these technically proficient artists and writers is the absence of heart and soul in their works. The presence or absence of rootedness in one’s artistic or literary work can be sensed and felt by a seasoned art collector and a learned reader. Somehow, an artist’s or writer’s personal experiences, or lack of them, get reflected in one’s work.

Artists and writers must, therefore, enrich their lives with a wide range of experiences. They must go out of their comfort zones and see life beyond their routines. If they’ve lived all their lives in the city, they should experience rural life, and vice versa. If they’ve been raised in gated subdivisions, they should immerse themselves in the goings-on in an urban poor community. If they’ve been used to riding private cars, they should take public transportation during rush hour. If they have the means, travel abroad in a country with a non-Western culture but with vibrant art communities like Bali and Yogyakarta in Indonesia.

Experience buying in the palengke. Talk to and listen to the life stories of a security guard, jeepney driver, waitress, single mom, overseas foreign worker, politician, businessperson, Muslim, Iglesia ni Kristo member, Born Again Christian, gay/lesbian, farmer, among others. Be interested and curious in the lives of people in every different sector of society that you encounter.

It’s no coincidence that many of the artists and writers who go on to produce an outstanding body of works, and reap the fruits of success, are those who went through deprivations, tragedies, and difficult challenges in life. It’s also no coincidence that the works of artists and writers when they were still struggling and hungry for recognition, are generally better than their works when they’re already leading comfortable lives.

Immerse yourself in other forms of art by watching movies, theater plays, musicals, concerts, and art exhibits. Climb a mountain, join a protest rally, and eat in a carinderia. Have an open and probing mind as life leads you through twists and turns.

Artists and writers do not create artistic or literary works out of thin air. Their works will always be a product of, or influenced, by their life experiences. Their artistic creations will not be imbued with heart and soul, and will not be infused with life and meaning, unless they’ve gone through experiences that have enriched their lives. Creativity can only spring forth and flourish from a fertile mind.

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