One of the beliefs deep in our culture is that you must be unhappy to make art. I listened this morning on Times Talks to their art editor discussing this question and many others with Salman Rushdie. Both believed it to be true. Ai Weiwei was also included in the conversation on Skype and via video from China. His life experiences would certainly lend agreement to this idea, and his words were careful and full of anguish.
In my explorations of these questions, I nearly always disagree with my culture. And in this case, I go back beyond the patriarchy to the Goddess times. The patriarchy, after all, has only dominated this planet for the last 6 to 8,000 years. Before that, cities were not walled, and art was one of the primary occupations of the people.
Another part of my disagreement on this point is the intuitive understanding that has grown in me about the paradigm shift we are working our way through – and we are some way beyond halfway on that shift. I express it this way – ‘All that pain and suffering – that is so 20th century. The 21st century is all about joy!’
Another belief of mine is that we, ourselves, are art. And that part of why we’re here is to make our own selves and others happy, by being and playing with art.
And to me that art is full of joy – we can express that part of our own inner self, which is much bigger than the angst and despair that are also waiting for our call.
So to me, we can make art with whatever inner-ness we choose. Let’s go for the bliss! : >