Many of you are probably sick and tired of me constantly discussing about the topic of Art. But little may you know that this is what my blog It's The Self That Matters is all about. You're not likely to see an entire piece on scientific facts here, because that openly goes against the blog. We are talking about self mattering to us. Facts and science don't care about this. They don't care for who we specifically are. They don't care for what we think about and they don't care for how we feel. My vision of Art is something I enjoy to discuss because it's the nature of both me and this blog. It's my freedom and my right of joy, both of which everyone else can share. I hope all can truly understand this. This time around however, you readers can feel a little grateful because this piece is unlike the others. Let's just say, it's a little more invested. It's a piece signifying the importance of such a beautiful thing, and what it can mean to all of us.
For those who have devoted much of their time to my blog pieces, you would well and truly know by now what Art is all about. If you don't know or you did but happened to forget, I'll briefly share it in a series of small and simple sentences. Art is your everyday amusement. Your code of individuality. Your detailed journey between birth and death. It's the easier things in life that keep you from losing yourself. It's the cage for your pressures. It's the embracing of senses and interest of differences. It's a thing for all to share. It's one half of existence. Art is emotion. Art is passion. Art can be the step towards your aspirations. It's not just the paintings in a gallery. It's not just the songs on a playlist. It's whatever both heart and mind create. It's purely subjective and gives anyone and everyone a voice. It can lead to love. It can lead to pain. It can lead to war. There is no living without it. It's in the blood of each and every one of us. And most importantly, Art brings our image to life (the way we are seen by those around us).
In this piece however, I will be diving a little deeper into the Art pool. My focus is on one thunderous word and its forever-indestructible link to the two-part engine of our lives. That word being 'Creativity'. Us as artists can be separated into two categories, and these two categories share the utmost dependence on how we each look at creativity as a whole. The question is whether we embrace it, or get ourselves involved. Of course we can do both. As a matter of fact, many of us automatically do and there's no getting away from it. But what side do we lean further towards? Do we love and take in the works of others or do we have the hunger to give others a taste of our own? Any reader who leans towards the latter, then this blog piece is perfect for you. Here I come to explain the importance of creativity. I look into how much it matters for some and what is required for one to express it. In the end, you will come to learn that it is so much more than just a ten-letter word.
Creativity isn't only treated as a thing of both beauty and convenience. Most of us take it very seriously. Now before one can deem this as either being ridiculous or over the top, they're to ask themselves these questions. Why is it important for Alexander Graham Bell to be remembered for the invention of the telephone? Why is it important for Thomas Edison to be remembered for the invention of the light bulb? If you were the creator of something extraordinary or life-changing, wouldn't you want to take the credit for your creation? I know for a fact I would. I wouldn't just create something, give it to people and say 'enjoy'. I'd want to be tied to it. It isn't necessarily a case of building a legacy (though that will always be the case). It's more-so the smaller parts that I love. The confirmation of my change for better. It's having people reach out to me and thanking me for a positive impact on their lives. Another way of helping me and making me feel better about myself. Of course I won't lie about wanting to make a profit for it, but that's more due to survival than being rich. Unfortunately though, I am not an entrepreneur nor do I have a mind creative enough for such a role. But I can't blame anyone for wanting to truly be the source of their own material.
Hence why there is such a thing as copyright. It's a case of not sacrificing and wasting quality. To be first in, best dressed and not lose your innovative chance at bringing smiles or inspiring others. Copyrighted material can be anything from registered and trademarked logos to music, fashion, artwork, food and literature. It can even can go as far as human actions and catch phrases. It's all to do with keeping the origin within reach. To have people look back and go 'so that's where this came from'. Because Art embraces both emotion and inspiration, we ourselves like to make sure each other know who or what is to thank for particular creations. The legal system of copyright is too, another opportunity for the givers to connect with their surroundings and share the sentiments of receivers. Believe it or not, there are those of the famous and fortunate that further express their feelings of warmth and appreciation (like their fans) to their fans. It all stems from their unique gifts to the world. The protections and rights of ownership also maintain this throughout a lifetime.
People that accuse others of copying or stealing their work and take them to court, might not look so welcoming on the outside. But deep down, you come to understand how much they care for what they themselves bring into the world. You respect their heart's desire of wanting to be recognised for the sensations that come from their creativity. You see the reason in their hopes of avoiding complete ordinariness. They don't want to become lost in a sea of cheap or plastic imitations that suck the life out of their natural material and render their hard work useless. One can only believe how mentally painful that would be. Which is why I see the need to maintain some relevancy throughout time. Artists having their rights and protecting their ideas is mostly a move of great morality. I say mostly because there will always be that matter of people chasing for nothing but money and greater wealth. Then again, it just depends on the person. We can only ever guess here, but I personally see money-grubbing as something highly improbable given the time and effort one puts into their work. Artistry too is either a joy at first or becomes a growing passion.
The second argument regarding creativity primarily focuses on the process. What classifies as creativity? What does one have to do to claim ownership of their work? How much responsibility do they have? These are actually some pretty significant questions nowadays. We have moved into an era where both controversy and discussion have become elementary. Both the story and messages of artwork are currently more powerful than ever before in contemporary society. And because Art has now gone beyond walls and carved sculptures to include much larger and more sophisticated constructions, the right of possession has taken quite a hit. Some works today are too much for one to complete on their own. This is usually due to the workload or simply not having the right skills or abilities to bring work to life. So artists as a result of this, hire a group of professional people to do the job for them. Thus comes the rise of controversy and why it surrounds the ultimate creator.
Take for instance 'The Skywhale', a hot air balloon designed by Australian contemporary artist Patricia Piccinini as a celebration of Canberra City turning one-hundred. I'm sure many people from Australia and the UK would be familiar with this. I certainly am, having studied about it during my final year of high school. 'The Skywhale' is one of the more controversial works of contemporary art going around this decade. But while being heavily criticised for its grotesque appearance, it's a representation of future, mystery and the unexplored potential of humankind. Prior to creation, Piccinini herself questioned the forever-unknown future of living creatures and whether science would change them (e.g. the whale becoming a creature of the sky). She also went on to describe the sight of hot air balloons as 'auspicious' (having experienced this whilst living in a Melbourne apartment) and wanted to replicate that emotion through her work with a hot air balloon of her own. Piccinini designed 'The Skywhale' with the hope of it 'floating into our lives' like any other balloon.
Just by looking at the large and unique work of art, one is to expect that the construction wasn't undertaken by a single set of hands. And this was the case, with Piccinini having instead hired a team of workers to put the balloon together. According to multiple sources, 'The Skywhale' took approximately 7 months to complete, with 16 people applying around 3 million stitches to 3.5 kilometres of fabric. For one person (excluding any factors or variables), this would take roughly nine and a half years with little to no breaks (maybe longer). So one couldn't possibly condemn Piccinini for not having proper involvement in the making process. With a burning desire, a favourable idea and access to the materials and right people, the project was never out of her reach. More importantly, it was a project that originated from her thoughts and it was one that she piloted from start to finish. Also considering that 'The Skywhale' resembles many of her other works as well. The designer is rightfully at the front.
My view extends to artists in general. I believe that it's vital for all to consider the significant role any mind plays in the journey of an art piece. Art often begins as an idea from scratch. It's an idea that one brings forth through personal interest. It's an idea the creator knows more about than anybody else. The argument of any artist not being an artist when they pay others to apply certain practices and bring work to reality, disregards what's arguably the ultimate foundation of human expression. It's like throwing away the plan before starting the next step. One's then left not knowing what to do. This is why I consider the conception of ideas of greater value than the practical stage. British contemporary artist Damien Hirst, best summed it up for me by once referring to architects and how they never get scrutinised for not making their own buildings. He wasn't wrong there. So to anyone questioning an artist's ownership of their abstract ideas when they hire others for production, I encourage you to think carefully about this. When I say 'Art is whatever the mind creates', I really mean it.
This isn't saying however that hired assistants shouldn't receive acknowledgement and credit for their service. As a matter of fact, I see this as an absolute must for each and every artist. While conceptual art gives birth to the idea, the hands-on procedure is pretty much the time of nurturing. It's a stage in creation when workers can influence the designer on making certain modifications. It's a stage when the designer can learn something new and unfamiliar to them. It's a last chance for any additional details that meet the designer's satisfaction, to be included in the making process. Without the helping hands of paid workers and their role in bringing the big artworks to life, the artist may never be guaranteed the ideal results. They will very likely not see the problems in front of them or the small improvements that can be made. Sometimes help can be useful even when the work doesn't require it. All leaders and drivers of art need a little guidance at times.
So there you have it. There is a lot of joy in creativity, but there is also a lot of care in it as well. Innovative ideas are so many but all hold so much value. You want to be first with yours. You want to ensure you are tied to it. You want to stand out and consider all avenues that see your work come out in the best quality possible. The level of seriousness for Art is sound. Ownership means everything to creators as it's their very own footprint in life. It's their positive influence on people and their road to rewards. So fighting to maintain artistic identities is an honourable act, even when the approaches don't make it seem that way. Ownership also derives from a creative mind. It comes from a concept never seen before. A concept that awaits the first person to make it real. And that concept is a blood connection. So ownership of creativity never loses its value, regardless of how many people are involved in the journey from paper to reality. Long story short, Art is precious. So let's not see it wasted!
Travis "TJ" James
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