Why Art matters | Roland Augustine | TEDxDanubia

Summary

The speaker shares a profound experience with Colombian artist Beatriz González, whose work confronts Colombia's civil war and violence. González's art, reminiscent of ancient cave paintings, covers a Bogota cemetery, symbolizing the countless victims. The speaker reflects on art's relevance, its power to evoke emotion, and its role in societal reflection and critique. They discuss the impact of commercialization on art's message and the importance of engaging with art to confront reality and challenge societal norms.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The artist Beatriz González uses her work to lament the violence and civil war in Colombia, drawing parallels between her art and the earliest known cave paintings.
• 🏛 González created a memorial in Bogota's central cemetery, covering empty niches with images that resemble primitive art, reflecting on the thousands of victims of Colombia's civil war.
• 🤔 The speaker questions the relevance of art today, pondering its impact on society's civility, humanity, and safety.
• 🖼 Art serves as a medium for storytelling, allowing artists to express and share narratives that resonate with viewers and provoke thought.
• 🔄 Repetition in art is crucial for reinforcing messages and imprinting them on our minds, as demonstrated by González's memorial and historical works like Goya's and Picasso's.
• 🌟 Art can be a powerful tool for confronting harsh realities and challenging societal norms, as seen in the works of Dora Salcedo and Christophe Buélle.
• 💰 The commercialization of art threatens its essence, as the focus shifts from the artist's message to the art's monetary and entertainment value.
• 🏛 Museums are bustling, but the experience of art is being compromised by the lack of quiet contemplation and the dominance of money and status in the art world.
• ⏳ Art requires time and attention, and in a fast-paced society, we must slow down to truly engage with and appreciate its depth.
• 🌐 Art transcends boundaries of race, class, gender, and nationality, encouraging us to look beyond our limitations and prejudices.
• 🚢 The artist's role is to challenge the status quo and societal complacency, as exemplified by Beatriz González's impactful memorial and the legacy of Robert Frost.

Q & A

What is the main subject of Beatriz Gonzalez's artwork?

Beatriz Gonzalez's artwork primarily focuses on Colombia's long history of civil war, corruption, and drug trafficking, lamenting the unending violence in her country.

What did the narrator find striking about Beatriz's drawings based on newspaper photographs?

The narrator was struck by the resemblance of Beatriz's drawings to the earliest known art, such as the Lascaux cave paintings in France, which are almost 20,000 years old.

What was the unexpected artwork that Beatriz created in the central cemetery of Bogota?

The unexpected artwork created by Beatriz in the central cemetery of Bogota was covering each empty niche in a section of mausoleums, once housing the remains of over 9,000 people, with images she created using a simple, almost childlike pictorial language.

Why is art relevant today according to the narrator?

According to the narrator, art is relevant today because it allows artists to tell their stories and our stories, reminding us of past mistakes and prompting us to confront reality.

What is the name of Beatriz's memorial in the central cemetery of Bogota?

Beatriz's memorial in the central cemetery of Bogota is called 'Eros Anonymous' or 'Anonymous Auras'.

How does the narrator feel about the commercialization of art?

The narrator expresses concern about the commercialization of art, fearing that the language of art is being marginalized and subsumed by its entertainment and asset value.

What is the significance of Francisco Goya's painting 'The 3rd of May' to Beatriz Gonzalez?

Beatriz Gonzalez considers Francisco Goya, particularly his painting 'The 3rd of May,' as a significant influence and kindred spirit, as he also depicted violence in his artwork.

What is the impact of revisiting 'Guernica' on the narrator?

Revisiting 'Guernica' helps the narrator confront the reality of war and violence, making them feel less numb to the ongoing issues in the world.

What does the narrator believe is the role of art in society?

The narrator believes that art helps us look squarely into human failure, serving as a mirror to society's issues and prompting reflection and change.

What is the narrator's concern about the current state of art appreciation?

The narrator is concerned that the experience of art has been compromised due to a diminishing attention span and the focus on entertainment value over the message the artist is conveying.

How does the narrator relate President Kennedy's eulogy of Robert Frost to the role of artists?

The narrator relates President Kennedy's eulogy of Robert Frost to the role of artists by highlighting how artists, like Frost, bring an instinct for reality and challenge society against self-deception and easy consolation.