the meaning of creating art
When we ‘see’ a landscape, we situate ourselves in it. If we ‘saw’ the art of the past, we would situate ourselves in history. When we are prevented from seeing it, we are being deprived of the history which belongs to us. Who benefits from this deprivation? In the end, the art of the past is being mystified because a privileged minority is
... See moreJohn Berger • Ways of Seeing
To love the amateur is also to go beyond comparison with the professional and instead to better grasp what it means to function on limited means, little power and often alack of external appreciation. It is to see what emerges to sustain love: gritty determination, dedicated hours of work, banter,playful experimentation, attention to detail,clever
... See moreWhy love the amateur? The more typical framing of these two terms ‘love’ and ‘amateur’ is reversed.Amateurs are lovers, who love the world of activity they have chosen despite the lack of monetary reward.
If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself, tell yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches; for to the creator there is no poverty and no poor indifferent place.
Rainer Maria Rilke • Letters to a Young Poet
