The Perils of Speaking Your Truth
Can you imagine creating art that couldn't be shown? Can you imagine creating art that if seen could land you in jail? Can you imagine having to stifle your creativity because it's seen as a form of treason? What would your art be like if you didn't have the First Amendment?
I recently went to a lecture that outlined the impact of politics on art in China. The bottom line is that work that is anti-government or might shatter the illusions of the government are not permitted. The artists in China who are speaking their truth through their creativity do not speak about their work. They create is and allow someone else to offer the interpretation. This allows them to get their message out without being a threat to the government or "the party".
Liu Wei has an exhibit at the Curtis Center that tackles the atrocities that happened in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989. On June 4, 2005 he went to Peking University to see if he could get students to comment on the anniversary of the uprising. Many of the students didn't see the day as having an special significance. Others knew what he was talking about but wouldn't comment. Those who would comment wouldn't do so as long as the video camera was still present.
There is a video installation that commemorates five of those murdered in the uprising. His dedication to keeping the memory of these people alive is courageous and shows his integrity to the truth. He utilizes Braille to avoid speaking the names of those who were killed maintaining the silence of the topic.
It's hard to believe for those of us born and raised in the United States that we wouldn't be able to discuss our art. It's even harder to imagine that our art would be considered contraband. Of course we can look at the controversy over the Robert Mapplethorpe exhibit. It wasn't that long ago and that in and of itself is scary.
What does your art say about you? What does it say about the state of our country or the world? What do you still need to say and how will you say it?
Speak your truth...
Greg
coaching artists to success
I recently went to a lecture that outlined the impact of politics on art in China. The bottom line is that work that is anti-government or might shatter the illusions of the government are not permitted. The artists in China who are speaking their truth through their creativity do not speak about their work. They create is and allow someone else to offer the interpretation. This allows them to get their message out without being a threat to the government or "the party".
Liu Wei has an exhibit at the Curtis Center that tackles the atrocities that happened in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989. On June 4, 2005 he went to Peking University to see if he could get students to comment on the anniversary of the uprising. Many of the students didn't see the day as having an special significance. Others knew what he was talking about but wouldn't comment. Those who would comment wouldn't do so as long as the video camera was still present.
There is a video installation that commemorates five of those murdered in the uprising. His dedication to keeping the memory of these people alive is courageous and shows his integrity to the truth. He utilizes Braille to avoid speaking the names of those who were killed maintaining the silence of the topic.
It's hard to believe for those of us born and raised in the United States that we wouldn't be able to discuss our art. It's even harder to imagine that our art would be considered contraband. Of course we can look at the controversy over the Robert Mapplethorpe exhibit. It wasn't that long ago and that in and of itself is scary.
What does your art say about you? What does it say about the state of our country or the world? What do you still need to say and how will you say it?
Speak your truth...
Greg
coaching artists to success
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