Inspired vs. Commercial

Last night I watched Music and Lyrics with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore as I stuffed and sealed envelopes. I figured it was a good background film, one that I didn’t need to pay all that much attention to. It surprised me with some witty dialogue and a plot revolving around an artist’s struggle to conform to commercial interests or fight for the better song — the “right” song in the words of Barrymore’s character.

Hugh Grant’s character leans towards making a living as ’80s pop band has-been. Drew Barrymore’s character gave up on her writing after being maligned in a novel by a former professor, but she retains an ideal of artistic integrity. When it comes to their art, most artists I’ve known personally — those who are painters and sculptors — hold dear this ideal. They shouldn’t make artwork that other people like; the viewers should like what they make.

When it comes to my own ceramic creations and mixed media sculpture I create whatever it is I like to create. This is what’s natural when I’m in the studio. I don’t think about the fact that I’m affirming the aforementioned ideal.

When it comes to my fervent interest in architecture I freely acknowledge the importance of the client. Architecture is no less of a tactile art, but serves a different and obviously functional purpose that modern visual art does not. Even so, one of my favorite quotes is attributed to the French architect Le Corbusier: “Treat your clients like children.”

While this saying, taken by itself, comes across as more than a little obnoxious, it holds some truth. The architect, and likewise the painter or potter, is (hopefully) good at what he or she does. Every person has knowledge in their respective field worthy of respect. Looking upon one’s clients as children does not necessarily mean you summarily ignore there interests and input. In a healthy family, parents will love their children and respect their opinions — even if the opinions are discarded in the end. The loving parent wants the best for their child.

I’ve no idea where these two examples, my interest in sculpture and my interest in architecture, come together in the realm of an artistic ideal. Perhaps they don’t. A painting is a much more static object than a building, though no less important in an artistic sense. Part of why I’m so drawn to architecture is the need to engage so many different disciplines — I’ve said this before on this blog — in order to do it well. People must interact with a building, even if it’s in a completely utilitarian and unobservant manner. A sculpture or painting is, frankly, much easier to ignore.

I need to think on this a little more.