Necessity of art – post Covid: 6

The only redemptive activity we possess, other than directly helping others, is within cultural creativity – specifically, creations of the imagination concerned with the human condition, capable of transforming inaction into action, despair into hope, the mundane into beauty, all to share with our brothers and sisters everywhere.

…a short film about…

An artist’s work helps others to realise that we are like them, that we too, across race, religion, generations and languages, can see and touch each other’s souls through beauty – but for beauty to exist it must embody truth.

This is the crux of beauty and perhaps its very heart. If artists persistently explore life, the world around them and themselves, if they continue to be curious, continue to taunt themselves with dreams and nightmare and are persistent in shouting ‘no’ to the powers that be, their explorations may grasp the great depth of the human soul and at the same time discover stories and forms that can present that depth with all the subtlety with which truth needs to be revealed.

The Rapid Transition Alliance’s Art of Rapid Transition group examines how culture contributes to a sustainable future. The Rapid Transition Alliance looks at art and culture within our own remit, and considers how the very act of cultural creativity is not only a glorious, low impact alternative to passive overconsumption, but massively better for our individual and collective wellbeing. One of our members, photographer and filmmaker Robert Golden (This Good Earth is his stunning latest work) writes here about the redemptive nature of art and the role of artists during the global pandemic. He also shares a beautiful and reflective film.

This commentary was first published on R.J.Golden website and you can can access the full version here.