Philosophy
“What is Art? It is the response of man’s creative soul to the call of the real.”
– Rabindranath Tagore
“All art is quite useless… Art is useless because its aim is simply to create a mood. It is not meant to instruct, or to influence action in any way. It is superbly sterile, and the note of its pleasure is sterility. If the contemplation of a work of art is followed by activity of any kind, the work is either of a very second-rate order, or the spectator has failed to realise the complete artistic impression… ”
— Oscar Wilde
Why art is important? We believe that contemporary art has a significant role in our society as a platform for free expression.*
Currently, artists and cultural practitioners, rather than politicians, are driving some of the crucial discussions about the state of the world. Contemporary artists challenge us to reinterpret social, economic, and political events and question firmly held beliefs and dominant narratives promoted by those in power. These conversations can only be meaningful if they consider contextual history, societal and economic changes over time, geographical influences, contemporary attitudes, and potential future outcomes. During these discussions, it is difficult to overlook the impact of seemingly random and unpredictable forces around us.
For instance, consider a simple occurrence on a typical afternoon. Imagine you have just finished gardening and are resting on a comfortable recliner when you notice a small distinctive patch of soil on your living room floor. This might seem like a trivial matter. However, a curious mind might not easily give up on asking some (in?)significant philosophical questions.
How did the soil end up here? Where did it originate from? What properties does it possess? Why do the soil particles have the specific properties that they possess? What was their purpose? Are the soil particles homogenous or do they have individual characteristics that make them unique? Are some soil particles “better” than others? If so, how are they deemed better, who determines this, and why? Where will they go after they are cleaned up and discarded? What will be their journey in the future?
A scientifically inclined individual might even take the time and effort to analyse the texture, structure, size, color, consistency, visibility, water-holding ability, fertility, chemical activity, and other factors of the soil, which could potentially reveal a wealth of information about it. The seemingly mundane patch of soil might now have its own intriguing story to tell us.
We invite you to join us on our journey as we uncover a small portion of the cosmic intelligence hidden within everyday chaos.
