"art for the real world"

Oct 3, 2009

[“Portfolio Number One”, hanging in a collector’s office in Germany.]

I’ve been playing around with this line a lot recently: “Art For The Real World”.

I’m interested in how art affects what some people call “The Real World”- the workplace, the world of work, the world of business. That’s what the Cube Grenade idea is all about.

My advertising buddy, Vinny Warren, grew up in a Roman Catholic household in Ireland. He was telling me that his parents would always have a few religious icons hanging on the wall somewhere. Pictures of Saints, Mary & Baby Jesus, that kind of thing.

Why? Says Vinny, “To remind us who we were.”

Art that reminds you who you are. Exactly. What applies in Catholic households also applies in places of business. Shared Meaning. Exactly. Social Objects. Exactly.

I don’t think any of this is rocket science…

[Update:] John leaves a good comment below:

I think surrounding ourselves with icons, art, books and such to remind ourselves of who we are, where we have been and where we hope to go is essential to keeping our hearts alive. It is too easy to lose our way. My office is full of these things.

[Backstory: About Hugh. E-mail Hugh. Work with Hugh. Twitter. Cartoon Archive. Newsletter. Book.. Interview One. Interview Two. EVIL PLANS. Limited Edition Prints. Essential Reading: “Everything You Always Wanted To Know About ‘Cube Grenades’ But Were Afraid To Ask.”]

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John

15 years ago

I think surrounding ourselves with icons, art, books and such to remind ourselves of who we are, where we have been and where we hope to go is essential to keeping our hearts alive. It is too easy to lose our way. My office is full of these things. Good thoughts!

meg

15 years ago

I wonder what it says about a person who doesn’t have any art around to remind themselves who they are? I know people who have no art, no music, no books they call their own. One woman even told me she didn’t like music.

I love to buy art. I love to create art. I have a pretty decent collection on my walls.

I’ve taken it upon myself to “rescue” art too. Some of it I found propped up against dumpsters, or at tag sales. Not massed produced stuff from Home Depot–but stuff with the artist’s biz card on back. Sometimes I can find the artist on the web. I want to know a bit about the person who put some of themselves on paper or canvas.

Sometimes I think as an artist that if I ever sell anything I’d want to know something about the person who wants my work. It’s an interesting form of communication–to give and receive art.

vinny warren

15 years ago

thanks for the mention hugh! agree with john. to keep the heart alive. brilliant.

john

15 years ago

Reply to vinny warren

Hugh & Vinny, I thought about this post writing a blog the other day: http://consbio.org/cbi-blog/keeping-a-sense-of-wonder. While they help, I find I have to do things, like stare at the moon with my son, to remind me of why I am on this journey. I was surprised at how much “experiencing” something brought me back to center. I sat down at my desk the next day and my work “icons” and art seemed to have regained their power over my heart like charging glow in the dark stars.

P.S. thanks for the update. It was a kind surprise.

Alexander Oun

14 years ago

Which is definitely pretty essential for what I’m appear at now, thanks a bunch.

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