Joan Miró: A Kitten Life Review
A couple of years ago I took a giant leap of faith and packed my bags to move from Montreal, a city with a special place in my heart, to the warm and vibrant city of Barcelona. On one of my many visits to the Catalan city before my move, I visited the Fundacio Joan Miró and was completely blown away by how Miró’s work made me feel about creation & staying inspired. As soon as I made my permanent move to the city, and these thoughts continued to run through my mind and body, I knew I had to record them.
I guest posted about this on The Kitten Life, a blog by two of my favourite kittens Chloe Cotter & Nicole Durocher on all things groovy. You can read an excerpt of this post below.
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“There is something powerful about one of the most influential artists of the 20th century rejecting virtually anything that would put him in a box, right from the beginning of his career.
He professed a desire to find a new way of making art, and he found it. When working in any creative field, particularly at the beginning of one’s career, it is all too easy to look for inspiration and artistic growth in other, successful people.
Writers want to emulate famous authors’ styles. Photographers scour the internet looking for inspiring images, made by other artists. Painters go to art school and learn about major artistic traditions. And of course they do! Because these successful creatives are talented and inspiring. Indeed, a certain amount of personal development can come from observation. However, it is more important to prioritize paving your own way, as Miró did. Imitation almost never works if the style you are working with does not flow naturally from within you.
Focus on developing what makes you unique, what tumbles out from you naturally. That is where you will find your artistic strength.
One of Miró’s main goals was to produce art that connected with the everyone; he rejected what he considered to be elitist. Instead, he sought to connect with the masses. He wanted to create things that evoked emotions common to everyone’s experiences. He did not create art for art’s sake, so to speak, but art for the people.
One of the most powerful things one can do as an artist [of any kind] is connect with people’s emotions.
If an artist focuses on expressing their true likeness through their work, their most raw and intimate emotions will be revealed. Raw emotions are universal, and therefore the work in question will resonate with many. Art has to be created with an open mind for it to truly be considered art, after all. Open to other’s emotions, open to other’s experiences, open to other’s interpretations. Art should be created with the knowledge that no individual will perceive it in the same way. This is what gives art life and longevity.
Joan Miró’s work is incredible. As one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, a legacy of artistic inspiration stemming from his work remains strong. However, considering his thoughts, philosophies and processes can act as an even richer source of inspiration for those with artistic pursuits today. The same can be said for any great artist. Rather than focusing on the fruits of their labor, their masterpieces - which are without a doubt impressive - focus on the mindset that guided them to their success. Use this to help you reflect on what will lead you to your own.”
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You can read the full post here.
Graphic by Nicole Durocher.
