Living in the Empire
I am not sure why I enjoy so much those boring ancient history documentaries about the early Mesopotamian civilizations. I really enjoy watching those shows while I’m in the studio sculpting and painting. I try to understand human behavior through the history of these people and at the same time I try to picture myself during that time. How would it look like if I was living in the empire? There was a group of people making sure that their king was obeyed, feared, honored, venerated, and pleased. The king was the target of hate and could at any time be killed by enemies or by people in the kingdom seeking power or revenge. Society itself moved accordingly risking their lives every minute. At the same time they had to fear the possibility of war with outsiders. Life was very uncertain no matter your position in that time. It was not only one generation but the things that were going on for thousands of years.
I’ve been reading the book of Daniel in the Bible lately as well. Daniel lived during the times when Babylon became the capital under the kingship of Nebuchadnezzar. King Nebuchadnezzar is attributed with one of the long gone wonders of the world, The Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the siege of Jerusalem in 597 BC. Daniel was taken to Babylon during that time. Although Daniel was a captive he served a few of the kings during his lifetime according to the Bible and did it respectfully and successfully. He was well respected by the kings and hated by his counterparts. I try to imagine being in a position like that. It reminds me of one of my favorite stories of the Bible with lots of parallels to it: the story of Joseph, the king of dreams. Joseph was also a stranger in the land of Egypt and became very respected in a high position of authority. As Daniel, Joseph was not only good at what he did but also faithful and honorable. The best part is that none of them surrendered their values and their love of God even though they were living in the empire.
I don’t think society changed that much since. Many things that made Mesopotamia the cradle of civilization are still alive today. History is a continuum and everything is somehow interconnected. I don’t think humans changed at all since besides the obvious cultural differences and technological advances. Human character and behavior doesn’t seem different to me from that time to ours. Some people want power and they do whatever they need to do to get it and keep it. There are wars. People kill, steal, fight, take sides, become victims of power struggles, and try living until it is their time. Religious hate is no different either. People in power use religion to control others, while others use religion to hold on to life and afterwards. If you ask me, I would like to live in this empire we live today like Daniel and Joseph did. I want to hold on to my values and be faithful, respectful, and honorable. Needless to say, I am also a stranger in the land.
In previous posts I argue the importance for artists to develop their career based on their values and not based on comparisons with other artists and quantitative measures. The values that define you as a person will define you as an artist. You can’t separate those two. That is a start. If you know who you are and what is important to you, then your work and your choices will show it too.
Many new and aspiring artists ask where to begin an art career. To answer the question I have to wear my instructional designer’s hat. I can’t offer you an informed suggestion without performing an analysis. It bothers me when someone offers a solution to a problem without knowing the situation, the context, the art, or the artist. Every context is different and every artist is different. What works in one town might not work in the next. Art is subjective. There would be people who love what you do and there would be people who hate it. It is part of the nature of art.
Where Your Treasure Is
It is healthy to perform an evaluation of our motives in the things we do and what we want to accomplish. Humans have the capacity to align their behaviors based on their goals and behave accordingly. Our goals are informed by our values and how we measure success in our lives. Those same goals will determine our view in life and how we conduct ourselves with others.
Our society sadly measures a successful life based on money. It only takes one quick look at all those wealthy celebrities who are suffering illnesses, depression, depending on medications and illegal drugs, and even taking their own lives. I might sound like a credit card commercial but indeed there are many things money can’t buy.
I personally believe that relationships are more important than things. I believe that touching other people with my art and when I teach is more important than getting paid (that doesn’t mean I work for free or give away my art). Making a difference in someone’s life is more important to me than money or recognition. Connections with people are more important to me than selling many pieces of art. Yes, selling art is nice. It is my job, as it is teaching, but money can’t be the focus of what I do.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:21