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Monday, August 10, 2020

The Essence of Art in Human Existence


"The light at the end of the dark tunnel". Original photograph by EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima. 2019. All rights reserved.

A world without Art is like a life without a spirit;
Like a soul without a heart.
Like an egg without the yolk.
Art is the essence of human existence that begun from creation and continues in the evolution of life in the universe.
- EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima,
https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima
You have heard such phrases like "a heartless soul!" and "there is no spirit in him".  So that is what a society that does not appreciate art becomes.
The brutish man or woman does not read and is not cultured in the ethical standards of modern civilisation.


The present generation of Nigerian youths are ruled by philistinism. They may lie to you that they appreciate art, because they love entertainment with the glitz and razzmatazz of the celebrities. But their crass materialism shows when you observe the kinds of entertainment they like to enjoy like beasts of bacchanalia enraptured by orgiastic rites.
They abhor dignity, integrity and nobility of life.
They prefer lifestyles of antics without ethics like the corrupt Nigerian politicians they emulate in their dog eat dog pursuits of the creature comforts and titular status symbols of the society without ethical principles and without scruples.

The most advanced countries in the world are the leaders in the appreciation of art in their homes, offices, institutions and public places; from Japan to the United States of America; from Germany to Switzerland and all the wealthiest nations with the highest Human Development Index (HDI) scores. They appreciate human life and the most important values and virtues of life which are what Almighty God has defined as written in Philippians 4:8:
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think on these things." And also illustrated by our Lord JESUS Christ in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-11 of the Holy Bible.

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.


PS: The first sentence was what I said to a friend in the dream I had before 4.12am today about an art exhibition he curated on my behalf in Lagos, Nigeria when he told me they had an intellectual debate on Art as we discussed the reception and attendance.



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