If you look at sun rise above the sea you may be awed by the way in which it appears. The rising light is welcomed by singing birds. The heavens are divided into dawning light and retreating darkness, just before a spot of light reveals the its immediate birth. It simply rises into being. We take its generosity and life cycle for granted, but the actual coming into appearance is beyond our reach - it is a marvel of ever repeating power, an act of grace and a gift of the Gods given to man.

How is a piece of art, how is an artist born?

The birth of an artistic expression is similar to the rising sun. The realisation of creative potential in a piece of art awakens the artist’s sensation that through his deed something new has come into being. A creative act is at the same time an imagination of the birth of the ego. The individualisation of the artist’s expressive language shows us the world in new light, in such a way as we have never seen before. A piece of art expresses something distinctly human. The intimate individualisation becomes a common good.

Hard work is often part of the path towards unfolding, a path through the darkness of seeking, of finding, of approaching and losing one's way. Sometimes it is like a present and grace shows itself in the experienced condensation: it wasn’t there before and now it is so familiar, individual and convincing that it even begins to reveal itself to others. 

What kind of a mystery is there behind the creative act? What kind of beings would we be, if we were not allowed to unfold this gift of creative potential in freedom without having to aim at a particular goal? What inner necessity is at work in these processes?

The morning sessions of each of the three days of the section conference „Sources of Art“, were filled by artists contributing telling us about the path he or she has been following. Marianne Wachberger, Hannes Weigert and Alexander Schaumann  told us about their artistic development. They showed slides and some original pieces of their art. The Introduction led to conversations in smaller groups and then we gathered in plenum for an exchange with the artists. Three painters, three biographical designs, three creative methods of how to approach the creation if an individual painting. 

Hannes Weigert began the exposition of his work with the word ‚I‘. In this way he opened the door so that we could look at the world in new and different way. He showed that the hard work he invested in developing a variety of possibilities led to the realisation of something that was coming into being, which had its source in the ‚I’-Being. Art is a realm of life in which we can learn about these processes and practice to realise them. 

Alexander Schaumann described how he as a painter used artistic methods which he acknowledged as effective realities. This shows him on a path towards amalgamating painting with these forces by using the methods he had discovered. 

Marianne Wachberger’s artistic approach shows us that the completion of a piece of art is strongly adhered to the encounter with other people, and how in the community the capacities of the single person can be enhanced. She drew attention to the inspiring support which her surroundings gave her, enabling her to give expression her own work as well as being able to accept other artistic intentions.

The way of working of these three painters started to flower because of the unconditional interest of those participating in the conference. 

Everybody participated by intimately following the demonstrations. The window towards man’s creativity and freedom in striving began to gain strength through intensive listening, keen eyes and fruitful conversations.  

Jasminka Bogdanovic

Jasminka Bogdanovic, Paitner, eurythmist and consultant. <link https: bogdanovic.ch>www.bogdanovic.ch