Reading the Futurism manifesto
I have been considering creating my own art movement due to having many discussions with fellow students about ideas relating to art and our views on the world.
in accordance with this, I read some writings related to the arts and crafts movement and the futurism manifesto. Which was very different to what I anticipated.
It read like a villain's monologue.
Explicitly saying they want to glorify death, violence, destruction.
worship all things male, and to hate that which is womanly.
It goes on: Art is fueled by pain and hate. Nourished by agony. To glorify steam and speed, man’s conquest over nature To hate museums and all things which came before. In an endless cycle, it all must continually be destroyed and created, not preserved infinitely. Otherwise museums become graveyards.
I think it’s a bit ridiculous and a dark perversion of some of my positive values. It doesn’t respect women enough and does not acknowledge their place (Interesting that Julius Evola despite being quite clear on his opinions, made art for this movement).
While I do not believe man should live forever, nor his things be immune to change and decay. I take this as Sort of god’s plan, and that it’s an inevitable tragedy. Not something to cheer.
And glorifying speed? I have to say. While I enjoy some element of movement. I don’t want full speed. I want a balance between order and chaos. Maybe even on the side of stillness nowadays. There is a beauty in stillness. Of things which can weather the storms of time and survive year in year out.
It even loves the idea that they themselves will be destroyed. And loves the idea that the next artists to replace them and burn down their museums will themselves kill them by plunging swords through their hearts. Eyes filled with hatred and respect for their opponents. In a flurry of pure human passion.
in accordance with this, I read some writings related to the arts and crafts movement and the futurism manifesto. Which was very different to what I anticipated.
It read like a villain's monologue.
Explicitly saying they want to glorify death, violence, destruction.
worship all things male, and to hate that which is womanly.
It goes on: Art is fueled by pain and hate. Nourished by agony. To glorify steam and speed, man’s conquest over nature To hate museums and all things which came before. In an endless cycle, it all must continually be destroyed and created, not preserved infinitely. Otherwise museums become graveyards.
I think it’s a bit ridiculous and a dark perversion of some of my positive values. It doesn’t respect women enough and does not acknowledge their place (Interesting that Julius Evola despite being quite clear on his opinions, made art for this movement).
While I do not believe man should live forever, nor his things be immune to change and decay. I take this as Sort of god’s plan, and that it’s an inevitable tragedy. Not something to cheer.
And glorifying speed? I have to say. While I enjoy some element of movement. I don’t want full speed. I want a balance between order and chaos. Maybe even on the side of stillness nowadays. There is a beauty in stillness. Of things which can weather the storms of time and survive year in year out.
It even loves the idea that they themselves will be destroyed. And loves the idea that the next artists to replace them and burn down their museums will themselves kill them by plunging swords through their hearts. Eyes filled with hatred and respect for their opponents. In a flurry of pure human passion.
my reaction in greater detail
Although as Arthur Von Schopenhauer says, I do agree the default state of the universe is cruel, harsh and cold.
I do not love misery.
I do not love violence.
While Sure, In any warm blooded guy, there is violence. Intensely so. One cannot blindly celebrate it
There is often violence in my art now that I think about it. But I don’t think in any of my paintings has it depicted as very positive In fact the abortion and the Bosch one have in common an ambiguity about it
I can think of nothing more scary than fighting with an uncertainty in your heart And if you were honest, you’d always be uncertain
and to where did this mentality within futurism lead? Well, if we look at it’s consequences. It was linked to the rise of fascism in Italy And was an art movement of that whole period.
I think now that I think of it that it’s been a sort of reoccurring dreamlike nightmare of mine Which is to take a life or do something else destructive and harsh, while feeing vindicated and righteous at the time. To completely and utterly disagree with it later on To hear other people say “wow, can you believe that happen? How horrible” and to feel intense shame Then to reveal myself just out of the shame of not being able to live with what I've done.
I think that’s something so many people in our age struggle with We all have a fire within us still, and it’s just as alive as ever. But we’ve become so self critical and self doubting we second guess our selves into a stillness Less caused by lack of movement, but more by heavy forces pushing both ways equally.
I do not love misery.
I do not love violence.
While Sure, In any warm blooded guy, there is violence. Intensely so. One cannot blindly celebrate it
There is often violence in my art now that I think about it. But I don’t think in any of my paintings has it depicted as very positive In fact the abortion and the Bosch one have in common an ambiguity about it
I can think of nothing more scary than fighting with an uncertainty in your heart And if you were honest, you’d always be uncertain
and to where did this mentality within futurism lead? Well, if we look at it’s consequences. It was linked to the rise of fascism in Italy And was an art movement of that whole period.
I think now that I think of it that it’s been a sort of reoccurring dreamlike nightmare of mine Which is to take a life or do something else destructive and harsh, while feeing vindicated and righteous at the time. To completely and utterly disagree with it later on To hear other people say “wow, can you believe that happen? How horrible” and to feel intense shame Then to reveal myself just out of the shame of not being able to live with what I've done.
I think that’s something so many people in our age struggle with We all have a fire within us still, and it’s just as alive as ever. But we’ve become so self critical and self doubting we second guess our selves into a stillness Less caused by lack of movement, but more by heavy forces pushing both ways equally.
Piet Mondrian
One artist I looked a bit into for this task was Piet Mondrian since he is counted as being avant-Garde. And the music by scot walker is also often considered Avant-Garde. so I felt it appropriate to cross-pollinate the two.
Scott Walker's music being European and American in origin, the song in question being Mathilde, being a cover of a French original which was in a baroque-pop style. Scott walker himself is considered British-American. So I thought I'd limit myself to the continents of Europe and North America.
Artists I've drawn inspiration from are Andy Warhol, Hieronymus Bosch, Kazimir Malevich, Edvard Munch, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Julius Evola
Scott Walker's music being European and American in origin, the song in question being Mathilde, being a cover of a French original which was in a baroque-pop style. Scott walker himself is considered British-American. So I thought I'd limit myself to the continents of Europe and North America.
Artists I've drawn inspiration from are Andy Warhol, Hieronymus Bosch, Kazimir Malevich, Edvard Munch, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Julius Evola















