The importance of art in our daily lives |29 December 2017
“It is not enough for us to just eat, sleep and procreate” – George Camille
2017 saw a number of milestones achieved within the Seychelles Art industry. The most prominent among these being the ‘Seychelles Biennale of Contemporary Art’ and the ‘4th Affordable Arterial Fair’ organised by the Arterial Network Seychelles this November; followed by the launch of a coffee table Art book entitled ‘Art in Seychelles – Then and Now’ authored by Martin Kennedy, showcasing the history of art in Seychelles as well as work from a number of local artists.
As 2018 begins, so have new plans for further art projects. Chairperson of Arterial Network Seychelles, George Camille, spoke to the Seychelles NATION about the important role that art plays in our daily lives and the plans that lay ahead for its development in the coming year.
‘Art’ is usually associated with paintings or sculptures in museums and galleries, but according to George, every decision we make is influenced by the creative process necessary in art, such as how we present ourselves to the world through what we wear or how we decorate our homes. However, art in its various forms are mediums through which people learn to make more informed visual decisions and therefore surround themselves with a more aesthetically-pleasing environment.
He notes that the Affordable Arterial Fair placed emphasis on young and upcoming artists and this enables the youth and their parents to see the benefits of art as a career.
“Not only can it provide you with the chance of being self-employed and to earn a living, but it also provides you with a high-profile, respected career, as long as you have the proper framework,” says George.
He continues by saying that humans need to be continuously entertained and therefore we need constant stimulus for our different senses, including sight. This essentially means that “it is not enough for us to just eat, sleep and procreate”, exclaims George. This is why people read, watch movies and travel, as we need the constant visual stimulus.
A lack of stimulus can actually be quite dangerous, warns George. He explains that it can be easy to turn to substance abuse for the escape or stimulation we are seeking when we are bored. Yet, it has been proven by art therapists that art can actually help to resolve and/or prevent addictions as well as other social issues.
George feels that more emphasis on art and its various forms is required in Seychelles as this could be one of the ways to help resolve some of the current social problems. He recounts his experience during his award-winning Seychelles Biennale project where he worked with 8 ex-addicts once a week, bringing them to his art studio to draw and paint, essentially giving them a productive and stimulating experience.
“They enjoyed it and always looked forward to coming again. I also made them do lots of portraits which enabled them to see themselves in a different light. Such an activity can form part of therapy for treating addiction,” says George.
When asked what 2018 holds for art enthusiasts in Seychelles, George reveals that apart from working on the next Venice Biennale for 2019 as he has been selected as part of his awards for winning the recent Seychelles Biennale, he is planning his first solo exhibition in Seychelles for almost ten years which he says will be accompanied by a comprehensive catalogue. The plan is also to ensure that the Arterial Network builds on the success of 2017 and hopefully this will include the launching of a second art book.
He remarks that the 1st edition of the book showcased very little work from young people and he hopes that there will be more funding available in the future, allowing the chance to offer grants to young graduates from SIAD and encourage them to take up art on a full time basis.
George also hopes that 2018 will bring about a collective momentum for the arts and more art exchanges between Seychelles and other countries, including more African artists coming to Seychelles to display their work, to show how art is evolving on the continent and to introduce new ideas and styles.
