Has the world around us outgrown the capability of many people’s brains to comprehend and deal with it? Are we reaching the limits of our brain? For some people, yes, but not for everyone. Yet, I find it interesting that many people feel comfortable and at peace with the simple life.

The Ship of Fools

Yesterday, I watched the film/documentary “Azart, Come Make Art” about artist August Dirks and his Ship Of Fools.

“The film tells the colorful and cheerful history of the Amsterdam Ship of Fools, Azart, which sailed around the world for more than 30 years to bring cheer. At the steering wheel is the creator of this sailing work of art: captain and actor August Dirks, who lived and worked on the Azart for more than 30 years.” Here’s a short summary of the film.

It was interesting, but. It gave me double feelings.

On the one hand it had this extremely attractive, very romantic atmosphere of Jack Karouac’s On The Road. On the other hand, it had something very sad. Summed-up, I think the right word is ‘escapism’. Escaping from the reality of harsh daily life. But at the same time, you see that the film makers have done their utter best to show only the romantic side of this lifestyle. Escapism, even in the setup of the film.

Yet, I do feel the same longing for the ‘colorful and cheerful’ lifestyle that is portrayed in the film, and the entire 30 year venture.

And, you see it everywhere, of course, this escapism.

Refuge de la Charpoua

A totally different example is the following:

These are two videos about Sarah Cartier and her family. Sarah is the warden of the Refuge de la Charpoua, in the mountainous area near Chamonix, close to the Mont Blanc in the European Alps. In the video she talks about her motivation to lock herself and her family up in a small mountain hut far away from civilisation. And, she says, pobably ultimately escapism is her motivation. Escape from the busy, boring daily life.

Escapism

Sarah says it at the start of the second video: “I don’t want to go, I need to go. I need to escape from the noise of the town, from the telephone … et cetera. So, the Refuge is for taking refuge. (…)” Also, she says: “It’s cool, because it doesn’t feel that you are working, while doing the most basic, boring tasks. But often those are the times that you are most present. You’re thinking when you do the dishes, or walking around. And we’re really dealing with primary needs. We make food, we provide shelter, we’re raising a family. (…)”

Isn’t it a strange phenomenon? Escapism. Taking refuge … from the world, basically. Living in your own personal reality, withdrawn from social reality. But also, it is going back to the simple life, the essence of life, maybe.

Maybe, it is a sign that the development of the world around us has outgrown the capability of many people’s brains to comprehend and dealt with it, to feel comfortable. Are we reaching the limits of our brain? For some people, yes, but not for everyone.

Yet, I find it interesting that many people feel comfortable and at peace with the simple life.

Is escapism art?

Earlier, I wrote about the Vincent Syndrome, Passionate, but poor. The big flight forward, the grand escape … Escaping into a fantasy world, make believe, … Is that the essence of art? I always say, art is the meeting place of reality and the realities that we create to shape ourselves. Is that it? Are the realities that we create to shape ourselves really attempts to escape from the harsh reality of the world around us? Our personal reality, away from the existing social reality?

Probably, yes. Often, so.

I guess.

And, about August and Sarah … I like Sarah’s style better. Much better. I have the feeling August’s life has been dominated by alcohol and drugs. Hard core escapism, so to say. Sarah has a more realistic (funny word, yes), a better grounded form of escapism. Almost, as if it isn’t escapism, not away from something undesirable (towards no matter what) … rather it is towards something more desirable, something beautiful, a more beautiful life.

Escapism is art!

So, rather than asking if art is escapism, the more relevant point here is the opposite. Escapism is an artform.

Escapism is art, bringing reality and the realities that we create to shape ourselves together into a coherent lifestyle. The art of living.