“We want to remember what really matters, and the people we call good artists are, in part, the ones who appear to have made the right choices about what to commemorate and what to leave out” - Art as Therapy, Alain de Botton & John Armstrong
Alain de Botton and John Armstrong say ‘good’ art edits out complexity, to help us see what’s truly meaningful.
Carrie Mae Weems’ ‘Kitchen Table Series’ is a great example of this in action.
Through a series of 20 black and white photographs, she turns one simple scene — the kitchen table — into a reflection of the spectrum of human emotion. As the central character in the scenes, she moves from being a mother to a friend to a lover. Showing warmth, compassion, hope, desperation, love, sadness, and everything in-between.
By framing the scenes in isolation, she draws attention to what really matters. And in doing so, she invites everyone to bring their own experience to it — connecting with each person in a profoundly human way.
It’s 30 years old, but it never ages.
In making small ‘unnoticed’ moments the centrepiece, she creates a connection that transcends time and place.
I’ve often thought that ‘good’ work is the simple expression of an idea that is hard to put into words.
So often the effect of art isn’t felt because it’s over-layered with lengthy explanations and expectations. We don’t ‘get’ it and often leave art galleries feeling confused or dismissive.
The same can be said about strategy or ideas, albeit the deck is our canvas and the boardroom is our gallery. Art, like strategy, is a form of seduction. Certain work draws you in because it focuses on a single, compelling idea.
Until next time 👋,
Harriet
If the opening quote tickled your interest I'd recommend reading ‘Art as Therapy’. Or heading over to YouTube and watching Alain de Botton’s talk by the same name. Framing art through human emotion, it offers a refreshingly simple way of looking at it.