CAN ART BE A SACRED PRACTICE?

Image cred. Ode to Askana Visual Poem by Haus Of Stone

In the COVID aftermath, a personal truth crystallized: art thrives when untethered from commerce's chokehold. Few artists, particularly those living off their work, can afford the luxury of such a notion. To some, it's an unfathomable dream.

The concept bridges the gap between art for purpose and meaning and 'art for the art's sake."
- Théophile Gautier | French novelist & Journalist (1830).

For me, COVID became a launchpad into the world of textile art, specifically macrame. Free from the suffocating grip of consumerism and its relentless commercial pressure. It created a space for me to learn, experiment, and discover alternative creative approaches without limitations or the burden of needing it to be commercially acceptable. Fueled by the pandemic, my artistic exploration blossomed into a distinct design perspective that now infuses my indie fashion brand - Haus Of Stone. Liberated by this freedom of expression through textile art, I transform the unconventional and experimental into commercially viable pieces, which have added a new dimension to my work. A testament to the freedom of artistic exploration.
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______ THE PREMISE
"... our culture is inherently spiritual. We are inherently spiritual. We are living organisms
of our traditions, existing as vessels and vehicles of its preservation & evolution."
​- Thandi Gula | Visual Artist

Image cred. State of Fashion Solo Exhibition by Danayi Madondo - Experimental Textiles

My textile art exploration sparked a reflection on the very essence of my artistic expression. Can art be a spiritual/ sacred  practice? Can the practice of art be a deep seated conversation with the Divine? Does a natural talent, honed skill, or whispered calling fuel the vessel of expression?  Does the commercializing of art, a supposed embodiment of the spirit, present a fundamental obstacle to its authentic expression? Can making art in fact be an act of faith, a leap  into the creative abyss, trusting the message will find its form through us or another vessel? These are but a few of the incessant questions I ask myself.

Embracing the role of co-creator, guided by a higher force, means trusting the gravitational pull, but the art world's insatiable appetite for intellectualizing everything has the ability to suffocate artistry, transforming it into controlled messaging, ripe for manipulation. As Jordan Peterson eloquently captured, 'art arises from the depths of our souls.' So, how can we reconcile this innate, spiritual source with the analytical gaze of intellect? How can we control these impulses that yearn to be set free, using logic & commerce to guide their emergence?

Though the answer remains elusive, one thing resonates with unwavering clarity. My art amplifies not just my own voice, but those that intertwine or vibrate in harmony with it. I create art to give form to the formless. Art has become a wellspring of personal well-being and a sacred inner sanctum.