Lefebvre's critique of the everyday life is an interesting discussion on the definition of the "everyday." The strategy I've adopted incorporates my 'everyday'.
"Would you go so far as to say that everyday life cannot change? If so, you destroy your own argument, because you have already admitted that it can." Lefebvre, H. (2008). Art and the Everyday. In: Stephen Johnstone The Everyday. London: The MIT Press. p26-34.
Of course the everyday changes, however, I imagine for some people that due to lockdown this may not feel like it. Even though my systemised approach appears as this everyday, mundane task. I feel that I must prove this wrong, by picking up on different details. My daily task of walking may be stay the same, the route may be repeated, the same buildings passed. However, my mood may change, sounds may change, the air changes. As Lefebvre goes on to say, "What is most important is to note that feelings, ideas, lifestyles are confirmed in the everyday." (Lefebvre, H. (2008). Art and the Everyday. In: Stephen Johnstone The Everyday. London: The MIT Press. p26-34.)
This leads us to why the reaction by my senses is important. They report on changes to my everyday. The colour of the sky, the smell in the air, the breeze on my skin.
To expand further on my question, the everyday does change, but by what cause? Natural causes and our choices as humans. What if we were to test the everyday? Something that would interrupt daily routine. Well, in my case COVID-19 has done that. Although a natural cause, the way governments have decided to operate around the matter have certainly turned the country's daily routine on its head. This is probably the biggest example of the everyday being disturbed. Thus, highlighting the importance of the virus's impact. Whilst giving reason for documentation through contemporary art practice.
When discussing activities, Lefebvre states,
"In this earth they are born. If they emerge, it is because they have grown and prospered. It is at the heart of the everyday that projects become works of creativity." (Lefebvre, H. (2008). Art and the Everyday. In: Stephen Johnstone The Everyday. London: The MIT Press. p26-34.)
This describes exactly what my creative goal is. Not just that but my practice as an artist. Even previous to this project my work has emerged from some part of the everyday. My everyday. The seed for all my art has been planted by the everyday for sure. It always flourishes into a successful body of art. Lefebvre elaborates;
"...it is in everyday life and starting from everyday life that genuine creations are achieved, those creations which produce the human and which men produce as part of the process of becoming human: works of creativity." (Lefebvre, H. (2008). Art and the Everyday. In: Stephen Johnstone The Everyday. London: The MIT Press. p26-34.)
This just reiterates the statement that our creativity does come from the everyday. But also what makes us human. "It surrounds us, it besieges us, on all sides and from all directions. We are inside it and outside it."
(Lefebvre, H. (2008). Art and the Everyday. In: Stephen Johnstone The Everyday. London: The MIT Press. p26-34.)
The everyday certainly makes an artist. And personally, when reading the text I felt myself strongly agreeing with this. It cannot be escaped. The impact of the lockdown on our routine is not ideal. But at least we can try take something positive. Dedicating some time for self reflection or a drive to produce art. Whether we like it or not; if the process of creativity stems from the everyday. Which has been affected by the virus. Then it is reasonable to claim that all artists on this planet have been effected. (Which I will expand on a different post.) As part of this research intends to compare my own afflictions with the pandemic to others.
Comments