We can think of Heritage as valuing what's proved timeless and Innovation as responding in new ways to the now. These are an awesome combo, but like oil and water, the elixir sometimes eludes us. It’s easy to emphasize the past over the present or vice versa. For example, we might romanticize the past, glossing over it's tragedies, and think it must have been better than the present. On the other hand, we can get so immersed in the now that we lose touch with valuable perspectives and traditions afforded by history.
A third option is to embrace the tension offered by these seemingly divergent modes. At the crossroads of heritage and innovation, I see a beautiful potential for thriving, healthy culture. I like to think of it as an intersection where generations and ethnicities come together to solve problems for lasting effect, where lessons of history can inform novel solutions, and where young ones have the benefit of strong roots (heritage) and freedom to make unique contributions (innovation).
What does this have to do with art? The truth is whether we’re aware of it or not, art shapes culture in significant ways. Art propels our visual storytelling (movies, TV, streaming media); art informs our buildings and monuments and urban design; and art draws our attention via advertisements, entertainment and branding. All of this shapes our consciousness as a culture. It’s cyclical in nature: culture shapes artists and artists shape culture.
So what happens when artists are trained in an ethos that unites heritage and innovation? Short answer: you just might get a Renaissance. Throughout history, the most vibrant, flourishing movements of art have arisen at the intersection of heritage and innovation. When artists operate within this tension, high standards for excellence are recaptured. New connections are made. Art created in this spirit can inspire culture toward a healthy integration of past with present, and of novelty with timelessness.
I don’t know about you, but I would love to see a Renaissance of Culture in our days. I’d love to see young people equipped to cherish their heritage, join hands across generations and ethnicities, and do great things through art and creativity! And at the end of the day, this is what makes me excited to pursue the work of Artisans + Makers.
What about you? What do you envision could happen when Innovation and Heritage are jointly valued?
