Another part of this week’s lecture that stuck out to me was the discussion on the urgency of doing something. I believe the guest lecturer even referred to art as “the philosophy of doing,” as you are literally putting something out there when you create art, rather than sitting back and hoping something happens. This reminded me of the art that was created immediately after the Paris attacks last semester.
The symbol of a black and white peace sign with the Eiffel tower acting as the center of the peace sign went viral, as people around the world were looking for a way to send prayers to Paris following the deadly attacks. It was a minimalist illustration that struck a chord with people around the world and was shared by everyone from politicians to celebrities to everyday people. However, what reminded me of this symbol was not what it looked like, but the story behind its creation by French graphic designer Jean Jullien. In an interview with the artist, he discussed how he wasn’t even thinking this piece fully through; instead as discussed in this lecture, he was acting with urgency, in response to this violent act. He said, “And just because this is what I do, I draw, I reacted graphically, just drawing something spontaneously with pen and paper and then sharing it as a raw reaction. When I put my brush on paper, this was the first thing that came.” I think this symbol is a great example of how creating art urgently and putting something out there can garner a huge reaction.