Note: I initially wrote this in Japanese in July 2021 and thoughtfully translated it into English to share its insights with a broader audience.
The other day, I read “Gakyo-jin Hokusai” (The Art-Mad Hokusai,『画狂人北斎 』) by Shinichi Segi. Written nearly 50 years ago, this art critique is very grounded. It aims to accurately uncover Katsushika Hokusai’s life and style from limited resources without the recent superficial adulation about Hokusai, like “Edo period’s hit-maker” or “Praised by the West!”
Giants of Creativity
I’ve been interested in a common attitude shared by Hokusai, Picasso, Isaac Asimov, and the recently deceased Takashi Tachibana. These creative giants are incredibly prolific, with an astonishingly wide range of styles. Their prolific output isn’t the result of pressures against the deadlines or by their editors and publishers. Throughout their lives, these creative giants voluntarily pursued a diverse array of artistic expressions (which I may like to call “scatter their works” in a favorable sense), continuously generating new concepts and reinventing themselves. Their creative process can be likened to a biological metamorphosis, but in an artistic sense:
- Constant Evolution: They consistently pushed the envelope to develop their styles and approaches. They never stayed static.
- Adaptive Creativity: Like creatures adapting to new environments, they accustomed their art to changing times and personal growth.
- Transformative Output: Each new stage of their work represented a significant transformation, often ‘changing the game’ in their field.
- Retaining Core Identity: Despite these changes, they kept a recognizable character or ‘artistic DNA’ throughout their careers.
This creative metamorphosis allowed them to remain relevant, innovative, and prolific across decades. Also, they continually challenged themselves and their audiences with fresh perspectives and ideas.
Purity vs. Versatility
As Segi points out in the book, the art world often values “purity” (adhering to a single style). However, purity can lead to “fragility.” Many of us have seen countless tragedies of sensitive artists whose creative drive weakened or ceased due to the harsh waves of time, public opinion, preferences, and economic circumstances.
The Power of Versatility
The voracious creativity and versatility of giants like Hokusai have generated a robust ‘brush pressure,’ which, I mean, challenges and captivates viewers and readers across generations. Their works not only overwhelm but actively challenge our perceptions, pushing us to view the world in fresh and unpredictable ways. With this audacity to consistently challenge audiences, they successfully endured their relevance and impact.
I am thrilled to think about expanding my songwriting life while contemplating how to ‘prolifically create and diversify.’ This mindset allows me to:
- Embrace a wide range of creative expressions
- Maintain a consistent vision or personal style across varied works
- Produce abundantly without sacrificing quality or originality
I want to keep cultivating a body of work reflecting a clear artistic identity while exploring diverse themes and styles. That is what the giants inspired me – creating prolifically, still always with purpose and a distinctive voice.
