Looking for the Blue Light

Mathieu Laca, Dream, 2009

Looking at History, it’s fascinating to realize how societies treat their artists. Sometimes, it’s obvious that the leaders need the support of their most clever artists. During wars, for instance, we are proud when some well known artist can produce some kind of “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima” or celebrate the true values of our nation as Arno Brecker did during the Second World War. That’s when we are ready to give them wealth and celebrity. But, as soon as peace is back, how fast are they forgotten and even treated as unwanted beggars.

It reminds me of that tale from the Grimm brothers “Das blaue Licht”. At the very beginning of the tale, the war being finished, the king tells a soldier: “…du kannst heimgehen, ich brauche dich nicht mehr--Geld bekommst du weiter nicht, denn Lohn erhält nur der, welcher mir Dienste dafür leistet”. (“Thou mayst return to thy home, I need thee no longer, and thou wilt not receive any more money, for he only receives wages who renders me service for them.”) The soldier, being a clever one, after playing a few tricks to some kind of stupid witch, steals from her a blue light that came with a handy little black dwarf. As the soldier asks him for the light’s user’s guide, the dwarf says: “Es ist nichts nötig' sprach das Männchen, 'als daß du deine Pfeife an dem blauen Licht anzündest, dann stehe ich gleich vor dir.” (“Nothing more is needed than that thou shouldst light thy pipe at the blue light, and I will appear before thee at once.”) That way, our clever soldier made his fortune just by lighting his pipe once in a while at the blue light!

Isn’t it amazing to realize that, in every country, throughout the ages, no matter how badly artists are treated, they keep on producing, they keep on creating, they keep on generously giving the best they have. Isn’t it because they know very well that we can’t live without the marvels they grant us so generously? Isn’t it because they know too well that society wouldn’t even exist without them? Isn’t it because they know perfectly well they are our conscience, the only lighthouses that can help us to make it through the storms of life, no matter how bad these storms may be? Or, maybe they simply have the “blue light”!

So, how come are we so stingy when it comes to give back to our artists? Isn’t it because we think we can make it without them? Can society be so stupid? I am afraid that it’s the only logical explanation I can find.

Of course, it’s obvious artists have found the magic “blue light” on which they can light their pipes. Wouldn’t it be marvelous if we could, as a society, be smart enough to give them, once in a while, a little tobacco to smoke?

Comeau