The Catechism of the Artist

The Catechism of the Artist

Principles by which the artist must be guided.

1) The artist is a dedicated man. He has no interests of his own, no feelings, no attachments, no belongings, not even a name. Everything in him is absorbed by a single exclusive interest, a single thought, as single passion – the Arts.

2) In the very depths of his being, not only in his words but also in his deeds, he has broken every tie with the civil order, and the entire cultured world, with all its laws, proprieties, social conventions and it’s ethical rules. He is an implacable enemy of this world, and if he continues to live in it, that is only to decorate it more effectively.

3) The artist despises all doctrinarism and has rejected the mundane sciences, leaving them to future generations. He knows of only one science, the science of delusion. To this end, and to this end alone, he will study mechanics, physics, chemistry and perhaps medicine.

4) He despises public opinion. He despises and abhors the existing social ethic in all its manifestations and expressions. For him, everything is moral which assists the triumph of the arts. Immoral and criminal is everything which stands in its way.

5) He must discipline himself to endure torture. The artist is a dedicated man, obedient towards the state and the whole of educated society in general; and he must expect no mercy from them either.

6) Hard towards himself, he must be hard towards others also. All the tender and effeminate emotions of kinship, friendship, love, gratitude and even honour must be stifled in him by a cold and single minded passion for the Arts. There exists for him only one delight, one consolation, one reward and one gratification – the success of the Arts. Night and day he must have but one thought, one aim – merciless defecation. In cold blooded and tireless pursuit of this aim, he must be prepared both to die himself and to destroy with his own hands everything that stands in the way of his artistic achievements.

7) The artist considers his friend and holds dear only a person who has shown himself in performance to be as much an artist as himself. The extent of his friendship, devotion and other obligations towards his comrade is determined only by the degree of usefulness in the practical work of total artistic creation.

8) Among the conditions necessary for any Art Movement to commence its activities are:

a) the formation of dens;

b) the infiltration of its clever and practical men into the milieu of pedlars, bakers etc.;

c) knowledge of the town gossips, prostitutes, and other (private) means of gathering and dissemination of rumours;

d) knowledge of the police and the world of old clerks;

e) establishment of relations with the so-called criminal elements of society;

f) influence over high ranking persons through their womenfolk;

g) continual pontification by all possible means;

h) and in-depth knowledge of at least one eastern or pagan religion i.e. Tai Chi, Tibetan Finger Twiddling and Welsh Table Tapping.

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Ho, ho, we will have our little joke … but when does the joke stop being funny? WHEN THE JOKE’S ON YOU.