Interactive Artwork - the WHY Behind the WHAT
Another way to ask a person to explain their “inspiration” for doing something is to ask them to share their “WHY behind their WHAT.” So, “Why, Doug, have you started creating interactive artwork?”
For me, the first WHY behind this particular style of artwork is that I value what God values. This is based on the idea in Christian theology that God values what's material (physical bodies) and immaterial (heart, soul, mind, and spirit) about us. He proves His valuation by giving us amazing material bodies that include the ability to see, hear, smell, feel, and taste the material world. He also gives us non-physical “hearts,” minds, and souls that interact with the non-material world of thoughts, ideas, feelings, and desires. Because He values both these parts of us, I do, too.
The second WHY behind my WHAT is that God created a world that touches all He creates and values about us (i.e., our material and our immaterial beings). My favorite verse in this regard is Genesis 2:9a, "Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food." He did this for us… for human beings! The "pleasing to the sight" feeds our immaterial being - our heart, soul, mind, and spirit where we experience pleasure in our thoughts, feelings, and desires. The "good for food" feeds our material being as we eat what those trees produce to sustain of physical bodies. Wow! What a Creator! How generous!
This second WHY moves me to mirror the beautiful creative purpose of God when He created trees. Like Him, I want my interactive artworks to be “pleasing to the sight” and “good for food.” Regarding the former, I want them to bring pleasure just by looking at them. Regarding the latter, I want them to stimulate physical vitality through interaction, touch, and physical play.
It is an tremendous honor to enjoy and express God in these ways… to value what He creates and values in us as humans, and to mirror His kindness in creating a world that nourishes us as humans holistically.
To help celebrate these ideas, check out the two new categories I just created on my website's homepage that feature 20x20 MODULAR and CUSTOM interactive artwork. As always, feel free to share your thoughts in the Comments section.