Saint Laurent’s Post

#Storytelling Oscar Wilde was renowned as an aesthete after the fashion of Théophile Gautier, a proponent of Art for Art's Sake, the motto that would eventually find its way into the MGM logo we spoke about yesterday, remember? Ars Gratia Artis. "Nothing that actually occurs is of the slightest importance." A profound realization in these ethereal, de-materialized times. Akin to The Beatles dictum "Nothing is Real". Mere kookiness or anarchism? Far from it. What Oscar and The Beatles were getting at was the primacy of the imagination. In the words of Romantic poet and painter William Blake, "What is now proved was once only imagin'd." It is a precept the corporate universe - obsessed with facts, stats and analysis - could well do with remembering. Data is just the effluent, not the source. The new oil is not data - it's ideas. Ideas are not valueless, they are priceless. What is of importance is the quality of your imagining, literally your ability to image forth, to form a picture for yourself. Your whole future is an image first. Enough about ideas holding no value because they are not yet facts. The ideas that are not yet facts are the ones that count - the ones of true importance...

🎉 Exciting News! The latest edition of Man of Many's Digital Edition is now live - the 'CREATION' issue.🎉 Dive into exclusive interviews with Alexandra Daddario, the legendary Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, and the charming Patrick Dempsey. Hit the link to explore these captivating stories and more! #media #digitalmedia #digitalpublishing

Part 1: "Stitches in Time: Weaving Environmental Consciousness through the Art of Storytelling" Dr. Priya, in the midst of her exploratory journey across various disciplines and interactions, found herself in an unexpected dialogue with a renowned historical film director, Mr. Ford. This meeting, occurring during a brief pause in his packed filming schedule, veered into a conversation that, at first glance, seemed far removed from her research into the environmental and psychological impacts of societal practices. Yet, as they conversed, the relevance of seemingly disparate fields became strikingly clear. Director Ford, taking a moment from the whirlwind of his film set, shared with Dr. Priya his insights into the meticulous craft of costume design, particularly focusing on the significance of sewing machines and the precision required in stitching. He elaborated on how each stitch, with its predetermined length and the choice of thread strength, not only contributed to the durability and appearance of the fabric but also mirrored the discipline and alignment necessary in life and storytelling. This attention to detail, he argued, was analogous to aligning events in a narrative sequence to elicit the desired emotional and psychological responses from the audience. Expanding on this analogy, Director Ford delved into the narrative structure of historical films, particularly those depicting conflict, such as air warfare. He described how the portrayal of victory and defeat not only stirs emotions but also influences the audience's psychological and ethical perspectives. The victorious scenes, according to Ford, tap into the innate human desire to overcome and succeed, thereby generating a powerful emotional entropy for the audience and even for the broader society reflecting on the film's message. To be continued

In the heart of every great film is a story that inspires and resonates. Our 🍿 🎬 picks for this weekend are full of inspiration and beauty: 🎨 Beauty is Embarrassing : the story of Wayne White, an artist who dared to live out his dreams. Having started his career as a #cartoonist, White eventually became a set designer, puppeteer, and voice actor for iconic shows like "Pee-wee's Playhouse". Despite his success, he wasn't satisfied. He took a bold leap and transitioned into fine arts, where he made a name for himself through his unique word paintings. 🖋 History of Art in Three Colours This masterpiece showcases how #art, #history, and #color intertwine in the most profound ways. It was a Herculean task to encapsulate the history of art through three colors - blue, gold, and white. Yet, the team behind this film did it spectacularly, breaking new grounds in the process. 🖼 Power of Art by Simon Schama, a renowned #historian that used his unique perspective and knowledge to unravel the mysteries behind some of the world's most celebrated #artworks. The series isn't just a presentation of facts, it's a powerful narrative that delves deep into the personal struggles and triumphs of the #artists. It's a testament to their relentless drive, innovative thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit - traits that every business owner can resonate with. #film #art #inspiration #creativity #entrepreneurship #documentaries

DOUBLE EXPOSURE Meet Dicker & Dane   Think John & Yoko, artists Christo & Jean, designers Viktor & Rolf then you will resonate with photographic duo Armand Dicker and Anthony Dane Hinrichsen's deeply collaborative work. Their collective love for making images looks like a well rehearsed dance on set, seamlessly and intuitively capturing the best of their subjects through each one's gaze. The result is so much more than originally anticipated at concept. https://lnkd.in/dVb--WDe

Ripley, Caravaggio & Excellence Netflix’s latest series, Ripley, is deservedly getting rave reviews ... Compelling performances, backdrops, suspense and powerful themes throughout – one of which is my favorite artist, Caravaggio.   In life, Caravaggio was infamous, but work is some of the most powerful of the late renaissance era.   For anyone striving for excellence, it has many great lessons. Here are three … 1.       The value of KNOWING your audience While others (Da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo etc.) painted idealistic or aspirational imagery, Caravaggio painted real people. His models were ordinary, local characters, painted in their normal perfectly imperfect state full of physicality and emotion. When we look at his work – it’s relatable to everyone. 2.       Don’t just ‘Innovate’ for the sake of it. Master the Innovation Caravaggio wasn’t the first artist to use foreshortening but he was arguably the first to master it. Not only was his work more realistic, but it transformed his work from a stationary painting to a moving work of dynamic art packed with emotion because he didn’t use techniques, he mastered techniques. 3.       It’s always about TOTAL effect When you study Caravaggio’s work you first notice the chiaroscuro – the contrast of light and darkness, how light directs your attention, the story, emotion, movement, foreshortening, realism. If there is a secret to his work – it’s this. The synergetic effect of everything combined presents his excellence. Really know your employees – not what you think they are. Master any innovation you use – don’t simply use techniques. Always consider the holistic experience – not just reductionist segments. #excellence #leadership #performance #innovation

https://lnkd.in/eeycFJ4X I can recommend the SCA and the depth of talent they represent

New episode!

I've always wanted to go the Mecca of French comics, Angoulème festival, and the Guardian were nice enough to send me this year. It was even crazier than I expected: https://lnkd.in/eWQnnADd There was so much activity in the venues, so many talks to attend, so much to see – and then the culture minister Rachida Dati turned up – that it was kind of a reporter's nightmare. Not that I was under heavy fire or anything, but it was difficult at first to understand how to boil it down. Two things helped me: 1/ Forget the plan. Sometimes you have to throw yourself into the fray and just see what happens. 2/ "Soft eyes". As Bunk from The Wire says: if you have hard eyes, focusing on the thing you want or expect to see, you miss what's really important. (Maybe this is Forget the plan, part II.) The initial anecdote about Sylvia Pinault's indoctrination into comics came from a chance conversation slumped down on the floor of the exhibit hall, exhausted after six hours rushing around. I really love field reporting: the unpredictability and the sense that the world is far larger and more complex than the online version. It's useful to have a plan, to give you a structure to cling to, but it has to go out of the window at some point.

Honour the journey of creativity: complete old artworks before starting new ones. Each piece holds a story waiting to be told. . #finishwhatyoustart #artisticjourney #artisticjourney #completeyourartproject #finishwhatyoustart #creativityinprogress #artisticprocess #paintinginprogress #artisticcompletion #embracethejourney