Return to Genius

Some years ago, I attended a listening party in Toronto for an artist that would go on to do extraordinary things with his music. I caught up with his manager later that evening who felt that they were a part of a sort of "rennaissance" - a time when artists were reclaiming their craft. It sounds inflated but he came by the comment honestly.

There is much to be learned from the deep mystery of words and the root of their origin. Etymology is a wonderfully innocent practice that illuminates the meaning of everyday words.

Renaissance comes from the French “Revenir” as in “To Return” and the Latin “Nasi” to “Be Born” which is the root of the french word “Naissance” or “Birth”. We often think of Renaissance in context to the era of artistic revival from medieval to modernity, when artists like Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Raphael, Botticelli, Byrd would be immortalized. Their artwork and the creations of their contemporaries, celebrated the rediscovery of Greek philosophy, Roman “Humanitas”, and a flourish of innovative thought and literature. It made way for educational reform, political diplomacy and an age of reason. It was a rebirth in many ways, but by all accounts, it was an era of human ingenuity led by artists.

The word Genius comes from the Latin “Gignere” meaning “to beget” or “to give rise to”. The latin word for “Genius” speaks of the “spirit present from one’s birth, their innate ability or inclination”.

What a lovely coincidence.

When I think about the stuff that makes for great artists, it is their genius that underpins it all. In keeping to one's “genuine path”, the ability to draw out that rare spirit to be presented to the world.

What is clear from the achievements of certain autonomous artists, professional independence affords the opportunity for to pursue a genuine path without external influence. It is on that basis that so many artists are able to put forward a genuine representation of their work. In an era of super-connectivity, where that scarce and beautiful art can reach millions of people without interruption, there is indeed a sense of revival toward an artist-centric model. One where creators are able to return to their genius and offer it to the world, unhindered.

To that end, I tend to agree with what my manager friend said to me all of those years ago. We are indeed in the midst of a renaissance.