Voicing Authority: A Baha’i Perspective

Abstract

What significance does authenticity have for an artist and how might this understanding enhance an artist's practice? Drawing upon the work of three contemporary thinkers, Ken Wilber, Charles Taylor and John Miller, this presentation examines how authenticity can be important for a visual artist. The paper and presentation in particular examines the dynamics of Wilber's 'I', 'We' and 'It' model of the human spirit and explores how this can be optimised within Taylor's view of modern culture. In a context of Bahá'í teachings the presentation goes on to explore the relationship between creative and spiritual experience and examines how, by raising levels of consciousness authentic communication can be achieved via artistic expression.