„THE ARTIST AND THE DOCTOR“

ARTIST TALK BY FRANK SERGE LEHMANN

NETWORKING EVENT by SWISSHERNIADAYS, Basel, 20.9.2018

In the literature, art is shown as something great, glorious and pathetic. What a privilege to be an artist! In contrast, however, the real life of an artist is far from that and is often hard and cumbersome.

In this talk, I would like to demonstrate that there are stunning similarities between the lives of an artist and of a doctor.

 In TV series like ER, Chicago Hope and Schwarzwaldklinik, medicine is shown as something great, glorious and pathetic. What a privilege to be a doctor! In contrast, however, the real life of a doctor is far from that and is often hard and cumbersome.

I would like to continue with the similarities and also differences in the lives of an artist and a doctor, going through individual installations.

ART & HUNGER

The core quote of this installation is „Art is enjoyment, eating a need“. Most artists have to struggle financially to survive. Doctors do not really have to struggle, but are confronted with significant reductions of income, at least in some specialities. Nevertheless, the number of doctors depending on social care is still rare.

ART(IST) in PRISON

In too many countries, artists are in danger to go to jail for their artistic work. In Switzerland, most doctors in prison belong to the medical staff. The small number of doctors behind bars have committed real crimes. In other countries like the United States doctors may also have to go to jail because of malpractice. The most recent, popular example is Conrad Murray, the personal doctor of Michael Jackson.

LACK of INSPIRATION

Lack of inspiration is the curse of every busy artist. The same applies to the busy doctor, who desparately wants to achieve academic merits, but has no ideas for a an appealing research project. In both cases, copy and paste from the internet or even fraud may be just too tempting.

ART & ETERNITY

Good art is supposed to last forever. It would be great, if good medicine would last forever as well. In reality, the privilege of eternal medicine is restricted to the times of Hippocrates, Sauerbruch or Fleming. Nowadays, medicine, even good medicine, is far away of being eternal. Even, the half life time of medical knowledge shrinks on a daily basis.

VOICE of ART

 „Art has a voice, let it speak“. To become successful, an artist has to be heard. The same applies to the doctor. For a successful medical carrier, even the most skilled doctor needs to be heard. To be heard by the patients, the colleagues and at last but not least by the head of the department. Otherwise, his or her work remains unnoticed and underestimated.

I DON‘T BELIEVE IN ART

Existential crises belong the the typical carrier of an artist, With ups and downs depending on the temporary success. „I don‘t believe in medicine“ is also a significant problem with more and more doctors turning their back on their profession.

ART & FREEDOM

The artist dreams of being free, being able to work without any restrictions and limitations. The doctor wishes basically the same. Considering, however, the adminstrative burdens, the strictly hierarchic system, and the overwhelming financial restrictions, the doctor is less free than ever. This is one of the main reasons, why many health care professionals feel void and unsatisfied or even look for an alternative occupation.

JOY of ART

Joy of daily activity is not only desirable, but also a requirement for good artistic and good medical work. Unfortunately, among dcotors, joy and pleasure seem to vanish after some few years. Once realizing, that the daily work has nothing to do with George Clooney from ER or Klausjürgen Wussow from Schwarzwaldklinik, doctors are at risk to loose their personal enthusiasm.

ART CRITICS

Artists fight for recognition, but are too often frustrated by incompetent critics or vicious perception of their work. The same applies to doctors. Huge work load and at the same time insufficicent, public recognition and unjustified critics from all sides inlcuding press, health insurance companies and nerds promote their burn out.

ART & OIL

To realize attractive projects, the artist depends on sponsoring. Sponsoring however, may in general endager at least the independenc of artists. Nevertheless sponsoring of art events has gotten reality, The same risk applies to sponsoring of medical congresses, research projects, even contractsin universities and hospitals.

Art & Artist

Sa, 22. Sept. 2018 / 17h

TeilnehmerInnen:

Nathalie Unternährer (cms)

Rico Luisoni (visarte)

Frank Serge Lehmann  (Künstler)

Fredy Hadorn (filter4)  

Moderation:

Nicole Salathé