Many cliched simplifications exist, but what is an artist and what causes the experience we qualify as experience of art? Fre Ilgen explores history and various fields of science to find out why humans need art. 'ARTIST?' offers familiar, surprising and revolutionary insights in the complex self of the artist and the experience offered by works of art, arguing that the biological processes involved in creating and in encountering the artwork play a more important role than till now has been acknowledged. Ilgen questions innovation and unidirectional progress in art, and discusses the various struggles in art, including insecurity and mediocrity, emphasizing the natural importance of imperfection. He makes a strong point criticizing the cliche about the experience of art being only a cerebral, or only a retinal perception, and promotes the concept of whole mind/body perception. Discussing a large selection of artists across times and cultures, Fre Ilgen demonstrates the naturalness of artists proceeding from a virtuoso phase to maturation. 'ARTIST?' does not offer final answers but asks many profound questions, encouraging each reader to think for him/herself.
Well researched and an approach much needed to stimulate the multi-disciplinary discourse on the naturalness of the human need for art. An approach that should stir all art students, artists, other art professionals, as well as encourage art lovers, medical doctors, scientists, maybe even politicians, to reconsider their interest in art as natural phenomenon of human being, necessary in everyday life, and as essential part of well-being that reaches beyond mere cultural expression or commodity.