Pascal (1660) wrote “The sole cause of man’s unhappiness is that he does not know how to stay quietly in his room”.
The three items chosen, highlight the significance of isolation in humans and how it influences artistic creations and thought processes. These items aid in understanding, how adversely or constructively, isolation impacts people.
Towards addressing worldwide pollution and climate crisis, engineer R. Buckminster Fuller in 1960 proposed my first item ‘The Dome Over Manhattan’, a concrete domed city spanning over 3 km wide above midtown Manhattan, New York (Lutolli, 2022). The idea of The Dome was to highlight the isolation that future generations would encounter as a result of current environmental practices. Alternatively, to quote Fuller (1969), “living entirely on our energy savings by lowering earth’s atoms is irresponsible for sustainability. Being cosmically bankrupt by not comprehending and realizing our ability to support all life forever”.
Based on Pascal’s ideologies, man’s suffering is only due to his inability to exist quietly on earth. The irony of The Dome acting as a defence against environmental issues brought on by humans is evidence of the quote. Fuller’s concept of isolation impacting minds came into play with the proposal of The Dome. This is because people within The Dome would have minds focused on resolving environmental issues, as opposed to individuals outside who are accustomed to living with these issues. “What I would do was to try to modify the environment in such a way as to get man moving in preferred directions.” (Fuller, 1966).
In an ironic effort to shield the future generation from the isolation and extinction, Fuller explores isolation as a physical tool for modifying people’s lifestyles. Isolation in The Dome gets people accustomed to the need to improve society as it has now become the centre of the attention within the city, compelling people outside The Dome to follow in the footsteps of those within. According to Fuller (n.d.) “It is better to give people a tool that leads to new ways, rather than teaching them how to think”.
My second item is ‘The Ming Dynasty’. A recognized era in Chinese evolution. Similar to The Dome, illustrates the impact of a nation’s isolation. The Dynasty’s effects can be seen everywhere as its era of isolation foresaw humanity’s capacity for adaptation. Creations, such as the Great Wall of China and the Temple of Heaven, were constructed by solitary people. Though The Dynasty’s isolation allowed for the creation of today’s cherished works, it is crucial to understand that isolation comes with grave consequences.
Emperor Taizu, the founder of The Dynasty, wandered the countryside in his youth, begging for a Buddhist monastery. Taizu is my primary source of evidence for the impacts of isolation. Taizu was seen as dubious because of his severe paranoia, which led to the deaths of 70,000 workers and eventually led to wars, famine, and plague significantly straining The Dynasty’s resources and stability, leading to its collapse. (History.com Editors, 2018).
Both The Dynasty and The Dome shared the perception that the best way to overcome obstacles was to live in seclusion. However, The Dynasty’s isolated inhabitants soon yearned for exposure, and riots and rebellions became commonplace. (History. com Editors, 2018).
My third item ‘Pablo Picasso’ (1960: 9) once said “Without great solitude, no serious work is possible”. His isolationist view is brilliantly expressed by ‘The Absinthe Drinker 1901’ painting.
Picasso commuted frequently between Paris and Barcelona between 1901 and 1904 while working hard and dealing with poverty and insecurity. Precisely during this time, known as “The Blue period,” when Picasso was recognised for his isolation and despair as a young artist, “The Absinthe Drinker” was born. (Arthive, 2022). It was evident how he had portrayed isolation in the painting with the woman’s posture and facial expression conveying her exile as a result of her body’s confinement. With one hand moving perpendicularly across her body and the other gripping her shoulder, her enveloped face remained in place. Every line and stroke of her hands and brick-like head depicts her sense of seclusion from everything.
The Dome, Taizu, and Absinthe Drinker emphasises the effects of isolation on creativity and behaviour. The three items have influenced frequently disregarded views of solitude. They have demonstrated how isolation can influence people’s responses either favourably or unfavourably. But more importantly, how a man’s inability to learn to enjoy both the benefits and downsides of isolation is the main reason he is miserable.
Without great solitude no serious work is possible - Pablo Picasso
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