Simon Kitchener

Leaving Nemi Hall Simon Kitchener

This is a story about understanding the meaning of art. It is not a polemic on how art should be interpreted; nor is it an appeal to revere its quasi-religious status; it is about art's significance in achieving self-actualisation. One does not need to agree with Maslow's theory to recognise that human beings like to create. Creating comes naturally to us, for survival, for fulfilment. Bringing something into existence, not matter how humble, is enjoyable, for children and adults alike, and while not all creation is artistic, artistic expression, the end of artistic creation, brings great benefits to those who can find such ways to exhibit their emotional evocations. How this might be done is the novel's theme. Should you disagree with my preference for Romanticism in artistic expression, do not let it deter you from the theme. The appreciation and valuation of art is subjective as it is derived from one's values. What we value in art tells us much about ourselves. The book considers this aspect of our self, and is useful for that, regardless of taste. The narrative, a young man's search for value in what promises to be a prosaic life, is not unusual. The setting, an art colony populated predominantly by women indulging their taste for painting while seeking refuge from orthodoxy, is somewhat more contrived. In defence, the setting mirrors the protagonist's attempts at artistic expression; as with his efforts, the setting veers from reality's replication and is not overly fanciful. Finally, the characters are more important than the narrative, for it is they who discuss art and show their relationship to it through their paintings. It is the players, their entrances and exits, and what they paint at Nemi Hall, that is most relevant to the theme. I hope you will enjoy it.