Painting the Numbers

In a conversation had earlier this week about the separation of art and business as analogous to that of church and state, I would like to prove my extremely business purist ounterpart wrong. The integration of art and business, and the ability to generate new, creative ideas from the minds of the most avant-garde is not outlandish or even novel. I’m sure that this isn’t even the oldest example, but to pull the focus away from the hipster days of late that emphasize the degradation of large corporations and capitalism, I would like to turn the year back to 1966, during the Experiments in Art and Technology convention (E.A.T.).  EAT “encouraged the collaboration of artists and engineers across the country in interdisciplinary technology-based art projects.”  The project linked two entirely separate spheres of studio art and scientific engineering to meet on common ground and participate in new product innovation. One of the most iconic results of the collaboration was the “Pepsi-Cola Pavillion,” an experimental multimedia theatrical space and interactive environment in Osaka, Japan. Although most notable as a historical form of media art, it clearly exemplifies the possibility for collaboration between the artistic and business world.

Fast forward to 2012 and the evidence of artistic presence integrated into marketing campaigns remains relevant. It’s no doubt that the creative virtues of advertisers are present in every magazine flipped open or cinematography in commercials that make you cry. But even more overtly, Warhol’s iconic Campbell’s soup print was celebrated on the soup cans themselves this fall, with bright colors and a clear homage to the late artist. Warhol was also celebrated in a recent NARS cosmetics campaign, released during Spring 2013 Fashion Week.   Louis Vuitton collaborated with Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, which inspired the line’s luxury handbag for this season. Kenny Sscharf, a Brooklyn based street artist comparable to the works of Basquiat, collaborated with Kiehl’s to create a line “Crème De Corps” that donates 100% of net profits to children’s charity with a focus on authentic art in children’s medical facilities. While I realize that the majority of the most recent examples come from fashion based companies which inherently have the tenacity to be more accepting of artistic perspectives and integration, I also hope that this is the step toward a greater trend that is to be incorporated into the natural business world. Too often do we disregard the completely valid perspective of those that think with a different set of neurons, and deem them to be either corrupt or an anarchist. Can we find common ground? Long live the banker artist!