In “Inventing Necessity: Nietzsche, Kandinsky, and Artistic Self-Confidence,” Chapter 10 of Mind over Matter: How Spirituality Changes Lives, Dr. Kerem Eksen offers a deep philosophical exploration into the roots of artistic self-confidence. At times when historical and cultural structures crumble, particularly during the birth of the modernist avant-garde artists are left without fixed norms or secure reference points. In such turbulent conditions, the burden and opportunity fall on the artist to invent the values and principles that will guide their work.
Eksen delves into how this creative necessity challenges artists to construct their own inner frameworks, what Nietzsche might see as a manifestation of the "soul of artists." Rather than viewing self-confidence as merely psychological or unstable, Eksen argues for a more substantial, philosophical understanding: one rooted in the necessity to create meaning where none is given. Drawing inspiration from both Nietzsche’s concept of artistic strength and Kandinsky’s spiritual quest in art, Eksen illustrates how self-confidence can be an authentic, grounded virtue in artistic practice.
This chapter invites readers to consider: What makes artistic conviction genuine? How do artists distinguish between confident expression and hollow imitation? And most importantly, how can creativity become not just an act of making art, but of making values?