Duende
(n.) a quality of passion and inspiration.
• a spirit.
ORIGIN 1920s: from Spanish, contraction of duen de casa, from dueño de casa ‘owner of the house.’
In art Duende loosely means having soul, a heightened state of emotion, expression and authenticity, often connected with flamenco. The artistic and especially musical term was derived from the duende, a fairy or goblin-like creature in Spanish mythology.
I saw a posting going around Facebook which states Duende is the mysterious power of art to move a person. While the definition may not be quite correct it's a wonderful sentiment. There should be a word for such a thing, shouldn't there?
As an artist that is the ultimate goal. To create work with soul, emotion, expression, and authenticity, which has a mysterious power to move another person. For as long as I live that is what I search for - that is the thing which I strive to create. Art is a continual process of learning, refining, experimentation, and play.
What is it that keeps the artist going? It is the search for that magical something - that duende which is different for everyone. We want to inspire passion in not only ourselves, but others as well. We want our work to move a person. The ultimate feeling of satisfaction comes not from awards or accolades, but from the story from that one person who was spiritually moved by your work. The irony of it all, is that the artist will rarely know when they've achieve a work having duende until it is placed before the public.
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