Bergson's theory of creation and fabrication

Abstract

The early studies of Henri Bergson's aesthetics focused on his concept of intuition and supposed that a theory of art production does not exist in his aesthetics. Yet, after the re-examination of his concept of intuition, the possibility of Bergson's art production theory becomes more and more recognizable in recent years. In this essay, I propose an approach to his theory of art production, which based on the difference and the relationship between creation and fabrication in producing art. In Bergsonism, creation means endless self-creation, and the way life exists. On the other hand, fabrication is defined as the action giving forms to materials in Creative Evolution (1907). According to Bergson, the object of fabrication relates to the confrontation between life creating itself and matters interacting each other inevitably. In this confrontation, fabrication supports creation by making "indeterminations" within matters. I consider such difference and relationship between creation and fabrication could be found in Bergson's art production theory.