“The formation of an artwork is, in itself, an act of fighting against death and resisting it.”
- January 14, 1925 – November 25, 1970
- Born in Japan
- Novelist, playwright, critic, political activist
Japanese
「芸術作品の形成がそもそも死と闘い死に抵抗する営為なのである」
English
“The formation of an artwork is, in itself, an act of fighting against death and resisting it.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima emphasizes that the very act of creating art is a struggle against death—a resistance to the inevitable mortality that defines human existence. For Mishima, art is not simply a means of expression or creation, but a battle against the transience of life. Art captures and preserves moments, emotions, and ideas that would otherwise be lost to time, allowing them to resist decay and live on beyond the artist’s lifetime. In this sense, art is inherently connected to the defiance of death, as it seeks to create something that transcends the limitations of the physical world and the finite nature of human life. By making art, the artist engages in an act of rebellion against the ephemeral nature of existence, attempting to preserve and immortalize aspects of the human experience.
Mishima’s view aligns with his broader themes of mortality and immortality. Throughout his work, he often explored the tension between life and death, with art serving as a means of defying death’s finality. For Mishima, the act of creating was not just about aesthetic or intellectual expression; it was also a spiritual and existential act that resisted the inevitable decline of the human body and the world. The artist, by shaping something meaningful or profound, is seen as challenging the finality of death, creating something that outlasts them and lives on in the minds of others. This resistance to death through art reflects Mishima’s belief in the immortality of the spirit and the power of human creativity to transcend the physical world.
In a modern context, Mishima’s words could be interpreted as a reflection on how art continues to function as a means of resisting the transience of life. In today’s world, where death is often considered a taboo subject, art still offers a means of addressing and challenging the impermanence of human existence. Whether through literature, visual art, music, or film, artists continue to create works that capture moments, ideas, and emotions that are able to live beyond their creators, serving as a resistance to death in a way that preserves the essence of the human experience. Mishima’s view encourages us to see that through the creation of art, we are not just engaging with aesthetic beauty but also participating in a deeper, philosophical struggle against the inevitability of mortality, preserving our humanity and essence in the face of the inevitable end.
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