Vincent Scully, Paul Mellon Distinguished Fellow Lecture 1995

Vincent Scully gives a lecture talking about his artistic practice. He reflects on the importance of architecture and how it is a relationship that mediates between the individual and natural laws. Scully says that all human culture wants to humanize nature and art and he uses architecture as an example due to the building’s relationship with the natural world. Scully asks the participants why humans should make art. For Scully, making art is the basic method whereby human beings can make something for themselves in a world where the natural laws are unbearable. Artists have to create environments for themselves where art can lead to experiencing empathy.