Craft and Art II

“With craft, whenever you ask, you get answers. The art is to get more questions—the right questions—flowing from the answers you received to prior questions.” – Kenneth L. Fisher

Most often the praises are go towards the artist or architect who build the wonderful building although the building not necessary done himself by these people. In fact it involves many people such as sculptors, painters and craftsmen to make the building great. For example, when you visit Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, what lies in your mind is its architect name: Antonio Gaudi. You would not bother the many great sculptors, painters and craftsmen who make the building great. That’s the reality of life. That’s the reason that I often call for developing more multi-disciplinary generalists rather than professionals. The society needs professionals such as sculptors and painters and there are bunch of them in fact. The lack of the generalist like Antonio Gaudi who could integrate all known worldly wisdom and apply it to his work and making its work become an art, an invaluable art.

In investment world, same phenomenon happens. There are lots of so-called professionals. Often, they treat the investment “piece-by-piece” and make an analysis based on this analogy. This is similar to the physician who gives the treatment based on the patient complaint, that’s when patient complaints about headache, give them panadol. What’s the underlying reasons that causes headache is none of their business. When the society filled with these “professionals”, there is no wonder why so many fund managers performed poorly. At the same time, who does possess art but not craft, stands out as a winner like Warren Buffett and Charles Munger.

Note: "Lincoln in Dalivision" by Salvador Dali, one of the greatest modern artist where his arts could be found in Barcelona.

The Masterpiece of Antoni Gaudi

Antoni Gaudi (1852 – 1926) was a famous architect in Spain. One of his famous architecture which is still under development is La Sagrada Familia (Holy Family Church) in Barcelona. It is declared by UNESCO in 2005 as one of the World Heritage.

The cathedral is the present of Gaudi to God. The architecture resembles a concept of jungle while its pillars are resembles the trees in the jungle. Because of his love of the nature, most of his designs resemble elements from the environment. In order to develop his enormous architectonic work, Gaudí gathered an exceptional set of collaborators, such as architects, sculptors and craftsmen.
In his early years, he spent most of his time in his house by observing the nature and its design because of rheumatism. In his education life, he only able to obtain a mediocre result though it did not stop him from becoming one of the greatest architect for the later part. During his graduation ceremony, his director of the school, Professor Elias Rogent after present him a degree, proclaim,” I don’t know whether we are graduating a genius or a fool.”

Gaudi devoted himself 40 years in the developing of his last and beloved masterpiece, La Sagrada Famila before he hit by a tramway. The most pitiful was after he was hit down, none giving out their helping hands to help him to a hospital. Because of his ragged attire and empty pockets, taxi drivers refused to do so for the fear he is unable to pay the fare. Eventually, he was a taken to a hospital but died after 3 days. With his leaving, the masterpiece remained unfinished and the developing is scheduled to complete in 2020.