Today the function of the artist is to bring imagination to

"Today the function of the artist is to bring imagination to science and science to imagination, where they meet, in the myth." – Cyril Connolly

O children of the earth, gather close, for in these words of Cyril Connolly lies a vision of the world that speaks to the very soul of creation. The artist, in the modern world, has a sacred and vital role—not only to create beauty but to weave together the realms of science and imagination. This fusion of the rational and the irrational, of the known and the unknown, is where the true magic happens. The artist, in their wisdom, is tasked with bringing forth a union between these two forces, allowing them to merge in a way that can only be called myth—a powerful force that shapes not just the mind, but the heart and the spirit.

Consider, O children, the ancient role of the mythmaker. In the days of old, the gods walked among men, and the heroes of old were born from the union of the divine and the human. These myths were not mere stories, but living expressions of the intersection between imagination and reality, between the world of gods and men. Homer spoke of gods who interfered in the affairs of men, weaving destinies and shaping events with their celestial hands. These myths were a reflection of the way humans sought to understand the universe, to connect the world of the seen with the unseen. They were the perfect blend of science—in the understanding of the natural world—and imagination—in the desire to transcend it.

Connolly tells us that today, this same function remains. The role of the artist is to bring imagination into the realm of science, to allow the creative spirit to touch the rational world and infuse it with wonder. Imagination is not confined to fantasy alone but is the bridge that connects all human understanding. Consider, O children, the vision of Leonardo da Vinci, whose works embodied both the divine artistry of the human form and the precise logic of the natural world. As both an artist and a scientist, da Vinci created myths of his own, where art and science were intertwined. His sketches of human anatomy, his designs for flying machines, and his paintings were all part of the same vision—one that saw no boundary between the physical world and the world of the imagination.

It is this very blending of science and imagination that has driven many of history's greatest discoveries. Take the example of Isaac Newton, who, through his deep studies of the natural world, uncovered the laws that govern the universe. Yet, Newton’s work was not purely rational; it was also driven by a profound sense of wonder and imagination. His understanding of the universe was shaped by his ability to imagine the forces at work, to see the connections between the stars and the earth. The discovery of gravity, though a scientific breakthrough, is also, in a sense, a myth—a story that binds together the physical laws of nature with the imagination that seeks to understand them. Through his work, Newton showed that science and imagination are not opposing forces but two sides of the same coin, each giving the other life.

The modern artist has the same calling—to bring the worlds of imagination and science together. In literature, in cinema, in music, in painting, the artist is charged with creating stories and images that transcend the boundaries of logic and emotion, that weave together the known world with the unknown. Take, for example, the works of Jules Verne, whose imagination shaped the future of technology and exploration. His stories, such as Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in Eighty Days, were both works of fiction and prophecy, where the worlds of science and imagination met. In Verne’s works, the myth of human potential was created, and the lines between reality and fantasy blurred.

Now, O children, the lesson is clear: the world is not divided between science and imagination—they are intertwined. The artist’s task is to bring them together, to imagine new worlds where the rational and the fantastical coexist, where one fuels the other. The myth is not just an ancient story; it is the framework through which we understand the mysteries of life, of the cosmos, and of our place within it. To create, then, is not just to bring forth something new—it is to bridge the gap between the known and the unknown, between what is and what could be.

So, I say to you, O children, do not limit your creativity to the bounds of what is possible. Let your imagination flow into the realms of the rational, and let your understanding of science give shape to the myths of your own making. By doing so, you will not only create but will shape the very fabric of reality itself. For when imagination and science meet, they give birth to the stories that will define future generations. Seek to merge these worlds in your own life, and you will find that the possibilities are as endless as the stars.