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Pierre-Laurent Aimard is a classical pianist and professor at the Paris Conservatory and the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne. Born in Lyon, France, he is widely acclaimed as a key[…]
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Alcohol, drugs and pathology blur the boundaries between a various forms of experience, and as such are the perfect fuel for the artist.

Question: What is the link between alcohol and creativity?

Pierre Laurent Aimard: Well, I would say there is a link between the loss of senses and creativity and not just alcohol, but drugs, or pathology. And of course, this had been the subject of many studies, very fascinating, and many tries. The question is to know how much, what provocates the loss of the control is needed for that, or is the creator capable or able, to get to this experimental points without what creates the loss of the sense. In other words, this is always the flirt, I would say, with the border between control and loss of control, or between consciousness and unconsciousness that is so fascinating and has been so fascinating, especially at some moments of mankind, and that we can explore today probably with a more acute way thanks to neurobiology.


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