Category: Discussions/Essays

“Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be; embrace who you are.” — Brené Brown, Writer

All of us are different; we all have different body types, different interests, different talents, different beliefs, different politics. That’s what diversity is — we’re all meant to be different. At the same time we’re all in this together, connected in ways largely unseen and unforeseen not unlike the wings of a butterfly influencing a typhoon hundreds of miles away. Therefore, how we hold ourselves accountable keeps us focused and in harmony with the universe. There is an order to things and its our choice whether we want to align ourselves with this order or take part in its obstruction or disorder. Sometimes, we need to get ourselves back on track while at other times, it’s best to just get out of the way (i.e. of doing too much and overstepping our limitations.) This is the Taoist concept known as Wu Wei (non-action or not forcing).

“Without desire there is stillness, And the world settles by itself.” — Tao Te Ching

The solution to living seems complicated but need not be. We only need to find that “one thing” — our calling — to set us straight. If we do find it and carry it out with as much effort, integrity and respect as we can, all else will pretty much fall into place. To resist our calling is to contribute to the disorder of things and muck up the universe. This leads to illness and hurt to ourselves and society, and not just by the loss of our unrealized potential.

What does resistance feel like? First, unhappiness. We feel like hell. A low-grade misery pervades everything. We’re bored, we’re restless … we feel unloved and unlovable. We’re disgusted. We hate our lives, we hate ourselves.

Unalleviated, Resistance mounts to a pitch that becomes unendurable. At this point vice kicks in. Dope, adultery, web surfing. Beyond that, Resistance becomes clinical. Depression, aggression, dysfunction. Then actual crime and physical self-destruction.” — Steven Pressfield, The War of Art.

That calling, that “one thing” is our craft, our art. And I’m not referring only to the visual arts or even necessarily the creative vocations. It means every kind of craft and career be it science, economics, construction, nursing or farming. The list goes on. All have a role to play. No one craft is superior to another. None. Any significant difference among individuals and action is in the dignity by which the job is done; the respect, love and care that an individual puts into the work. That’s it. It’s that focus on attentiveness and process again. How and why we do things versus what we do. It’s about quality and not quickness, stewardship rather than ownership. It’s a free market system of process above profit while allowing for dutiful and honourable individual expression. History has proven time and again that societal systems that either puts money above people (unregulated capitalism) or suppresses individual freedom (communist totalitarianism) will both negate our humanity. Remember, work is a good thing; we’re designed to do it. But there’s much more value to work than the profits of one’s labour. Happiness lies elsewhere, beyond the accumulation of material wealth and our own self-obsession or even any specific ideology. Instead, it lies in being, creating and connecting.

… among the things that give man pleasure are relations with other human beings — conversation, eating together, singing, dancing, having children, and cooperation in work which “many hands make light.” Indeed, one of the highest pleasures is to be more or less unconscious of one’s own existence, to be absorbed in interesting sights, sounds, places and people. Conversely, one of the greatest pains is to be self-conscious, to feel unabsorbed and cut off from the community and the surrounding world.” — Alan Watts, Philosopher

Here, on this blog the focus is on the visual arts because that’s my primary interest. But the many various aspects of human civilization should be of interest to everyone. Artists should learn about the basic tenets of medicine or business just as doctors and investments managers should enlarge their exposure to the arts. This doesn’t mean that we should become scatterbrained (far from it) but that we should have a healthy interest and respect for other facets of society. Until we become more aware and more empathetic, we’ll continue to misunderstand each other, leaning instead towards division, blame and hatred. Opening our eyes so that we can experience society through our own specified craft strengthens our art which both reflects our humanity and helps to explain it — the “one thing” encompassing all things.

… to love life through labour is to be intimate with life’s inmost secret.” — Kahlil Gibran, Philosopher/Artist

How do we know what that “one thing” is then? That’s for each of us to find out for ourselves. Sometimes — and oftentimes — we must first explore who we’re not before we can find out who we are. This is the journey. And it’s a marvelous one filled with excitement, fear, joy and suffering that’s all pretty much unpredictable. I don’t think we can have it any other way. All things, both good and bad, come attached which means we’ll need to play this game expectation-free and completely vulnerable. But that’s alright, because with vulnerability comes the courage to overcome difficulty and the discovery of real meaning. It’s ok to be scared.

And, if we already know what we’re supposed to do and ain’t doing it, then we better stop screwing around and get with it.

“Action expresses priorities.” — Mahatma Gandhi, Activist

One must be in it and of it wholly. Before a subject can be transmuted aesthetically it must be devoured and absorbed. If it is a painting it must perspire with ecstasy.” — Henry Miller, Writer

Being an artist is both liberating and immensely difficult. Freedom (and authenticity) comes with the price of discipline. Part of that discipline is forcing ourselves to accept the need to be, at times, completely vulnerable. Our art demands it, else it won’t be true nor distinctly ours.

Our logical minds love to get in the way. Rationalizations and the ever-critical left-brain will always do its best to stop us from taking risks. If we hold back, we think that we’ll be less responsible for non-favorable outcomes. But what’s for certain is that we’ll also be far less invested. Perhaps this is why it’s so challenging to find the “best” answers to problems that matter. Creativity won’t lend itself to easy solutions or formulas; we can’t achieve ecstasy without anxiety or pain.

There are no rules to be established, no handy recipes to master, or you will produce nothing but industrial art.” — Henri Matisse, Artist

Sure, there are standards, and if the work is particularly commercial or industrial, then yes, by all means borrow and duplicate; it’ll work, at least for a short while. But if we want to create something new, something exciting, something that lasts, then we must get personally involved. This isn’t popular in today’s large scale corporate culture. Proposals and ideas fostering new approaches or products require research, time and patience — elements viewed as impediments in the drive for short term profits. Furthermore, we all know that groundbreaking work is isn’t easily nor readily accepted. Doing anything new, let alone art, will ALWAYS be challenged.

Art, all art, not just painting, is a foreign city, and we deceive ourselves when we think it familiar. No one is surprised to find a foreign city follows its own customs and speaks its own language. Only a boor would ignore both and blame his defaulting on the place. Everyday this happens to the artist and the art.” — Jeanette Winterson, Writer

Therefore, the artist must remain steadfast and courageous. He must dare to be kind, open and different, to be utterly and completely vulnerable — traits society tells us endanger his very being. But he mustn’t compromise vision or instinct on behalf of fear and insecurity. The monkey brain obsessed with codes and dollar signs — which can carry with them a very convincing allure of certainty — must be ignored.

“Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.” — Erich Fromm, Pyschologist

The irony is that there is no such thing as security. If there’s one thing that’s certain in this universe, it’s change and unpredictability. Taking chances and trying new things is not just a way to find personal fulfillment, but the only way forward for mankind. Unfortunately, as much as man has achieved in terms of industrial advances and new technology, the mindset of society is still one of scarcity as the obsessive concentration of wealth and power — often at the expense of many others — continues to dominate our world. Historical hierarchical structures are no longer efficient or pragmatic in a world of almost 8 billion people with vast means of instant communication. Clinging to the old standards of education and careers for security might, ironically, become the one way to lose it in today’s ever-changing world.

“The only people who get paid enough, get paid what they’re worth, are people who don’t follow the instruction book, who create art, who are innovative, who work without a map. That option is now available to everyone, so take it.” — Seth Godin, Writer/Marketer

I suspect within the next 25 to 30 years, the world will look vastly different from the one that’s in front of us now. Artists and non-artists alike will be taking a more personal and “artistic” approach to living; no dogmas, no rules, no restrictions on how to be. There will be an opportunity, perhaps even a self-driven obligation, to engage in life and doing a craft, whatever that may be, fully attentive and fully committed. A life of connection rather than one of accumulation.  Process over product, throughout the day, every day.

To let each impression and each germ of a feeling come to completion wholly in itself, in the dark, in the inexpressible, the unconscious, beyond the reach of one’s own intelligence, and await with the deep humility and patience the birth-hour of a new clarity; that alone is living the artist’s life; in understanding as in creating.” — Rainer Maria Rilke, Poet

Ultimately, we can’t do our best holding ourselves back, producing “safe” work. Nor will we ever find real joy and truth in our actions should we act according to other people’s opinions. Personally speaking, the only regrettable mistakes I’ve ever made always involved choosing an outside voice over my own. That kind of pain stays with you for a long long time.

If you’re gonna fail, it’s better to fail on your own terms and not someone else’s.” — Clint Eastwood, Actor/Director