Okay, let's talk about art for a second.
Many things are changing lately. The seasons, our perspectives, and the ways in which people live and experience the world. There are many other aspects, of course, but I'll use those for now.
What does change have to do with art?
I believe everything.
I think art follows the natural order of our humanity. As we grow, experience, discover, and change, so does the way we express ourselves. Art is an extension of our inner worlds, shaped by the experiences and perspectives we develop along the way.
If art has the capacity to create change, why shouldn't it change itself?
Art will continue to grow, transform, and expand as we do. And perhaps that's part of its nature.
I'm riffing right now, but follow me.
I've been practicing photography for over a decade, and throughout that time, I've noticed my art change with time, space, and experience. I've explored my creativity in many different ways, and there have also been times when I haven't explored it much at all. You know... life.
But through all of this, I've come to recognize something about my relationship with art.
To me, art is fundamentally formless and fluid.
Not because it lacks structure or identity, but because its possibilities are so diverse. I see art as a canvas through which we put forth the unique perspectives of our inner worlds. Our experiences, curiosities, environments, and interpretations all contribute to what we create.
Much like an ecosystem, art can take countless forms, each contributing to something greater while maintaining its own identity.
And I think that's beautiful.
I bring this perspective up because I've noticed something interesting in recent years.
Art seems to have increasingly taken form through appeasement.
I mean, look at the state of social media. Trends, popular subjects, familiar aesthetics, and recognizable styles often receive the greatest attention.
And as a result?
I wonder how much authentic expression gets overlooked, or even abandoned, in favor of what is already popular.
I believe art should be as unique and expansive as the curiosity of its creator.
Now, curiosity can certainly be inspired by popularity. We discover new ideas, techniques, and perspectives through what others create. There's nothing inherently wrong with that.
But when popularity becomes our primary beacon for creation, I think we risk limiting curiosity rather than expanding it.
Instead of exploring what we might discover, we begin considering what others might approve of.
And I believe this extends beyond art.
Think about how this might influence our willingness to speak our minds on subjects that aren't commonly discussed, explore unfamiliar perspectives, or simply exist in ways that don't conform to conventional expectations.
When popularity becomes the measure of what deserves recognition, we risk creating spaces where certain truths, experiences, and perspectives aren't easily accepted.
Not necessarily because they lack value, but because they fall outside what's familiar.
Now listen, I'm not against popular work.
My perspective is more in line with creating from authentic spaces. Popularity can absolutely be a beacon of what's possible in terms of inspiration and expansiveness. It can introduce us to things we might never have imagined on our own.
But I don't believe it should become the authority that determines what art ought to be.
I think art is meant to be diverse and rich, rather than limited by mainstream expectations, dominant ideologies, or marketing purposes.
And if art truly follows the natural order of our humanity, shouldn't we allow it the same freedom to evolve that we experience ourselves?
Art does not need to exist beyond form. It needs the freedom to take forms we have yet to imagine.
Anyway, those are my thoughts for now.
Let me know what y'all think in the comments if you read this. Speak freely! I love a good debate.
