The Slow Artist: Part III
Choosing Depth
Welcome to the final chapter of this short series of articles titled "The Slow Artist"!
I deliberately use the word "choose" in the title of Part 3. Recognizing our freedom and potential in our daily decisions opens up the possibility to delve deeply, observe closely, and feel intensely. Every moment, we have the opportunity to align with our core values, an act of creativity we all share. We can take a different route to work, select our words carefully, decide what medium to interact with, and determine how we spend moments waiting for the bus, in the elevator, or in the supermarket line. Do we want to be distracted, or engage with our surroundings?
The artist's work is to live a life that looks beyond the surface, enabling deeper thoughts, feelings, and interactions that enrich our artistic practices and hopefully ignite something unique in those who engage with the art. To achieve this, the slow artist mindfully pauses, reflects, and questions behaviors deemed "normal" in mainstream society.
This creates space. Space that can transform how we live our life and how we feel in this world.
I believe this space is desperately needed in a world that constantly urges us to stay busy, produce content, be available, and remain visible all the time.
As artists, we understand that the best work comes from venturing far beyond the obvious. To bring this depth to our work, we decide to live differently than most people, who typically react to life rather than actively shaping it.
How do we enrich our work and lives?
We intentionally create an environment that fosters fascinating and invigorating work. By making some changes in our daily activities, we can experience life more fully:
Reading literature instead of the news
Cultivating awareness through meditation, rather than scrolling on social media
Spending money on travel rather than material possessions
Visiting the cinema more frequently instead of streaming
Engaging with and learning about poetry
Enrolling in dance classes
Learning a new language
Being a tourist in your own city
Engaging in conversations with strangers
Exploring new hobbies and acquiring new skills
All of these things should have one purpose: Play. Reconnect with the pure joy of trying new things for the sake of doing them, without any need for improvement or validation. Just show up, be present, and dive into this thrilling world you've uncovered, free from expectations or judgement. I guarantee that after a while, once this habit of explorative play becomes ingrained, you'll find a deeper connection with yourself and the world around you, which will naturally reflect in your creative practice.
The slow artist believes that quality surpasses quantity. By obsessing over quality, we opt for depth, rather than feeling compelled to conform to an always-on, output-oriented mindset.
The true strength of your work, whether it's music, film, poetry, dancing, gardening, teaching, or architecture, lies in your unique perspective. The world needs this perspective of yours. It always has and always will, especially in a world that is quickly outsourcing “creative” acts to AI.
Slow down. Have faith in the process. Mindfully manage your input and choose to delve deep.