Wow, just wow! I am simply in awe of your work and Hope to be able to contribute to your crowd fund for the book. I really enjoy watching the videos of you working but do worry that you remember to breathe. Good Luck
"I feel nowadays creatives are gaslit and forcefully reeducated by an “art world” that can’t handle creativity unless it’s been standardised for the sake of monetisation." You're speaking my language!
It's only recently that I abandoned all my plans for gatekeepers wholesale: us literati have a harder time letting go of the traditional system that once enabled so many great things. (Though visual artists are dependent on academy training, I hear, or they will be "naive:" at least in the Western tradition) And when I get around to finishing my first play, I still don't know what I'll do since I can't even get the local theater troupe in my hometown to perform it unless an agent shoves it under their nose. But my approach (and my upcoming self-publication press will represent this ethos) is to embrace the Wilderness wholesale, as a pioneer would in the actual wilderness. The divisions are so clear-cut that be it traditional non-Western arts, forgotten and/or ignored Western arts or new trends outside the mainstream, it's the only way forward.
But by that I don't, of course, mean creative anarchy in the art itself. The institution likes that kind of thing because that way, it can form jargon opinions about red squares and then make fun of anybody who questions it because "you're just not as sophisticated as we are." It's part of how they control the arts. But the Wilderness metaphor still applies. You'll find all kinds of animals in the jungle but those animals themselves are fully formed, complete as they are. A tiger is a tiger, not a deconstructed tigerism.
I just came back from a book-shopping expedition and - suffice to say - spent a pretty penny. When it comes to my creativity, I'll do what it takes to keep it afloat. Without betraying my faith or my loved ones, of course. As big of a fan as I am of modernism, I think they were mistaken to ignore the creative inspiration to be found in those sources. Even after Huysmans and many others proved otherwise with faith, while Bohumil Hrabal would later prove otherwise with marriage. I read as much as I can from all around the world: my book load recently included, among other gems, an anthology of tales about Nasruddin the trickster, an anthology of Kazakh poetry and a long out-of-print collection of Filipino epic poems. Unfortunately, some jackass bought a book on Aboriginal myths in Australia first before I could buy it. Next time, though! :-)
I actually have a question for you (if you're at that stage yet): how have your experiences been with crowdfunding so far? I've never tried it.
There are artists who are successful -- in terms of gallery sales -- whose uniformity in what they exhibit leaves me wondering if that truly is all they ever do.
I find myself painting in wide loops, moving through favourite subjects and mediums to come back to each, sometimes at a similar point and sometimes at a different level or angle.
I wonder, is creativity uniquely human? I see a lot of creativity in the way many birds create their nests. Bowerbirds use mind-blowingly beautiful choices in color and geometry when building their nests in order to attract a mate. It's a symmetry and design aesthetic that is not unlike something I see in your work and process. I do however agree that creativity is at the core of what makes human life distinct, for good and ill. I love seeing the ways you honor that force. It's an inspiration.
My dear Jumana, I always appreciate your work and ideas. Having been for a long time in the "world of art" I can confirm all of what you are talking about. I love and applaud your definition of creativity in the place of "art" a term which is connected to a lot of worms of the western world. We can speak for hours may be for days or months on this subject, but I am optimist, I think your generation and younger generation will se it of a new sight or rebuild it from the beginning. I am happy and greatfull to read you and share with you.🧡🙏🏼
This work is beautiful and I can't wait to see more.
Lately I am doing at least as much teaching as I am art making. I believe the knowledge of working with natural art materials belongs to all of us, like herbalism or midwifery. When I am back in the studio making art I also have that collective feeling, like I am talking with my good friends of the plant and mineral world. It is hard to imagine exhibiting work without involving materials too. All of this seems quite contrary to the current norms of the art world. So for the moment the art is piling up in my flat file. Maybe in the coming year after some current long projects wrap up I will have the energy to start submitting them to shows. So grateful you are persevering despite the unclear path! I so value your work and how generously you share your thoughts and process.
Wow, just wow! I am simply in awe of your work and Hope to be able to contribute to your crowd fund for the book. I really enjoy watching the videos of you working but do worry that you remember to breathe. Good Luck
"I feel nowadays creatives are gaslit and forcefully reeducated by an “art world” that can’t handle creativity unless it’s been standardised for the sake of monetisation." You're speaking my language!
It's only recently that I abandoned all my plans for gatekeepers wholesale: us literati have a harder time letting go of the traditional system that once enabled so many great things. (Though visual artists are dependent on academy training, I hear, or they will be "naive:" at least in the Western tradition) And when I get around to finishing my first play, I still don't know what I'll do since I can't even get the local theater troupe in my hometown to perform it unless an agent shoves it under their nose. But my approach (and my upcoming self-publication press will represent this ethos) is to embrace the Wilderness wholesale, as a pioneer would in the actual wilderness. The divisions are so clear-cut that be it traditional non-Western arts, forgotten and/or ignored Western arts or new trends outside the mainstream, it's the only way forward.
But by that I don't, of course, mean creative anarchy in the art itself. The institution likes that kind of thing because that way, it can form jargon opinions about red squares and then make fun of anybody who questions it because "you're just not as sophisticated as we are." It's part of how they control the arts. But the Wilderness metaphor still applies. You'll find all kinds of animals in the jungle but those animals themselves are fully formed, complete as they are. A tiger is a tiger, not a deconstructed tigerism.
I just came back from a book-shopping expedition and - suffice to say - spent a pretty penny. When it comes to my creativity, I'll do what it takes to keep it afloat. Without betraying my faith or my loved ones, of course. As big of a fan as I am of modernism, I think they were mistaken to ignore the creative inspiration to be found in those sources. Even after Huysmans and many others proved otherwise with faith, while Bohumil Hrabal would later prove otherwise with marriage. I read as much as I can from all around the world: my book load recently included, among other gems, an anthology of tales about Nasruddin the trickster, an anthology of Kazakh poetry and a long out-of-print collection of Filipino epic poems. Unfortunately, some jackass bought a book on Aboriginal myths in Australia first before I could buy it. Next time, though! :-)
I actually have a question for you (if you're at that stage yet): how have your experiences been with crowdfunding so far? I've never tried it.
There are artists who are successful -- in terms of gallery sales -- whose uniformity in what they exhibit leaves me wondering if that truly is all they ever do.
I find myself painting in wide loops, moving through favourite subjects and mediums to come back to each, sometimes at a similar point and sometimes at a different level or angle.
Good luck with your crowdfunder!
I wonder, is creativity uniquely human? I see a lot of creativity in the way many birds create their nests. Bowerbirds use mind-blowingly beautiful choices in color and geometry when building their nests in order to attract a mate. It's a symmetry and design aesthetic that is not unlike something I see in your work and process. I do however agree that creativity is at the core of what makes human life distinct, for good and ill. I love seeing the ways you honor that force. It's an inspiration.
My dear Jumana, I always appreciate your work and ideas. Having been for a long time in the "world of art" I can confirm all of what you are talking about. I love and applaud your definition of creativity in the place of "art" a term which is connected to a lot of worms of the western world. We can speak for hours may be for days or months on this subject, but I am optimist, I think your generation and younger generation will se it of a new sight or rebuild it from the beginning. I am happy and greatfull to read you and share with you.🧡🙏🏼
This work is beautiful and I can't wait to see more.
Lately I am doing at least as much teaching as I am art making. I believe the knowledge of working with natural art materials belongs to all of us, like herbalism or midwifery. When I am back in the studio making art I also have that collective feeling, like I am talking with my good friends of the plant and mineral world. It is hard to imagine exhibiting work without involving materials too. All of this seems quite contrary to the current norms of the art world. So for the moment the art is piling up in my flat file. Maybe in the coming year after some current long projects wrap up I will have the energy to start submitting them to shows. So grateful you are persevering despite the unclear path! I so value your work and how generously you share your thoughts and process.