Parallel Lines: Art life, art in life, art from life
© Federica Belli
Written by Federica Belli
Emerging artists are this weird slice of society which is constantly split between dreaming such big dreams they sound too stupid to even be stuttered out loud until they take shape and doubting whether their existence in this world even makes sense. Fine-art photographers tend to fall in this category. Making a living out of a visual language that is so widespread and popular is everything but easy, confronting one’s demons in order to give life to powerful spiritual images is slight torture: no other reason than an obsession can motivate someone to take the courage and go for it. But then again, while dreaming so big generally causes all these young idealist doers to feel constantly and unbearably out of place in social situations and daily happenings, it is precisely those big dreams that once in a while allow for some magic to occur. Kindred souls recognise kindred souls. And if one just has the eye and the persistence to attend the right situations often enough – openings? go there, be there really. conferences? attend, listen really. art libraries? visit, talk to the people openly – these encounters do happen. And there is no feeling as comforting as hearing your unripe and twisted beliefs about the meaning behind the creation of art, the potential of big dreams and the struggles of an uncommon lifestyle coming out of the mouth of someone who survived these demons for twice your own lifespan. Obsession and dedication shine through your eyes, never doubt that. Those who have lived with their own troubled dreams for long enough can immediately recognise someone going through their own path. And such encounters will be the ones that give you the strength to keep dreaming. Last week has been constellated with these encounters for me, and the next one could be the one coming for you. I heard Patti Smith chant about how breaking through the veil of daily life and getting to a real understanding of earth and all the suffering can at times be demanding to the point of giving up, but that enduring such pain is her job – and she continuously does her job. I listened to Lou Doillon sweetly admit how every new album release is just a door that once opened leads to another closed door – and the perception that she won’t ever be able to open the next one, yet in the end one always does manage to open that door. Rebecca Larmarche Vadel wonderfully stated that in our days it is fundamental to create in a state of love and faith, that it is fundamental to create with intensity; Nicolas Bourriaud made me think about how the lack of a predefined way of living for artists is a wonderful opportunity to trace our own and maybe lead an avantgarde life.
How? It all came from listening, from attending lectures, from going where I was not invited and bringing my own chair. From asking questions kindly and honestly, but still asking questions. From smiling when talking about my own difficulties in creating yet honestly comforting others’ sharing their own struggles. It all came from bringing those same values and beliefs that hold up my art to my life. And the experiment worked wonders. Because these days, the art that really speaks does not speak about life anymore, it speaks from life. And life coincides with art. Try it out yourself, money-back guarantee – and not just because Musée comes for free.
© Federica Belli
