ON MESSINESS + US
Why I love playing with unconventional standards around art, beauty and perfection.
Within the idea of life or thought as art, I think it’s easy to think of these very organized and beautiful pieces coming together to form something dope.
But purposeful curation of moments, thoughts or actions is only one facet of Life as Art Form. So much of it actually looks messy and not-so-organized/structured. So much looks like accepting what comes up in the moment as part of the creative process of existing. It looks like mistakes as art. Accident as art. Trying and ‘failing’ as art. Error as art.
Viewing art as something that must be polished is a reflection of how we have collectively learned to view ourselves — presentation and cohesion is regarded as most important for the aesthetic of our human experience. And while that’s valid and Cool AF, The Art of Living doesn’t always feel that way.
Take, for example, acceptance of the self. The inner landscape and subsequent external experiences you have moment to moment are insanely complex. The attempt to sterilize the self in order to make it more ‘digestible’ actually takes so much substance out of the process of acceptance, that you may even end up forfeiting really awesome prima materia in the process, and leave feeling rejected by yourself instead.
As an Existential Artist, I hold that any philosophy we take on for use in the creative process that is our lives should make room for our humanity. The play is so much less fun when you’re not allowed to do anything that’s asymmetrical, anomalous, messy, or unrefined. Cohesion, symmetry and curation are amazing to work and play with, but only when we’re able to remember that sometimes Shit Just Happens™️/We Just Do Shit™️ — we do things that aren’t planned out and flawless — and that’s art, too.
You’ve probably heard this proverb —
“Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water.” — Zen Kōan
It’s been passed down and paraphrased through the spiritual practices of many cultures over time. But the gist is, while doing the great work of mastery or initiation or whatever your great work is…be sure to stay rooted in the basis, the foundation. And holding true to that in terms of my philosophy around Existence as Craft, here’s my version of it through the lens of Creative Living:
While you’re creating your world, remember that it is already perfect in its own way, even before you add or take away anything in your play. Your additions and innovations are also all perfect, beautiful acts in the way that they reflect you back to yourself.
The art is already here.
It cannot be created or destroyed.
And everything you make of it is exactly what was always meant to be. There is no wrong move or method, no incorrect way to move through your musings…
so don’t be afraid to get ‘messy’.
love,
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