What Artists Told Me
I have often wondered how people chose (or stumble upon) their occupation. Think about the significance of this for a minute. We come to existence and we have one life, laughably short in the grand scheme of things, and we have this limited time to spend in some way, alive in the world. No pressure!
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I often wondered how much people’s need for control has an impact on their choice of occupation. If you need to feel like you're in control, I thought, you get a 9-5 job, predictability, stability, employability – all the “lities” you need to feel in control. And if you don't feel the need to be in control so much - you follow the elusive passion, you go with the flow, you make art.
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One day I decided to talk to people who practice arts professionally or semi-professionally about what drives them. It was a great excuse to do my favourite kind of photoshoot – people practicing their craft, doing something they love! Here is what they told me. And - I don’t know if you’d agree with me on this – turns out even artists can be real control freaks.
Does art imitate life or does life imitate art?
"For me they are one whole piece, united much like the body and mind are. If consciousness didn’t give it life, the body would be just a sum of cells, organs and neurons. In the same way life would be mere existence if it wasn’t for art. It is in everyone and everything because everyone creates – we create our life, our consciousness, our surroundings, our personality. We, people, are the creations of our own thoughts and intentions. And our thoughts are what define our reality."
Rossy, opera singer
Why are artists so much more passionate about what they do than other people are about their work?
"Because artists do things by their own will and choice. Art is something you carry within yourself and, regardless of what you may have decided to do or what others expect you to do, it finds a way to come to the surface and manifest itself. To be an artist means to be in your place. And when someone feels in their place, there is no way not to be inspired by everything they do."
Rossy, opera singer
Does art imitate life or does life imitate art?
"Life and art are in constant conversation and much like a conversation those involved need to keep an eye on where it's heading."
Jonathan, musician
What is unique about music compared to other arts?
"Music is one of the most accessible forms of art, I genuinely believe anybody can participate in music if they put the time into it. Apart from that I would usually celebrate how much music has in common with other art forms and how it has become entwined with the majority of other forms."
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Jonathan, musician
Does art imitate life or does life imitate art?
" I think in art we can’t speak of imitation, at least not with the meaning I assign to this word, which is that of an illustration. Art poses questions. People rarely pose questions, not to mention seek their answers. The way I imagine it, art - any kind of art - does not illustrate life but leads a constant dialogue with its ways, fears, passions, values."
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Vera, dancer
Is making art more of an indulgence or more of a discipline?
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"When you make art you treat it with respect, even if it is subconsciously – at least you should do. This inclination undoubtedly makes you disciplined as well. The process is painful. It always is, there is no other way. As Al Pacino says, the actor is an emotional athlete. However, everyone interprets the pain in a different way. When you create, you are devoted. When you are devoted, you are disciplined. You count on your endurance a lot. And this whole process brings a lot of joy."
Vera, dancer
Does art imitate life or does life imitate art?
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"For me art imitates life. Every idea I have comes from an aspect of my real life. Situations occur and I note them down because I feel that the world needs to experience that moment I just had. "
Monique, screenwriter
Why are artists so much more passionate about what they do than other people are about their work?
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"I wouldn't say they are more passionate than others; but the reason why they are passionate to begin with is because in order to choose a lifestyle that pays you after you have completed your work, a lifestyle that has no guarantees, a lifestyle where a piece of you will be criticised by the rest of the world, it has to be your passion that drives you. "
Monique, screenwriter
Does art imitate life or does life imitate art?
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"I believe that art does imitate life, because life comes first. We create art by using the inspiration from what we perceive in the world. We deliver our life experiences into all sorts of art forms. We have dreams, we even get inspired by our dream and turn that inspiration into art. Hence, life is giving us the power to create. Artists need a source to base what they are going to create on. "
Marie, fashion designer
Why are artists so much more passionate about what they do than other people are about their work?
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"I neither agree with nor really understand your question. Perhaps you need to pose it differently? I've met people who are so passionate in their work - a waiter, a cleaner, a plumber, a doctor, a nurse, a mother… the list could go on and on. So, if I must answer your question... Well the answer has to be... because they are egotists?”
Marie, fashion designer