Artistic Exploration #Aging the way we should or should not #HereAndNow

June 21, 2017 by Vacen

The famous Japanese painter Hokusai said that everything he did before he was 73 was quite worthless and that it was only after then, he had embarked on his true artistic career.

Instincts or innate impulses.

innate meaning – existing in you from birth. (e.g. innate musical talent)
impulse – influence a particular feeling or mental state.

I’ve always been deeply interested in human beings and their biological, social and psychological development. So much so that I embarked on a counselling qualification and then a community service qualification, covering mental health, disability, homelessness, youth, aged care, sociology, housing, legal and ethical compliance, psychological theories and therapies (CBT, Gestalt, Family, Person-Centred, Solution-Focused, Narrative etc.) Soon to begin a Bachelor of Social Welfare. I balance this learning with my creative creations because this way I can be the master of my own creative source. I have the knowledge to extend my passion for social welfare and human welfare and merge it with art.

When an artist starts to explore an idea it can be stimulated from lots of different sources. For instance, in some therapies, we are encouraged to look back to bring about an awareness of old patterns of behaviour and once understood it can bring closure to the person. Which in actual fact has been the story framework told many times over and over in books, films, and theatre, yesterday and today.

What am I afraid of?

Of course when we look at the past and do not take action to change the present behaviour generated by the past, well, we are left with regret, anger, sadness and often the feeling of inactivity. No energy left for the NOW. Yet again this concept has been explored in film and theatre many, many times. Their past providing a framework for the protagonist or antagonist’s behaviour in the film, book or on the stage.

For me, the artistic connection is being able to finesse the idea to help it shine – artful management through mindful connection to biological, social and psychological development or decline.

I have a connection to the country

I prefer to live creatively in the here and now. Being in the here and now is not a new idea. It comes as the 9th law of karma.

9. The Law of Here and Now

One cannot be in the here and now if they are looking backward to examine what was or forward to worry about the future; old thoughts, old patterns of behavior, and old dreams prevent us from having new ones.

I am.. all of these here and now

Substance

Layers

Gaze

Social

Happy

And sometimes the most interesting stories can be told when in the here and now. And when we explore this state in creative terms, we just might be able to unzip a strange new world of specific objects to evoke a story that will stimulate an emotional response.

So until next time… “Be brave and bold in your chosen field of creativity. And never be afraid to explore new techniques”

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