Why have you chosen to be an artist/creative? What is your “raison d’être”?
To be honest, I was thinking about it for a long time and after a while, I came to the realization that life is fragile and short, and I want to spend my time on this earth doing things that fulfill me.
Which of your works are you the most proud of and why?
The work that instantly pops into my mind is a project that is not mine, but one that I worked on as the Videographer. That is Makalah Harrison’s dance film “Abídàkun: One Born to End All Future Births”. It just makes me proud because seeing its journey from idea to reality was so euphoric/filled me with so much joy. Also stress, but more so joy.
Also, just seeing the hard work of the director, dancers, musicians, even our transportation. I just really appreciated the process, the finished product, the experience I gained from it and more importantly the fulfillment it gave me.
How do you handle creative blocks?
I haven’t quite figured this out as yet. And I’m currently in one lol. So I’ll let you know once I make it out. ;).
How do you stay true to yourself while evolving as an artist?
By reminding myself :
- “Change is the only constant in this volatile world”,so try to embrace it more than fighting it.
- “It’s ok to try things and make mistakes.” ‘Cause every artist I met seems to have a bunch of stories about all the things they tried and the mistakes they made, but also the lessons they learned from them.
- “It’s ok to say no, and also I can change my mind “*N.B, see point #1.
- “Being real with where I’m at, where I want to be and how to get there”; de-lu-lu isn’t always the so-lu-lu.
- “Be as kind and patient to myself as I am with others “. ‘Cause I struggle with all the things I’ve listed….periodtttttt.
When people engage with your work, what do you want them to get out of it?
It depends. If it’s work I create for someone, say I choreograph a dance, film or edit a video, or even write a song, I kind of look at it like a puzzle that I’m helping them with. So in that sense, whatever the theme, emotion, or idea that is wanted to be felt is what I’m concerned with.
When creating for myself I haven’t found exactly what I want persons to get out of my work, but If it makes them feel something, or even just sparks up a conversation, I think that’s interesting.
I’ve been learning that for me it is almost like being underwater and needing to come up for air, or an itch that I need to scratch. So my work is more concerned with my need to feel the catharsis/release I get from seeing something that was just a thought in my head materialize in the real world. But maybe I’ll know for sure as I develop more.
