week of 11/15– Loíza, Puerto Rico

“If this is a dream, don’t wake me up.“ — mawuie

Moments from here: Cuttyhunk Island, MA | Sept. 2021

September 2021

I want to create from a place of me.

November 2019

This post is a study of my interaction with, Argentinian Multidisciplinary Artist, Vivian Suter's solo exhibition that is currently on view at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA)-- Boston, Ma. This reflection summarizes how I experienced, interpreted and internalized Vivian's work. This is me sharing the lessons that I've learned from it and hope to incorporate into my own practice.

Vivian's work is real

it is raw

and it speaks to me.

It is a gentle reminder of the whole concept of "l'art pour l'art"-- art for the sake of art, and reaffirms that I must create from a place of freedom, curiosity, realness, and wholeness.

This show resonated with me so deeply. I admire the vibrant colors and how Vivian incorporates nature, earth, and her environment into the work that she creates. It's one thing to see photos online and how others have captured them, but when you go yourself and see these gigantic canvases in person, it is a breath-taking experience. The perfectly imperfect paint strokes, paw prints, leaves, twigs, scratches, splashed, rain stains, etc. So real, so raw. Each canvas telling a different story. Each approaching a whole different narrative.

Vivian's work is avant-garde.

It is a free, beautiful, captivating, breath of fresh air, and it completely redefined “art” for me and how it is "supposed to be" created.

I always thought that the artist has to go on a sabbatical and lock themselves in their studio for decades to create their masterpieces. But Vivian listens to herself. She will start her a new painting inside, and if her intuition tells her that it's a beautiful day to paint outside, she'll drag the huge canvas outside and continue with the work. And I just admire the freedom that she expresses.

I am obviously no painter (well, you never know.. maybe one day), but I am an artist and I want to also "paint a picture" through the work that I create- both literally through photography and art direction and figuratively through my writing. I want to paint a picture that is real, raw, the best representation of me, my beliefs and values, what matters to me, and what I stand for. I want my work to tell my story.

Thank you, Vivian, for reminding me that I should create from a place of love, curiosity, realness, wholeness.

A place of me- and not necessarily what art history or the digital age has told me that "art" is.

A place where I've internalized the whole concept of art, defined it for myself, and am now creating from a place of best.

A place where I am creating in my genius.

A place that means something to me.

Thank you, sis.