in this chaotic world, art is the only thing that will always remain.

Hello, it's been a while. Is it too late to say Happy New Year? Either way, HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Crazy how we're already in our fourth month into 2023, time seems to be flying and I can't seem to keep up. But if you were to ask me how I've been or what I've been up to the last few months I would not be able to tell you. 

I've been in a bit of a slump which is why it's been quiet on this blog and even on my guitar page and for that I apologise, but hopefully I'll be up and running soon and post one or two things this year. But this slump has kind of got me thinking and then I skimmed through 'Portrait of a Thief' and I came across a few quotes which sparked some inspiration to write this post. And the topic of today's blog is : art and the different forms. 

Whilst skimming through the book, I had noticed that I had underlined this quote: "Will, who had always art, who saw beauty and wanted it, to make or to consume or to just be around." I, like many others, consume myself in various different forms of art on a regular basis. I've always been fascinated by the notion of art, growing up I loved going to various museums and just spending the day there. I just thought and still think that it was so cool that there's various forms of being able to express yourself and for it to be out there in the world forever. Leaving a permanent mark that would have an impact on anybody at any given time is just so awesome. Through music, books, paintings, sculptures we're really living through experiences and emotions that we will not really ever experience because it's seen through the eye of another person. Isn't that crazy? It's so cool. I think about it often and I just feel as if art is truly one of the most powerful things in the world. For people to use their experiences and find a way to interpret it is so fascinating. It's so beautiful. In a world that can bring so much chaos, art stands out because of its timeless beauty. It can never age because of the various different interpretations that you can make from it. I want to constantly be surrounded by that because I learn so much from it and I constantly get inspired from it. 

For example, I love watching guitar covers or listening to remixes of songs. Because it's someone's interpretation of the song. It changes the vibe, the tone and even a beat or an extra riff or something gives the song a whole different meaning. It's through the lens of another artist and it always blows my mind. Art is honestly so cool. Even with books, I've briefly mentioned this before but every single story is another persons interpretation of the world, what it could be, what it used to be or what it currently is through their perspective. And I think in that sense art is such a great source of escape, especially when the world feels "like it could crack open with a touch".  Being surrounded by art feels like you're constantly given a big hug. That feeling of comfort that we get through various forms of art will never ever fade.

For me, at times consuming or being around art is not enough. I'd love to constantly create art in some way. Art is such a great way of expressing ourselves that if I was able to create art or carrying on creating art I would be able to understand myself more and be myself more rather than try and be a version that I'm so unsure about. 

When I think about the present and even the future, I used to think of it like an endless straight tunnel. Because I always felt that what I wanted and how to get there was so unclear and full of uncertainty. But these days I've replaced the tunnel with a canvas. Sure things aren't that much clearer in terms of what I want and my dreams but as I carry on doing my thing, I can just feel as if I'm completing a painting and heading towards an unfinished dream. To also remind myself that whilst things might seem permanent in that moment, it's temporary and I can start again by just painting over the canvas. And being surrounded by art also helps with that because of how much we learn from it. I just love it and appreciate it so much. 

"The world felt like it could crack open with a touch, spill yolk and careful possibility."

- Portrait of a Thief by Grace D Li.

Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read my post! Hope you all stay healthy and happy as often as you can!

- Sweena :)