At what point do you admit to yourself this isn't working? I've been an "artist" since I was in my teens. I've shown since then in art shows, galleries, and art fairs, both public and private, group and solo. But I've never tried to advertise myself, I find the entire process dirty and whorish. Read that with every bit of contempt it implies to this process.
Consequentially, I am not a functioning artist in a capitalist world. I grew up in a time period totally at odds with my personality and ethos. I have always felt, if you like it then own it or interact with it, if not there's more out there for you.
No one tries to force you to eat a vegetable you hate, they don't even ask why. Why then are artists required to try to convince folks to buy their art or support them? Capitalism has turned us all into well-trained consumption pigs that fight over the slop, begging for bigger heaps even while we're slaughtered to make more of it.
This is not healthy for any of us.
I've never played any of these games.
My art has quietly been made out of 90% reclaimed material. I don't brag, I don't proselytise, again I find that judgmental and rude. It's my choice to try and leave a smaller footprint. Others who brag do exceedingly well, it's got great social appeal to "recycle".
I realise these are my choices, play the game or not, succeed or starve. Art being a line between these two having always been razor-thin in my lifetime.
We seem to be hard-wired with a sunk cost fallacy; capitalism preys on that, exacerbating it. So at what point to do you say enough is enough. This is a waste of my time. How pathetic is my life, expelled chasing this psychotic path, literally choosing between a place to live and food and homelessness and hunger? When do I admit I am not an artist, just a person who makes shit that no one understands or cares about because I cannot find anything better to pursue?
No one needs art, this world certainly does not want living artists. Those giant carrots we chase because an auction sold a piece for a million dollars, those aren't us, are not me. Will never be me. Those buyers are not artist loving collectors, they're filthy rich pricks who just want to brag about owning shit. Because the bragging is more important than the enrichment. The bigger the buck, the better the brag.
I think '26 is finally the year I say enough. Pursue a hobby you're shit at, it's less expensive and far less psychotic. This life just seems pointless as fuck.
#art #artist #sculpt #fineart #oneofakind #gallery #artshow #happynewyear #capitalismsucksass #fuckbroligarchs #scifi #sciencefiction #writer #cyberpunk
