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Just woke up from a really meta narrative dream and I wanna write it down before I forget. Ok so in the dream world I’m about 30, and I finally decide to go to art school, to focus on a medium I have zero background (but a moderate amount of interest) in: painting https://t.co/KjhPt0h9Kq
I’m older than the rest of my coursemates, who are incredibly talented teenagers who’ve been painting practically since they were in the womb. I’m like a big brother to them, listening to their problems (family, friends, dating). In exchange they teach me to paint better https://t.co/hdo4rXZE4S
In general the themes and concerns of this dreamscape are: - is art school really a good use of time and money? - is art worth pursuing seriously as a craft? - does art *matter*? - does technical proficiency in art matter? - will society ever compensate its artists fairly? https://t.co/Lm5CceqnRF
Funnily & unusually, (this is part of the meta) - DreamVisa *doesn’t care*. While everyone else is arguing passionately about their respective perspectives, DreamVisa is content to just STFU & paint, knowing his POV is itself a work-in-progress. He has a zen “we’ll see!” attitude https://t.co/APftux7zy8
Exhibition day comes around. DreamVisa doesn’t actually show up; he’s off... fishing(?) Usually this is where in my dreams I would have realised that I hadn’t actually prepared my work in time, that I was going to fail, wasting everybody’s time, and my money... Not today! https://t.co/jVL8mRLjEy
By being outcome independent, DreamVisa had sidestepped all of RealVisa’s typical fears and anxieties, and got the job done *ahead* of time. He’s so satisfied he doesn’t even care to show up for the dog-and-pony show. He’s happy to have taken his shot, contributed his verse https://t.co/vlZDFeTQ50
(I didn’t write this dream, I’m just telling it as I experienced it) DreamVisa’s exhibit - while not the most technically nuanced - was *staggeringly* popular. It was simple, bold, arresting - an eagle bursting out of its cage, a metaphor for the limits we impose on ourselves https://t.co/dsLtx8XRPh
There’s a guy who fulfils the “artistic/philosophical rival” role - rich, snooty, *ridiculously* talented, obsessive, maniacal, self-flagellating, charismatic, caustic. His is declared the most technically gifted piece, and he wins the scholarship. But he didn’t win *the hearts* https://t.co/L4vO5yWMpp
And so he confronts DreamVisa. “What the fuck do you have that I don’t? You don’t work as hard as I do. You’re not as obsessed. Why do they love you and not me?” DreamVisa: Because I listened to them. Because I know what they’re dealing with. Because I know what they need. https://t.co/6Oc5kDaIil
And then I woke up. So this is RealVisa now, picking up the torch from DreamVisa, and I’m obliged for the sake of art to pass it on to you. Listen to yourself. You know what you’re going through. You know what you need. https://t.co/9h7bk208OH
Re: “does art *matter*?” https://t.co/xPDsv6lI2z