The Art of Self-Exposure
There are plenty of artists in the world but many stay in the shadows because they feel uncomfortable sharing their art. Becoming an artist in public and proudly exhibiting what you created means accepting to expose yourself to anyone who wishes to look. It’s like pausing nude, but soul exposure is even more personal than going Full Monty in front of the whole wide world.
Art is extracting what is inside you, the essence of your being, your fears, your hopes, your most important beliefs, and turn them into a tangible object. I can hear someone grumbling: “how do you put your fears into a plate?” I will acknowledge that some works are not as intimate as others, but the act of sharing what you created is always very personal, and you’d be surprised how much emotion goes into creating a piece, even the most unassuming.
For some of us, it’s extremely difficult to share our art, because we’re taught all our lives not to make waves and not to stand out. Claiming you’re an artist is seen as pretentious, especially if you are a woman. We are taught not to attract attention to ourselves and not to make anyone uncomfortable with our thoughts and insecurities.
Artists pour their soul into their art so exhibiting their work is, by definition, an indecent act. What’s worse is that most of the time, the world doesn’t care. It’s hard on your ego because you make this huge effort to strip off and no one bats an eye.
An artist on a quest (and practicing to put her face out there)
Nowadays it’s even harder because Social Media is an obligation if you want to be part of the art scene. You need to have a website to showcase your work and post on Instagram/ Facebook to gain a “following”. You should have a blog and talk about yourself to turn your private person into an interesting persona that people are going to connect with. It feels a little like yelling in the (digital) desert: “look at me, look at me, I’m sooo interesting!”
Someone I know recently read a blog post where I shared some of my fears and commented that they wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing such personal feelings with strangers. I get it. It is hard but it is also good to let go and open up. This doesn’t come naturally to me. I love taking pictures but hate seeing pictures of myself. I love to write down my thoughts, but get cold sweats at the idea that other people could read them and what they will think about it. And yet, here I am, doing all these things because they’re important to be recognized as an artist.
But in truth, Social Media has been an ally on my artistic journey, because sharing your art is always indecent, and this way I get used to it, one video and “about me” section at a time. There is also something exhilarating about showing who you really are. It’s like you’ve always been hidden in the shadow and you’re finally stepping in the spotlights, daring people who have never looked at you to take an interest in what you are doing. At the same time, since you’re online, it’s very remote and people might never stumble on your stuff, so there are still several layers of curtains between you and your public and it’s less intimidating. Mostly, social media feels like sending my bottled art into the sea, doubting it will reach anyone but willing to take the chance just in case. (If it’s a ceramic bottle, it will probably sink. Never mind, too late to change medium now!)
Sharing your art means putting yourself out there one way or another. No matter what, someone (maybe a lot of someones) is going to hate what you do –or worse – be indifferent, and that hurts. Despite this, you need to dig inside and show all the hidden parts so they can coalesce into an act of creation. Of course it’s not that straightforward and most of the time I have no idea what I am doing or where I am going, but it feels like a quest. I can’t rest until I’ve reached my goal, except it’s not a defined goal like “finding the Holy Grail”. My quest is to find “MY” art, and I already know I never will. The best I can hope is to get closer and keep digging.
One of the problems with stepping out in the spotlights is that people think you belong to them in some ways. Becoming an artist is resisting the lure of making things that people like, as opposed to making things you want to make and people will (maybe) learn to appreciate because they tell your unique story. It’s ignoring the people who *kindly* suggests stuff you should make out of clay and can’t fathom why you are not interested in making garden totems and cute fairy houses, since that’s what they like and other people would do. I want to yell at them that I don’t have time for this nonsense! I am on a quest! But how to say this without sounding unhinged?
The opposite problem is the people who want nothing to do with your art, because they find this “new” obsession a tad tactless. It’s like I had a revelation and want to talk endlessly to everyone about it, and how important it is in my life. It’s uncomfortable for people to hear because they don’t believe in art like I , a new convert, do, and they think I am making too big of a deal about my little hobby. The only ones who get me are other artists along the same quest, either further along or scared to jump in. My old friends and family are a little baffled. There has been this huge shift in my life in the last two years when I decided that ceramics is what I am meant to do. Art is taking more and more room in my life but hardly anyone I know seems aware of it or interested to find out more. It’s a strange feeling, as if I would get a child and no one would ever mention it. As if ceramics was my dirty little secret, my out of wedlock bastard.
I understand the urge to keep it all in and say “to hell with this, I’ll just do my own thing in my garage and the rest of you can get lost!” I did that for many years. But you can’t progress if you’re not willing to open up.
And I create ceramic pieces! It’s hardly scandalous! What would people think if I took nude pictures of myself or revealed my darkest secrets in a book (that may still come, I like to write…)? But just taking your art seriously might be a threat to some people. Maybe because they don’t have time to get on the same quest and are resentful? It doesn’t matter. I AM on a quest, and nothing else - neither “indecency” on my part for sharing my art/exposing myself on Social Media nor indifference/interference from the rest of the world- will stop me.
Interested to find out how my quest is going? Follow me on Social Media!
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