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Balancing artificial intelligence and human creativity

Intro: What AI does 

By now, you are aware that I am really into working with machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. I use them for various creative projects. And that is why in this post, I want to dig deeper into what these tools can do for artists, musicians, and writers. 

To write my third novel, I thought I would need to live in Antarctica for a full summer season to experience the unique constraints of living on a remote island in the Southern Ocean. Instead of moving, I used the research on the harsh climate of Antarctica to create the world of the story.

For example, I designed skincare products and clothing for my main character. And after sketching the habitat on paper, I used ChatGPT to render a complete list of corporate partners and their products which would help run the habitat. You may have already seen the visual render of the habitat in a previous post. One tiny detail was that I generated a cleaning task roster after calculating the area of the corridors inside the habitat. It’s a tiny detail which helps events unfold later in the story.

I know that some of you are worried that AI tools will be used to create junk, steal your ideas, and print tons of bad copies. According to the nonprofit, Centre for AI Safety, “While AI has many beneficial applications, it can also be used to perpetuate bias, power autonomous weapons, promote misinformation, and conduct cyberattacks.”

People have been a threat to other people forever, and they won’t stop. The Centre has a free introductory course on machine learning safety. The course can help you understand and mitigate the risks of living in a world that relies more and more on artificial intelligence. However, my belief is that rather than focusing mainly on the risks, you can work to edge junk makers out of relevance by using machine learning software to test ideas. 

Artificial intelligence cannot replace the special feelings and experiences that make your creative projects truly unique. If you are willing to try, you can start by finding a balance. 

Exploring New Frontiers

AI tools are like having a brainy executive assistant who knows all the latest trends. As a fine artist, I appreciate that people will like trends, but I want to express myself in an authentic way. Therefore, I am reluctant to show any new work because I never know what people will like if it’s not on trend. Creating artwork takes lots of time and by the time I am ready to showcase my work, I have invested a lot of energy into creating it. If someone reacts negatively, I will feel that I have wasted a lot of time.  

That’s why I am happy to have access to tools like Bing Image Creator or Stable Diffusion. I can see what my ideas look like before investing the time in starting new projects. Then, to make sure that the artwork has personal relevance, I use it to tell a story. 

Humans have been pushing the boundaries of what’s possible since we crawled out of the sea. And we have been venturing into uncharted territories since we walked across continental ice bridges. My hope for the future is to keep working with emerging technologies to stay on the cutting edge of my craft.

Enhancing Creative Processes

It’s great having a creative assistant that’s always wide awake. On a good day, I will have two or three ideas for new stories, artwork or collaborations. By asking the software (Bard, Bing, ChatGPT) to summarise research articles, news stories, or other information, I can reject ideas faster. This would only feel like failure if I had spent hours writing or creating artwork that I never ended up publishing. I am sure that your “draft” and “private” folders tell a similar story.   

I have already rejected a dozen ideas for blog posts over the past two months. However, for quite a number of them, I went in the opposite direction of what was suggested by the software. My feelings, opinions, intuition, and writing style make a post uniquely mine. And usually, my analysis goes against what the software would suggest or even approve of. 

Machine learning tools aren’t friends or intimate partners. They don’t understand the nuance of passive aggression, nor can they appreciate the protective cover that pettiness provides. I can write subtext into a blog post to send signals to one group of readers while appearing to be neutral to another group. The difference is that now, it takes a shorter time to draft blog posts because I can use the analytical power of language learning models to process vast amounts of data.

Preserving the human touch 

While AI software can generate impressive content, it cannot replicate the essence of being human. Your thoughts, experiences, and emotions are what resonate with your audience. Sure, there will be people out there producing junk, but you can do things differently, and infuse your creations with your unique perspectives and feelings. In this way, you will ensure that the human touch remains at the heart of what you create with AI tools.

The ethos of adaptation 

Hopefully, as machine learning technologies continue to evolve, more creatives will enjoy a better balance between leisure and work. They will have a safe space to explore potential futures. If you’re a creative, it’s perfectly fine to blend your traditional style with new technologies. Take Prada, for example. They combine old-school clothing factories and skilled dressmakers with machine learning software to design and print fabrics. 

In other words, embracing new technologies doesn’t mean you have to change everything. Instead, you can use AI tools to amplify our creative projects. Look around at how businesses, creatives, and brands are embracing innovation, and let their openness inspire you to use advanced tools to amplify your creative ideas.

Outro: Let’s get creative  

The integration of AI tools into traditional creative fields is exciting. By seeking balance between AI and human expression, you can unlock its positive potential. As a creative companion, machine learning tools provide inspiration and enhance efficiency. However, the essence of your creativity lies in your thoughts and emotions which software can’t replicate.

Infuse your creations with your thoughts, opinions, and experiences and what you produce will resonate well with your audience. Embrace artificial intelligence while remaining authentic, and you will feel more confident as a creative. Do you feel that you can safely navigate this intersection? If you do, you will see that the fusion of machine learning software and human creativity is an opportunity, and not a threat. Enjoy it and continue creating impactful work.

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Social audio update: Why I quit Clubhouse

Preamble 

In early March, I called it quits with social audio on Clubhouse. I was drawn to the platform out of sheer curiosity. And as you may remember, I had positive results using social audio for promoting my artwork and fiction writing. This happened because of high audience quality and the large number of people I could meet and talk with.

My creative projects received positive feedback from the people I met on Clubhouse. I met the best and the brightest in entertainment, business, and the arts. And because social media audiences kept changing, I pressed pause on some of my creative projects so I could focus on meeting new people.

The time I could spend online promoting my creative projects has been limited. Clubhouse was an amazing workaround. And after many sales of my first novel, I encouraged authors and other creatives to join in and gain a boost from talking to people, exchanging ideas, and building trust. So why would I quit?

Read on as I share my reasons for quitting Clubhouse. After that, I will share some updates on Twitter Spaces, my preferred social audio platform.

Photo by Vinicius Wiesehofer

Community logistics: My reasons for exiting Clubhouse 

Clubhouse was the platform I used to find business leads, learn new ways of thinking (about business), and meet other creatives. I was able to grow my following to 1.8k followers by joining small rooms and talking with people there. I was able to advise listeners and speakers on marketing strategy, business etiquette, and give feedback on their promotional activities. I made connections from communities around the world and I was invited to join an uncountable number of clubs and houses. 

In houses and clubs, the individual members don’t always host or speak in rooms when I’m online. You may also remember that I was aware of the drama on there, and was somewhat entertained by a lot of it. I was not bothered by the drama because I met plenty of professional people. It is called “Clubhouse” after all, and I expected to have a range of experiences on the app.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

Sadly, the people I was most interested in meeting ghosted Clubhouse after the pandemic work-at-home period ended. They were able to pivot to other promotional venues and expand their businesses offline and did not need to rely on social audio. As a result, many of us visiting Clubhouse were now forced to share stages with an unsettling concentration of celebrity defamers, segregationists, bullies, pseudo-intellectuals, panhandlers, adult content creators, and dodgy sales people. 

I started to feel anxious as I joined rooms. People were using “witchcraft” and “aliens” to describe issues already addressed by academic research, or treatable by modern medicine. There was no useful business advice to be heard and I started avoiding the app altogether. Too much cringe. The solution? Log out. Permanently. 

Algorithms and reach on Twitter

The social audio feature, Twitter Spaces, was my main reason for opening a new Twitter account in June, 2021. Long story short, Twitter’s algorithm changes now mean that posts from accounts don’t always get sent to the feeds of their followers. And how does this affect Spaces? I will explain.

In early February this year, I noticed a glitch when helping a friend to use a new feature. I couldn’t see his post at the corresponding timestamp in my feed. And there was a 15-minute gap where no posts were served.

Photo by Valeria Ushakova

Not many people on Twitter have software programming skills. And most people I meet barely know how the platform works. I imagine that if their tweets got low views, as a result of that particular glitch, they would blame their followers for ignoring them.

The people I have met on Twitter Spaces came from every time zone you can think of. But from a programming (i.e. problem-solving) perspective, I know they are not going to join Twitter Spaces when their experience with text posting is less than satisfactory. Smart technology is meant to be predictable and responsive to user input. Social audio, and a finely tuned process for using Twitter, were how I built an audience in under two years. But what grownup has time to scour Platformer articles and Reddit forums for the latest “hack”? I would argue that such activities are wasteful because they take us out of a productive and creative headspace.

Twitter has had plenty of changes since the new owner purchased it. And we know that he first changed the algorithms to mostly amplify his tweets. One Monday in March, there was a sitewide outage caused by a single engineer who literally broke Twitter by making a bad configuration change. Don’t believe me? Read about it here. System-level errors like these were happening too often.

Months ago, I would ask people to join my scheduled spaces via private messages. But nowadays, my audience is spending less time on Twitter because of app fragility and low engagement on their tweets. They can’t rely on their notifications for dopamine hits. And because of that, their priorities have moved offline. Good for them.

More and more people are noticing that their followers cannot see their tweets. Someone recently worked out that if your tweet is not connected to a viral topic, it will get deprioritised in the queue (for all tweets sent out on the platform). This is an unfortunate glitch but I can see that it could be used to build more toxic echo chambers.

Twitter is down bad but lots of amazing creatives are still tweeting. The solution? Encourage more of them to follow me on Instagram. Connect with active accounts through pop-up spaces. Use the time to share stories and give feedback on creative projects.

Outro

I still believe in social audio, but quitting Clubhouse was the right decision. I want to spend more time on my creative projects. And of course, I want to connect with people who enjoy my work. For now, I am relying on Instagram and Pinterest to showcase my artwork. On all platforms, I will be deepening my connections with creators I meet. That means reverting to images, video, and text. That’s the best I can do for now.

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The Habitat: Using Bing’s Image Creator to visualise a novella

Queen Astrid of Norway

Happy Sunday, everyone. Today started out with a test of Google’s Bard AI Experimental software. Sign up for the waitlist and they should let you in. Bard is powered by LaMDA and in some instances, it feels faster than ChatGPT.

Ken Watanabe, Maya Singh, Hurricane Nisto and Lars Johansen

Then I updated my Bing app, and I noticed their Image Creator tool. How to get in? If you have an Outlook account, you have to sign up to New Bing. And once you’re in, you will see the image creator app powered by DALL-E.

If you’re as picky as I am, you’ll max out your credits. When I accidentally signed out of my account, I couldn’t remember my password, so I had to create a new one. I maxed out the credits on that too. The great thing is that after you’ve maxed out your credits, you simply need to wait 30 seconds for each image to render.

Sleeping quarters and bathroom

Today, my challenge was to write prompts that would encourage the software to visually render the habitat I designed for my WIP, How to be rich by Hurricane Nisto. For my first novel, The Quarter Percent, I paid artists to create artwork for the story, including a mural which became the cover of the novel. This time, I’m on my own.

Detailed descriptions of the habitat are already written in the novella, which was why this was challenging. I had mixed results.

Greenhouse, kitchen, and pantry

That activity took longer than I expected because the software has limitations. For example, you need to use strong keywords with abstraction. If you use too many details, you might get strange results.

The software was not good at rendering rooms with specific dimensions. It simply would not render a living room or office without windows. And it struggled to imagine a circular space with minimal furniture that also had a relaxed atmosphere. The habitat is strictly climate controlled and because it’s in Antarctica, I wanted to maximise space and minimise heat loss.

Loft office space, Hurricane’s room, laundry area and office bathroom

Thankfully, the Image Creator did a very good job rendering the electric all-terrain vehicle, the boiler room, laundry area, pantry, and greenhouse. It had no issues creating a restroom with mini shower and waterproof furniture.

Greenhouse view, pantry interior, boiler room with energy stations, electric all terrain vehicle

Hurricane’s hemp bread with pecan butter came out looking delicious. And as you can see, the greenhouse, pantry and boiler room were shown inside an upcycled cargo container.

Where I really struggled was with rendering the main character from a detailed description. But the other characters looked fine. The second graphic in this post shows Kai, Lars, and Maya, the group of scientists Hurricane met when she arrived on the island of Skartøya.

Kitchen, kayaking, Bellneck Point, common area

I was happy with the images of the sleeping quarters and bathrooms, and they are already in my Instagram Story.

If you’re not already using it, I highly recommend trying out Bing’s Image Creator app to render original visuals to go with your poetry or fiction stories.

Alicia Martinez, Jason Kim, Michael Wong and Mallory Williams

Even if you don’t share them, it’s a great way to really look at your concepts. If you’ve had any success with writing prompts, please let me know. I would love some pointers.

Thank you for viewing my presentation, and if you’re beta reading my WIP, double thanks. Have a brilliant week ahead.

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The Golden Birch Tree: A Norse Tale

Epilogue

The Golden Birch Tree: A Norse Tale

Once upon a time in Mediaeval Norway, goes the story, there was a wise ruler, Harald, who was loved and respected by his people. He was celebrated for his military skill, through which he brought peace to all the Scandinavian kingdoms.

King Harald had two sons: Olav, his firstborn, and Magnus. Olav was a handsome and noble warrior. His fighting skill and bravery on the battlefield had earned him the respect and admiration of his soldiers. Magnus, his brother, was known throughout the land for his unwavering loyalty to his family.

Freya, Olav’s wife, was praised for her generosity and compassion. During many seasons of war, Freya supported the families of fallen soldiers. She fed many of their children from the palace’s kitchen. She had earned her place in the hearts of the people.

Despite the love the royal family received, however, they were not immune to the destructive power of jealousy.

Ingrid, the woman who Magnus married, was once a lowly dishwasher in the palace kitchen. Magnus was captivated by Ingrid’s self-confidence. Her grand ideas reminded him of his childhood idealism. Ingrid understood his desire to escape the horrors of war, and she encouraged him to indulge his fantasies.

Truth be told, Ingrid was infatuated with Magnus’ older brother, Olav, and longed to be with him. But he never noticed her. Olav was already married with two children by the time Magnus started courting Ingrid. Naturally, she was overjoyed to be welcomed into this legendary family. When she and Magnus married in a lavish ceremony, it was attended by all the nobles of Scandinavia.

But soon, the princess was consumed by hatred for Freya, her sister-in-law. She felt that she deserved Olav’s affectiom and that she should be queen when Harald died. She grew to resent being married to the second son of the King.

One fateful winter, Ingrid’s jealousy reached a high point. She threw her niece, a young girl of seven, outside on a cold, rainy night. The child fell ill and later died. King Harald was horrified by Ingrid’s actions but still felt compassion for his second son. He sent Ingrid and Magnus southward to Maitheland to live out their days in exile.

But Ingrid refused to make amends and once settled in at court, she started to spread lies about the King hating her for having been a lowly kitchen servant.

Such was her anger, that she alienated the people around her. King Harald, his son Olav, and daughter-in-law, Freya, said nothing to defend themselves. They chose to mourn quietly. Eventually, however, news spread overseas that the King’s grandchild had died because of Ingrid’s actions. She was stripped of all honours and privileges she received in Maitheland, and banished from court.

After enjoying much adoration and respect as Magnus’ wife, Ingrid was humiliated to find herself living in a forest hovel. She blamed her husband for marrying her so his family could treat her like a peasant.

One day, Ingrid made her way deep into the forest to search for a cottage. She had heard about a witch who lived there. After telling the witch more lies about her husband’s family, Ingrid was granted one wish. Her wish was for Harald and his family to disappear so that their memories would be turned into dust.

The witch was kind and patient, and she warned Ingrid that as a member of the royal family, she would also be forgotten once the wish was granted. But Ingrid did not care about what it would cost her.

After the witch cast the spell, a triumphant Ingrid stomped out of the cottage. If she couldn’t be queen, neither could Freya. But as she made her way back home, she stumbled. She tried to get up but found herself firmly rooted in the ground. She had turned into a birch tree, adorned with bright yellow leaves.

Magnus searched everywhere for his wife, but could not find her. She was deep in the forest, hidden from the world. Sensing his despair, the kind witch transformed Magnus into a white fox so he could keep searching for his wife.

Weeks later, some game hunters noticed the sudden appearance of the beautiful birch tree with its golden leaves. They whispered that it was Ingrid, finally making amends for her actions. But people soon forgot about the woman who had caused such chaos and devastation.

Years went by, and stories of King Harald and his family were passed on through generations. Today, as promised by the witch, they remain a distant memory.

****

The story of Ingrid and her tragic fate reminds us that our choices have consequences that can reverberate long after we are gone. Ingrid’s jealousy and greed caused her to act impulsively and hurt others. But her inability to take responsibility for those actions led to her own downfall. After turning into a tree, she became a symbol of the dangers of unchecked envy. We should always strive to live a life of peace and contentment. And as we do, let us leave positive examples for those who come after us.

Thank you for reading this folk tale featuring the nature goddess, Frigg. I created this story as the epilogue to my WIP, How to be rich by Hurricane Nisto. The protagonist, Hurricane, names her company ‘What the Frigg’ and I was inspired to create a bedtime story she would have heard about this goddess in her childhood.

The final beta edit is available to read here.

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Connecting Globally: Neda Shoaei and Waqqas Shahid talk shop in my Instagram DMs

Giraffitii by Neda Shoaei

Neda
I love this topic Nicole has chosen. And I believe that connection has always been the highest need for human beings throughout history. How we define connection has changed in modern times. Waqqas, how do you see the connections we are creating in the 21st century? Are we as effective as previous generations used to be, you feel?

Waqqas
In the 21st century, we have more tools than ever before to connect with people globally. We build global connections because we want to connect with people from different backgrounds and cultures. By fostering understanding and inclusivity, we can build lasting relationships.

Technology has the potential to bring tremendous financial benefits to individuals and communities. But we should also be using it to improve the lives of people around the globe.

We can start by bridging cultural divides, instead of perpetuating them. By approaching global connections with openness and humility, we can create a more compassionate world. What are your thoughts, Ned?

Waqqas Shahid

Neda
Great points, Waqqas. That meaningful connection is what we are all looking for. And we have amazing new media tools to help with that. People are starting to realize, more and more, that borders have no meaning. We are getting connected on a deeper level. Solidarity is rising because we are getting in touch with more people from different countries, languages, and backgrounds.

When did you personally start creating deeper connections on social media? Was it the same feeling as the physical world conversations you had before?

Waqqas
I began creating deeper connections on social media about seven months ago. By being open to new perspectives, I formed meaningful relationships which have become a part of my real-life network.

Listening and observing are more important to me than speaking, as I really want to understand others. One of the great connections I made was with Nicole, and I am grateful to her for having me here. I encourage others to use social media as a tool for creating genuine and lasting connections with people from all walks of life.

Neda Shoaei

Neda
Waqqas, I like that you said that people should build/find that genuine connection. Knowing these facts from the beginning helps us to keep going until we find like-minded people.

You said you have been connecting with people on social media for seven months now. Was there any point where you felt this was not right, or had any self-doubt?

Waqqas
There were moments of self-doubt. It can be intimidating to put ourselves out there and engage with strangers, especially if we are not sure if we’ll be well-received.

However, the key to overcoming these doubts was to keep an open mind and be willing to learn from others. By listening to their perspectives and experiences, I was able to build genuine connections. The sense of community I have developed has been incredibly rewarding. I’m grateful for the growth and learning opportunities that have come from these experiences.

Neda
I always observe the fact that some communities are very English-centric. I mean, they seem not open or ready for non-English speakers to join them. On the other hand, I see communities that ask for people from different backgrounds and languages to join them. They overcome language barriers by having bilingual speakers in Twitter Spaces or having foreign language channels on their Discord channels.

Again, I believe we should find communities/people that are like-minded. That way, we can feel happy to share our feelings and ideas in an open way. This is the point of global connection at its core.

Neda Shoaei

Waqqas
It is true that some communities tend to prioritize English language and Western culture over others. Understanding different languages and cultures is crucial for global connections. By connecting with people from diverse backgrounds, we get the opportunity to understand and learn from their perspectives and values, which can broaden our own thinking and outlook on life.

On that note, what role does cultural awareness play in building connections with people from diverse backgrounds?

Neda
Normally, media and the role that it’s playing in our lives are not taught in schools. Small, medium and large organizations, as well as communities, should create that message throughout the world.

Schools and universities are being left behind. We need a new educational system to replace the old one. It is amazing when I see how individuals are coming together to make the shift happen.

People who are considered to be in the margins are now finding their voices. A strong global connection is being built that is precious and also unique. I feel more people are noticing this movement and are joining it. We grow stronger each day.

Waqqas
It’s truly amazing to witness how individuals are taking the initiative to push for a more culturally aware and equitable world. Let’s continue to come together and make this shift happen.


｡⁠.ﾟ⁠+⁠ ⁠⟵⁠(⁠｡⁠･⁠ω⁠･⁠)

About the creatives

Neda Shoaei
I’m Ned, 31 and a multidisciplinary artist, with a passion for technology. I have been honing my skills and expanding my creative horizons since 2016. If you like watching videos, you can follow my journey on my YouTube channel. My background in English literature and focus on concepts such as diaspora, post-colonialism, and decentralization gives me a unique perspective on my craft. I am particularly passionate about new media, digitalization, and creating content for both physical and virtual platforms. I started my studies in game design in 2023. My ultimate goal is to create unique, engaging, and thought-provoking experiences for audiences across both physical and virtual worlds.

Artwork by Neda Shoaei

Waqqas Shahid
Hi, I’m Waqqas Shahid, a 30-year-old entrepreneur from Karachi, Pakistan. I come from a family business background in yarn textiles. I decided to pursue my own dreams and become an innovator in the exciting world of cryptoart. I’m a curious soul who loves to research the latest trends and happenings around the world. I believe that through research and hard work, we can create positive change and make a difference in the world. That’s why I ventured into the NFT community. My goal is connecting with people globally and inspiring them to make a positive impact.

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Artist’s Diary: Anneli Berglund

Happy Saturday. Believe it or not, it’s been almost 9 years since I started this blog and this is my first Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Of course, I’m going to bend the rules by introducing Swedish fine artist and graphic designer, Anneli Berglund. In this post, she talks about her soon-to-be released Wabi Sabi Noir generative art project. I hope you enjoy her work as much as I do. She is truly stylish.

$$$$$$

Hello, I’m Anneli, here to tell you about my day. This morning I got up, put on some coffee, and sent the children to school. Then I went to watch a tutorial made by Goblin on YouTube, about how to deploy a generative collection on LaunchMyNft, an NFT platform I am using for my most recent art project.

Before that, I had self-destructed the same collection’s profile page on Foundation. Now, I’m setting up everything on this new platform. So, uhm, follow me on Instagram?

After gathering the information I needed from the tutorial, it was time to press “self-destruct” on Foundation.

In a storm of energy two days ago, I put up a brand new collection of art there. But after exchanging a couple of emails with Foundation Support, I realized I didn’t have a service to help randomize my design elements.

So I had to press the self destruct-button. It happened pretty fast. At first, I felt a little scared. Then, it felt like a cool James Bond movie moment. In truth, I regretted having to spend transaction fees on something I had to burn only two days later.

And now it’s afternoon. The kids will be home in an hour, but I have very little food in the fridge. So I’m thinking egg sandwiches should be fine? I’m still staring at my screen, waiting to add my new artwork to the Ethereum blockchain.

But I see that the transaction fees have gone through the roof. It’s going to cost $90 to mint the collection. That is too much. I’m low on ETH and need every bit of it to push out my work, especially because there’s no real guarantee it will sell.

My reach on all social media is crap right now because I refuse to play by the Algorithm Rules. It’s not a provocative choice; this is how I’m wired. I’m a busy woman, a full time artist and full time mother, and I will not post everyday nonsense to appease current technology. It’s built by greedy humans anyway, if you ask me.

Lately I’ve been looking at a decentralized social media app. I was told I’d get a spot on that app but, it’s still in beta.

Looking at my screen again, and the transaction fees are now between $63 and $68. It was down to $25 just a few days ago. Maybe I chose a bad time to do this, but I don’t have much time to sit in front of a screen later today. I really want to launch this collection on March 23 because the date will be 2023/3/23.

See what I did there?

The date itself is not special. I saw a bunch of 23s somewhere and decided March 23 was a good date. I work intuitively, much like when I decided to deconstruct my earlier ink works and put them back together again as unique characters. I call my characters “inklings.” And I have called the collection Wabi Sabi Noir. I guess a lot of what I do seems impulsive, but it’s working for me.

Ah! It’s getting late, and I have to wash my hair. Maybe the transaction fees will go down by the time I’ve finished? Fingers crossed.

Sending ….

God! Twitter removed all the spacing. What a horrible block of text – ha ha ha ha. I am literally heading into the shower now. See you around!

Follow Anneli Berglund on Twitter
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Writers’ Lift: AI integration in Google Workspace

Some exciting news was announced yesterday about generative AI integration in Google Workspace. Most of you might already be familiar with this paid set of apps used to manage a business. We already have access to a free version of the apps through our Google accounts. The workspace suite allows more functionality and comes with pricing options.

Dear Lord, let it be cheap. What I’m truly excited about is the prospect of having AI tools to help me research my writing projects. My second book is already finished and is waiting to be published. The plot itself was simple, and the story timeline was relatively uncomplicated. However, I needed to take the entire 2022 off to battle the great zombie apocalypse at work.

And even though it was challenging, I managed to get my writing done and produce two musical albums to go with the story. For this second novel, what was especially challenging was the research. In my Google Docs, I have a small book’s worth of research on the story. Of course, I love inventing new place names and designing interiors. I also have a wiki about the rules of interactions and laws of the fictional country in which the story is situated. It was also relatively straightforward to design a wave-powered yacht which has a floating indoor farm. But that wasn’t the most challenging part of the research.

This is a romantic story, which is not in my wheelhouse. In order for the story to work I needed a convincing pathogen, a test for that pathogen, and a treatment. Then I also needed a bunch of legal proceedings to distract my protagonist from his love interest. In other words, I had to leave the actual dialogue and chase rabbits down rabbit holes. One particular rabbit hole from which I recently got sprung was in YouTube.

I was fully immersed in some pop culture commentary. One of my protagonists is obsessed with social media. She knows what celebrities have for breakfast, but she thinks she’s better than they are because she doesn’t post countless photos of herself online. I needed to know how she spun her thoughts in her private moments, and I wanted to know what ticked her off. She was pretty irritated for most of the story, and she was using social media as a distraction from what was really bothering her.

I’m not writing about myself, I’m writing about a character. And I might have broken my brain. While I’m rehabilitating, I am creating a plan for how I’ll use the AI tools embedded in Google Docs to write about a much more complex character, Hurricane Nisto, in my third novel. It would be nice to fully flesh out her “voice” using the rules I created in the treatment for the story.

I had a plan to run off to Antarctica to write that story (already started) because that’s where everything happens. But I’m hoping I will be able to access the AI integrated suite for a very affordable price by the time I’m ready to continue working on it. I might not have to travel at all.

Thank you for reading. I’m more than happy to hear about the projects that you’re working on. I have been trying to find your blogs but not sure if I’m meant to comment or not. Please let me know how I can support you. If you find some of my comments in your spam folders, please be kind enough to fish them out for me. Best wishes.

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Titan Queens: Mahnoor Niazi and Aida Boldeanu talk “beauty” in my Twitter DMs

Artwork by Mahnoor

Twitter DMs might be the last place you would expect to read an in-depth conversation on beauty. But when I decided to experiment with this style of interview, Mahnoor Niazi (Islamamabad) and Aida Boldeanu (Prague) were kind enough to join me. Read ahead and find out what they said in my DMs.

Bella Donna by Aida

Mahnoor
Hey there. I have been thinking about this question all day, consciously and unconsciously, and I feel like I can define the meaning of beauty according to local culture in probably one line: ‘A temporary span of age where you look the most pleasing for all those who lay their eyes on you’. However, beauty for me is the spark that people possess as individuals. It is their freedom to feel and express as they want, to realise their wildest dreams and have the reflection of those dreams sparkle in their eyes.

As we see bodies and forms all around us, we confine them into a few genders without asking for names and without thinking about their individual identities and ideals. Beauty to me is the smallest of details that set these bodies apart. It is not what meets they eye; rather, it is our own ability to see beyond physical appearances.

I remember being totally confused about what being beautiful actually meant. And for a long time, I was confused until I understood what it mean to me.

What a small world by Mahnoor

Aida
So for you, Mahnoor, beauty is rather the spirit and intentions reflected in our gaze?

Mahnoor
Yup, I feel like that’s an everlasting form of beauty that is free of conforming to preconceptions or expectations. I have met people whose physical presence or appearance fades away as soon as they start expressing themselves.

Aida
GM.

Mahnoor
Good morning, Aida.

Save Me by Aida on Objkt

Aida
Beauty is a very controversial and difficult topic, and quite complex. The subject covers a wide range of unit measures. And in various geopolitical spaces, beauty ranges from being the most important thing in life to becoming a taboo topic.

I will refer now to only my experiences and culture. I have seen beauty standards shifting in time. And I remember beauty was strongly embedded in cultural values with symbolism, whereas nowadays, beauty is about power.

Artwork by Mahnoor

For me, beauty means various things. I could speak about abstract beauty, human behaviours, architecture, nature and our physical appearance. This last idea is the most controversial and most discussed in society. But I totally love natural physical beauty, and unique features. I admire the bravery and talent of those who choose to emphasise that with beautiful make-up and clothes, even if I am not very good at it. Anyhow, I believe beauty should be free to express itself in whatever form.

Mahnoor
I really wanted to ask you one question to start with. As you work with people, how do you make sure both you and your subject are reflected equally in your artwork?

Aida
That’s an interesting question, with a simple answer: We don’t know and I never focus on that. The results you see are like the product of making love: In the process, one doesn’t actually analyse how much the other partner is giving. It’s a dance, going back and forth, adjusting always to your own pleasure or to the responses of your partner. The final result is filtered out through your values and perceptions, wishes and expectations.

Look up to me by Adia

Mahnoor
Damn! That’s a beautiful take and probably a treat for those who face the lens.

Aida
Sometimes I am not aware I have such answers in me, as I shoot organically. I shoot with my soul, senses, limbs. I barely know how to use the camera, even if I have been doing that for 10+ years (please, don’t disqualify me, haha).

Closed doors and hidden ideasl by Mahnoor

Mahnoor
That’s the best, really. The organic way. The reason why I admire that approach so much is because I have always worked in solitude, and I love it. I love observing things around me as I draw a contrast between the elements I have around me.

Aida
You are in a good place, being self sufficient, and having the ability to feel the life and beauty around you and make friends with it.

Mahnoor, what does Pakistani beauty look like? On average, that is.

Photography interior mockups by Aida

Mahnoor
Oooh, that’s an interesting question. The general perception here might not sound very pleasant. There are different schools of thought here really. For some people here, it’s literally a certain span of age (like somewhere between 18-26). That is when they consider you beautiful in most cases.

I am very glad that there is also a group of people here who don’t highlight beauty in terms of physical appearances. It’s more the substance that a person has; their ability to face life and to take care of themselves.

Artwork by Mahnoor

Aida
So it seems, that in your society, the values are pretty much divided, each carrying different influences or bodies of understanding, perceptions, and preferences. Can you show me a picture of what would define classic Pakistani beauty? Could be a man or woman.

Mahnoor
We have so many sub-sub-cultures here, and with those, a lot of different presentations of what a traditional woman might look like.

Portrait featured on Lens Culture

Aida
One day I must come down there and have you guide me so we can document that variety of beauty.

Mahnoor
Oh my! That would probably do justice to all the different cultures and traditions here.

Aida
I would love that. We could speak about beauty, make a project out of it, and raise funds. I need 1000 euros only for the flights. Maybe some people in the NFT community can sponsor us up front? And we could offer them a “Pakistani Beauty Guide”, as digital collectibles and prints, with lots of behind-the-scenes interviews with people in the local community.

Mahnoor
That sounds amazing, we should definitely do something like that

Aida
Mahnoor, do you consider yourself to be beautiful?

Mahnoor
@aida_studios ooooooohhhh, that’s a question I have always avoided. I wish I could explain why. I feel like I don’t want to apply that to myself. I don’t take myself seriously.

Aida
You are free to take yourself seriously.

Mahnoor
And that freedom, my freedom, is the most beautiful thing I have. But to answer the previous question on the cultural connotations attached to beauty, I would love to share some pictures from around me. I can talk about the people I know or have met and how the physical ideal of beauty might change according to certain occasions and circumstances. But as these are not just my pictures, I don’t know how comfortable the other people might be to have them shared on a blog. I can share them privately, though.

Aida
So she is avoiding the question. We will talk more about this when we meet.

Mahnoor
Yes, we should do that. Whatever gets me out of answering that question now.

Aida
Sure. And I will just add that you are a very beautiful person.

Mahnoor
Thank you, Aida. I am happy you think so.

*****

About the artists

Mahnoor Haroon Niazi is a multi-disciplinary artist from Pakistan. She is the founder of Pakistan’s first and only digital magazine for artists, Chaap. The magazine serves the creative community of the entire country. Mahnoor believes in the power of community, and her art is mostly inspired by shared experiences, culture, and thought-provoking elements. She works to encourage, empower and enable local artists and creative professionals. Niazi believes that art and creative economy have the ability to bring individuals together in order to find a collective voice and form a sustainable community even when political and social circumstances inhibit growth. She is also active in the NFT Community on Twitter. Her digital assets are listed on Objkt and Foundation.

Aida Boldeanu is a Romanian conceptual photographer living in Prague. Through her work, she speaks about freedom and uses her creative gifts to redefine terms, concepts, and trends. Collect her photography as digital assets on Manifold. She combines them with her inner perceptions. In her documentary and street photography, she works with human geometries, spaces, light and details. Aida travels the world, trying to understand as much as possible. And in her travels, she has been meeting and talking with the people she meets about liberties, freedoms and life.

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art entrepreneurs fashion women

Art of Triumph: 2023 is Blessing Atas’ Year

From Egrets Collection by Blessing Atas

Today, I am happy to introduce you to visual artist and storyteller, Blessing Atas. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter. She is based in Abuja, Nigeria, and her artistic style revolves around merging tradition and culture with contemporary living. While also creating work that reflects on life and her surroundings, she is enthusiastic about creating artwork that makes the viewer feel something. Growing up, she used to paint, but eventually grew into making art with photography as her medium. This transformation has allowed her to showcase her ideas in a rich visual format.

Blessing, I saw the monochrome runway looks from Dolce & Gabbana on IG Live last weekend. You were the first person I thought of because of your recent feature in Vogue Italia‘s February 2023 issue. Would you like to tell us how that happened?

Honestly, I would say being featured in Vogue Italia with other amazing photographers to celebrate the PhotoVogue community came as a surprise. When I first received the email last year to be a part of this project, I couldn’t believe it. I thought they had made a mistake sending an email to me. It was an amazing moment and I am very grateful for the opportunity.

Egrets: photography collection from Nigerian visual artist Blessing Atas.
Egrets: Photography Collection by Blessing Atas

And how does it feel to be at this stage of your artistic journey? A Vogue feature, in print and online, is a gateway to many wonderful opportunities.

Being at this stage in my artistic journey feels surreal sometimes. I never would have imagined that one day photography would be taking care of me like it is at the moment. And I never imagined I would have had any of these opportunities. It has been one amazing journey for me. There have been a lot of ups and downs and I still go through that even now. But I am glad I can still keep going and not give up. I continue to hope for the best. I want to see where this road takes me.

Egrets: Photography collection by Blessing Atas, Nigerian visual artist.
More from Egrets (via Twitter)

Vogue Italia featured your Egrets Collection. This body of work had the art world eating out of the palm of your hand. It went positively viral. What ideas are at the heart of this story?

The Egrets is a project that is very close to heart and I am so grateful the art world continues to receive in a beautiful way. The project was first inspired by birds (egrets). And as I built more ideas into the project, I started to understand what it really meant to me. The Egrets speak about freedom. This body of work is also inspired by certain internal struggles I had as an artist. I felt the need to break free from those restraints. The Egrets, as a body of work, attempts to document our continuous journey towards finding freedom within a chaotic reality.

In Harmony, from the Egrets Collection by visual artist Blessing Atas.
Egrets: In Harmony from Objkt

That is amazing. And how did you recruit the models? What did you say to them to get them to work with you?

Recruiting models wasn’t much of a challenge because I reached out to some people I had worked with in the past. Before going into a photo session, I usually explain to my models what I am going for. I tell them what mood I want, the story behind the work, and I also send them references so they have an idea what are going to do on shoot day.

It seemed that even the weather was taking directions from you. Was that the mood you wanted? Or did it all simply gel together that way?

It was definitely the mood I wanted when creating these images, and we also postponed some of the sessions when the weather wasn’t on our side. We took about three days to create this entire collection.

Egrets: From the photography collection of Nigerian visual artist Blessing Atas.
Egrets

Tell us more about the gear you used to capture the story.

I am primarily a mobile phone photographer and I have been doing that since 2020. These images, just like the rest of my work, are created with an iPhone. But for this project, I created it with an iPhone 12 Pro.

Swan, featured on PhotoVogue, by Nigerian visual artist Blessing Atas.
Swan: This is one of my favorites. This portrait looks like a Vogue cover.

It’s 2023, and this is still your year. What stories will be inspiring your work in the months ahead?

For 2023, I am looking to celebrate black women and show them with much more softness than the world usually shows them. And I hope I am able to accomplish that objective with my next body of work.

The Day Before: Photograph by Blessing Atas.
The Day Before

There is a fine line between the artist’s vision, pursuit of that vision, and good fortune. I think your work has brought those principles together beautifully. It was great chatting with you. Best of luck.

Thank you so much, this was awesome.

Notes: Thank you for reading this interview. Please read more about the Egrets Collection and view a full portfolio of the work on Blessing’s Instagram profile.

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Political neutrality is for OnlyFans: Artists should lead with their values

Geisha Collection

Political neutrality is for OnlyFans and if you’re not on there, you need to lead with your values. The latest buzzword in marketing is “values-based marketing”. That is, showcasing your work in a way that appeals to your customers’ values. It’s everywhere – content creators on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook infuse their titles with their opinions. And I want to share my thoughts on why doing this is good for you. 

The other day, I read a report about Donald J Trump being called a p***y a** b***h by Chrissy Teigen on Twitter and almost having her account shut down by the White House. Not a fan of hers and this post is not about her. But I thought it was really important for artists to not be wishy-washy about expressing our values in a public space. 

Back to the bones

Living and breathing our values builds trust and that in turn helps our audience to find us. We should take a position on certain matters. Our audience wants to know what we think because they want to know why they are supporting us. 

Political neutrality refers to the idea that an individual should not promote a particular political ideology or agenda. A position like this is certainly appropriate for public institutions such as the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, and civil service. These institutions must maintain fairness and objectivity in decision-making. They are expected to work without bias towards any particular political party or agenda.

Sold out geisha collection from artist Pinxx
Geisha

However, for artists in a commercial space, achieving complete political neutrality should feel unnatural, because our personal or ideological leanings directly influence our work. Naturally, the main disadvantage of being politically neutral is lack of advocacy. By remaining politically neutral, we may miss opportunities to gain support for causes or policies that we believe in.

As artists, we have the means to express ideas in ways that will appeal to a wide cross section of society. If a cause or policy is in the public interest or if there are vulnerable groups who are affected, we should speak up. Being an artist is a privilege and we must always remember the advantages that creative expression affords us. 

Sharp shooter - 3D portrait
Sharp Shooter

According to recent business research, being politically neutral may prevent us from making good business decisions. One negative consequence of fence-sitting is perceived lack of accountability. Political neutrality is often a way to avoid making tough decisions. An audience will notice that. This can be particularly problematic for a highly visible brand. Quite a number of popular artists have been criticised because of their decision to remain silent on matters that their audiences care about.

Remember the Balenciaga ad scandal? Celebrities were called out for not speaking against the inappropriate presentation of children in that infamous ad campaign. And Taylor Swift got pummelled by her fans for not speaking up when the United States was politically split down the middle.

Geisha 3D artwork
Geisha

This brings me to my concern that in the wider society, political neutrality is a type of privilege. For example, some people want to signal that they are comfortable within the status quo. They can use neutrality to look away from people who are being marginalised or exploited. Or, neutrality could be a mask they use to hide their true beliefs while lobbing rhetorical salvos at their ideological opponents.

Many artists will avoid sharing their values or taking a political stance. It is natural to be scared of being called names on social media. But if your values are beneficial to society, being opinionated is good for everyone. Here are some ideas you can think about:

Portrait in 3D format
Back to the bones
  1. Expressing values and beliefs: We often have deeply held values and beliefs about social, economic, and political issues. Taking a political stance allows us to support causes and policies that align with those values and beliefs. We gain support in return and build communities as a result. 
  2. Participating in democracy: Participating in the democratic process doesn’t only mean voting. It means having a say in how society is governed. By engaging in political discourse, voting, and advocating for causes, we can help shape public policies and decisions that affect our lives and the lives of others. That’s the power of influence and how it should be used. 
  3. Making a difference: By taking a political stance and advocating for causes and policies that align with their values, artists can make a positive difference in the world and contribute to social and political change. Isn’t “changing the world” why we are all here? 
  4. Holding leaders accountable: By taking a political stance, and publishing our beliefs in the public domain, we can hold elected officials and other leaders accountable for their actions. This can help ensure that leaders are responsive to the needs and interests of their constituents and are held accountable for any negative impacts of their policies.

Taking a political stance does not necessarily mean aligning yourself with a political party or ideology. Instead, it means advocating for specific causes that you believe will have a positive impact on society.

If there is a cause that you feel passionate about, gather your thoughts and do some research. Reach out to others who have similar ideas. If your present audience does not agree with your stance, then be grateful for the chance to attract new supporters. I hope that you are fortunate, because then you will find that yours is the voice everyone has been waiting for.

Notes: Artwork for this post was generously provided by my fabulous friend, UK based 3D artist Pinxx. You can follow her on Instagram and keep up with her latest posts. And collect her artwork on Makers Place (ETH) or Objkt (tez). You’ll be happy you did. Thank you and have a fabulous week ahead.

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art entrepreneurs fashion opinion technology women

Brain Zest: Contemporary Art on the Move

Cyborgs by Brain Zest via Twitt

Hello. I am Irina, also known as Brain Zest and Ambidextrous Nude. I am a multidisciplinary artist and photographer. I work in watercolour and acrylic. And with digital illustration techniques, I create ambidextrous continuous line art. I also capture street photography. On the 10th of March 2022, I left Ukraine with my two children, a backpack and a suitcase.

In my current painting work, I explore the concepts of self acceptance, body positivity, self validation and the beauty of women’s bodies through different stages of life. My artwork encourages women to feel more included and seen. From the feedback I get for my work, the results have been positive, and it makes me really happy to know that.

Pastel pets from Brain Zest via Twitter.

Leaving my family and friends behind wasn’t an easy decision, but I wanted safety for my children. We traveled for a while. Being a self employed artist made it possible for me to choose to stay in a new country for a longer period of time. Thus, I could work even in a totally new country. Currently, my children and I are settled in Portugal.

Galaxy Rainbowstorm from Catowls collection by Brain Zest
Galaxy Rainbowstorm from Catowls Collection by Brain Zest

It took us some time to adjust to the country. The climate is very different from what I’m used to, and Portuguese language is not really easy to learn or comprehend, although I speak English very well and know some Italian and German.

And it appeared tricky to find new friends. I have some people I know in different cities in Portugal, but happened to have no connections where I ended up living.

Cyborgs by Brain Zest on Twitter

2022 was a challenging year but I always felt the support from my husband, who had to stay in Ukraine, and from my friends in the NFT community. It really helped me to stay positive and be persistent in overcoming the many difficulties on my way.

I look forward to meeting my friends from all over the world, reuniting with my loved ones when the war is over, and discovering new possibilities in this new year. Thank you.

Longing for imagined from Brain Zest on Foundation
Longing for Imagined from Longing for the Wings collection on Foundation.

Notes: Thank you for reading this guest post from my friend Irina, a Ukrainian national now living in Portugal. Follow her on Twitter. Support her artwork by collecting on Objkt and from the collection Longing for the Wings which you can find on Foundation.

It has been just over a year since the invasion began. I remember randomly bursting into tears every day for about a month after it started. I know many people from Ukraine. Some of them are former colleagues and college classmates. The devastation caused to millions of people is incalculable. Let us remember that regardless of our opinions in political matters, ordinary people – friends, neighbours, colleagues and their children – are suffering the most.

Our elected leaders remain pampered, safe, secure, and well-fed. They have advisors and housekeepers, chefs, stylists, and speechwriters. They don’t need to be coddled. They need to be reminded to do their jobs and work hard to restore peace.

Irina’s Twitter account for ambidextrous line art
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How to market your novel with music

West Port: Intro to Songs for Maitheland (Part I)

Hello, everyone. It is time for another adventure in “how do I market my second novel”. My second fiction novel, which I am calling Maitheland, is wrapped. And, as you know, I have been working on this novel for some time.

The story takes inspiration from romantic flash fiction I wrote for this blog eight years ago. I decided to repackage the story and make one of the main characters a nephew of King Cordial from The Quarter Percent. This time around, I plan to promote the novel with music.

I took my time to finish writing the novel because I had to relaunch, promote, and relaunch my startup again. During that time, social audio became an adventure and I made lots of great connections through this new medium. Some of my new colleagues have been featured here on this blog.

Photo by Maisie Kane

Sidebar: Speaking of social audio, now that Elon Musk owns Twitter, if you’re not on there, kindly dust off your accounts and hop in now because the popcorn drama is on every hour. Not even journalists, clamping their eyeballs on their phone screens, can keep up.

On Thursday morning, Elon cohosted a Twitter Space. A day later, I read a news report that the host, Robin Wheeler, and cohost, Yoel Roth had quit. About two hours after I scheduled this post, I see a tweet from Robin saying that she was still at Twitter. That was too fast. The space was recorded, so you can listen in.

And now, back to promoting my novel. You may remember that my attempts at promoting my first novel, The Quarter Percent, were pure drama. This time, music has been my focus.

Why music? Aren’t you only supposed to read a novel? I wanted to create an immersive experience for readers. The story is sensual and moody, and I think that listeners will appreciate that. There are also lots of soundtrack music fans out there. And I have my own playlist I listen to when I want to concentrate. That is why why I thought this idea would work.

Photo by Marcelo Chagas

After producing a suite of classical tracks for one scene in the novel, Maitheland, I thought about creating EDM tracks related to the story. But as I contemplated the expense of hiring a new team, I asked Google if AI could generate music for me.

The answer was yes, and that was how I found the platform Boomy. Over the course of two days, I created five songs. If you go to my Vimeo channel, you can hear five tracks in the easy listening, loopy style that is really popular on YouTube.

How does all this help with marketing my book and other creative projects? Simply put, presence, exposure, and traffic. My plan is to take advantage of Boomy’s role as my distributor. The platform will submit my work to all of these streaming services:

Rolling hills and river in Iceland, the physical location for my fiction work, Maitheland.
Natural scene from Maitheland

… Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon, Google Music, YouTube Music, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Shazam, 24/7, 7 Digital, 8Tracks, Akazoo, Alibaba Music, Amie, Audiomack, AWA, Deezer, EOS, iHeartRadio, iMusica, Kanjian, KKBox, Line Music, Leeway, MediaNet, RealNetworks, NetEase, Neurotic Media, RX Music, Saavn, Slacker, SoundExchange, Tencent Music, Aspiro, TouchTunes, UMA Music, Yandez, and Zvook.

Boomy ｜About

Have you even heard of some of those platforms?! In other words, based on the uptake, the soundtrack for my novel is going to be available everywhere. And that means (if I have used really good keywords) someone will find my work. Then, if they are intrigued, they will look me up. The first release of five tracks is called Songs for Maitheland Part I. There are four completed tracks, and I am hoping to expand that over the coming few weeks.

At the moment, I am waiting to find out if my music will be accepted by the above streaming platforms. Until then, I am building a presence on Vimeo. The rest is up to you. I hope that you enjoy the sounds of Maitheland.

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art creative writing fiction news opinion technology TV women writing

What revolution?


Fabric swatches on canvas with makeshift cardboard frames
Fabric swatches on canvas

The Netflix film, 365 Days, is not the worst film ever made. That distinction belongs to the threequel, The Next 365 Days. And this is according to journos who got paid to write nice things about it. The films are based on the series of novels by Polish author, Blanka Lipińska.

According to the Daily Beast’s Kevin Fallon, stories like 365 Days serve an important purpose. They allow us to watch as the inversion of our values play out in real world scenarios. And as we watch the scenes play out, our tablet or TV screens shield us from the consequences.

Sketchbook doodle from Charlie Esposito

Now, I think that as we broadcast disapproval of fan-fiction hot sex, we are avoiding the real hot topics. We might tell ourselves that we are staying neutral on those issues. But there is no political fence, not really.

Based on my experiences on social media over the past year, these are some questions I feel like asking people I am meeting for the first time:

Are you all in on a multicultural society? Can same-sex couples get married if they want? Can people with wombs please get a prescription filled without a pharmacist asking them to pee on a stick so their religious rules are not broken?

Dr. Emily Porter finds that medical professionals doing their job is going to be very frustrating

Neutrality is a nice word that means we are scared of saying what we think in case someone screams in our faces. Being human is already a lot of work, which is why we elect public officials to help us out. Yet, we keep electing representatives who won’t let us get on with living. They create legislation on matters that should remain private; and drag their feet on issues that are in the public’s interest. This is precisely the reason why more of us are speaking out.

With all of that in the background, I now ask you to consider the artist’s work during times of struggle. One of the best things about being an artist is that we usually end up collaborating to start a movement. The movement is whatever we choose to call it. We make noise as a collective, and people pay attention to our message.

Medusa Marie is on Twitter. Follow her for more fabulous visual art.

Unfortunately, the creative space is most vulnerable to interference. Because we artists are living in a society filled with outrage, our worst enemy becomes what we think others want from us. Fear stifles our productivity. But if we don’t make things, we cannot refine our process and become better artists.

Artists are people with feelings, and this makes us easy targets. And people use their own reactions to our relatively benign creations as an excuse to avoid the draft.

If you are a hobbyist critic, should you pack up and leave? Not so fast. There is still time to get some real work done.

Find balance in everything you do. drawing of stones balanced on top of each other.
“Find balance in everything you do” Artwork by MHBB via Twitter

Here are some people who will benefit from your support: Women, children, minority ethnic groups, refugees, the homeless, the starving, the physically challenged, the mentally unwell, recovering addicts and the orphaned. Dial up your voice to the usual strength. Vote for representatives who can help. Keep writing letters to them until they mobilise resources to alleviate pain and suffering.

Fairies are real and help us achieve our dreams as we sleep. AI assisted digital painting by Simply Veronica.
Fairies are real and assist us in our dreams – artwork by Simply Veronica

The revolution calls you to the draft. There is no need to burn your old scripts. Find a new cause, make some edits, and read them again. You might need a change of costume. Maybe a haircut. Or perhaps a 15-minute session on IG Live will get the ball rolling. The energy expenditure will leave you exhausted and restless. But soon enough, someone will hear you. And then, they will listen.

Good luck out there.

❤️

Postscript: Big shout outs to my lovely friends, Charlie Esposito, Medusa Marie, MHBB, and Simply Veronica. Thank you very much for responding to that last-minute request. Keep inspiring everyone with your activism and hard work.

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art entrepreneurs men women

Sephi Bergerson

Intro
Happy Thursday, everyone. Today’s post features nude photography. In addition to that, we learn more about photographer Sephi Bergerson’s philosophy of “One”, evolved minds, and how religious beliefs shape our perception of the world. Today, we invite you to catch a glimpse of this surreal collection with the religious motifs enfolding each subject. And what about you? Are you searching for your own divine source?

Sephi Bergerson
Looking for God in a church, synagogue, or mosque is religion. Looking for God inside is spirituality. This is what I believe. And you may be surprised to learn that I was born in a secular Jewish house. Yes, they really exist. And that is what I am referencing when I say that I believe in God, but I do not follow any organised religion.

I feel that religions have historically divided humanity, while spirituality is universal and brings us together. Many people take great comfort in the teachings laid down by the religion they follow. However, in my opinion, religions are all based on half-truths. They also tend to bind followers to a set of core assumptions and dogmatic thinking. And thus, in most cases, do not encourage free thinking.

There is one truth. I believe that evolve minds understand this truth even though they call it by many names. What I mean is that we can all speak about the same God. But because of our upbringing and environment, we use different names for the same deity that so many religions speak about. Those who are not restricted by their religion usually agree on this idea.

My work is an exploration of the emotions triggered by various religious symbols. I believe that inspiration is divine grace, and I am searching for a connection to this source of inspiration. I am particularly interested in how people perceive and react to the use of religious items in art and specifically connected with the human body.

I create photos using religious objects as styling for nude photographs. By doing so, I want to reclaim these worldly objects and alter their original religious purpose to question the attitudes, fears and unwritten rules which have formed religious dogma and people’s behaviour within it.

I focus on the three most influential monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as they were all born in the Middle East and are all inextricably linked to one another. Christianity was born within the Jewish tradition, and Islam developed from Christianity and Judaism. Growing up in Israel, I was surrounded by the monuments and realities of these three religions that formed the background of my upbringing and my visual language.

I am aware of the controversial side of this body of work. Some people might find my work offensive to their religious beliefs, and voice their protest accordingly. I would like to have a conversation about God and inspiration, but I know this subject brings out a lot of emotions. I have not experienced any violence with regard to this project, but a few people on twitter did say they find it offensive. I expect more of this once the project gets more exposure.

For example, we have also witnessed violence against artists who chose to depict religious items or subjects in their work. It is not uncommon that museums and galleries are forced to take a stand or forced to remove controversial work from their exhibition walls due to public outcry. There will always be those who oppose these ideas and rush to the defence of religion like white blood cells rushing to fight a virus.

I feel that God is everywhere, and the one I believe in does not require any protection, yet I think there is a high chance that gallery owners or museum curators would think twice before showing this work. This is why I believe that virtual galleries, cryptocurrencies, and non-fungible tokens are a good fit for this work.

Outro
Thank you for reading. Sephi Bergerson is an award-winning documentary and corporate photographer, and author. Follow him on Twitter. And of course, you can find the full range of his photography work on Instagram. After living in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, New York City, San Francisco, Paris and New Delhi, Sephi set down roots with his wife and children in Goa, India, in 2002. After moving to India, he started taking documentary assignments for corporate clients, international NGOs, and print publications.

Visit his website, Sephi Bergerson, and view all the photographs in this project, The Truth is One. Purchase items from this collection as non-fungible tokens on Foundation.

This photography project has won the following awards:

  • Budapest International Foto Awards 2021: SILVER In Fine Art/ Nudes
  • Tokyo International Foto Awards 2020: Silver In Fine Art/Nudes
  • Tokyo International Foto Awards 2020: Silver In Portfolio/Fine Art
  • One Eye Land Photography Awards 2018 – Silver Award
  • 11th Annual Black & White SPIDER Awards 2017 – Nominee
  • IPA ~ International Photography Awards 2016 – Honourable Mention
  • 10th Annual Black & White SPIDER Awards 2016 Honourable Mention
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Designing the Future: Charlie Esposito

Charlie Esposito

Several years ago, I watched a video clip on my Facebook feed. It featured an augmented reality exhibition which inspired me to pay closer attention to the future of digital art. Later, I was spurred on by an artist whose journey into Web 3 (decentralised platforms which use blockchain technology) I watched unfold on Instagram. As I was researching blockchain technology, I decided to list digital versions of my physical works on the Open Sea platform. This was how I got started with creating digital and hybrid art.

(Re)Connect

It was a natural progression for me because I am fascinated by anything innovative. I was mesmerised by the vast potential of virtual reality. This is because I realise that I could use this to overcome the barriers to owning my own physical gallery.

Then, I discovered Spatial, which is a great platform for creating free VR spaces. Using that platform, I was able to realise my dream of starting my own gallery. This was incredible because my gallery space can be accessed from anywhere in the world. It really is an invaluable tool because it can help artists to independently reach a much wider audience.

The Lights

Artists can set up and curate galleries themselves and hyperlink to their online shops. They can create any number of events and bring in people to network with. Virtual galleries are also a great way to host collectors, and hold artist talks or educational workshops.

Emotive abstractions web gallery

More recently, I decided to set up a gallery for my own Web 3 community. I wanted to do something to elevate others and I wanted to provide a completely free exhibition opportunity for artists. The Charlie ART Community Gallery went live over the last few weeks.

Displaced

There are endless possibilities for VR exhibiting and experiences. I eventually want to develop and make my galleries more immersive, and I’m looking forward to expanding into other platforms. I urge all other artists to discover and learn more about art in the Metaverse.

(Re)Connect on the cover of Excursions postgraduate journal

Outro
Artist Charlotte Esposito has been making both large and small scale artworks for over thirty years. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram. She also creates high end murals for interiors and makes bespoke apparel. She has exhibited widely and has sold works to both public and private collections. Her physical artwork is currently available via her website and at Saatchi Art. Her genesis collection of digital art is available as non-fungible tokens and can be collected on Open Sea.

Interview for Path of Flight