An evening at ICA - I’m not alone
My dearest friend, a man called Samuel, shared on his Instagram that he was going to take part in an exhibition alongside other artists/colleagues of him from the Institute of Contemporary Art, at the Institute of Contemporary Art. The exhibition was call ‘Tuesday’, it was free and there would be a panel discussion - I was sold.
Never having been there, I didn’t know what to expect, but I was welcome with a book shop, a free showing of Moki Cherry’s work (my new role model, but that’s a post for another day) and the cutest cafe area, was shook but also felt so at home! After sussing out my surroundings and withholding from buying another book, I made my way up the white stairs, following the blue arrows to be greeted by a crowd of young people. Not just any young people, but arty young people.
On arriving, it occurred to me that the London art scene really is lie what you see online. Everyone’s fashion taste is unique, pristine, gorgeous and everyone reeks of confidence. I instantly felt intimidated, but that soon passed when I remembered I come to all these things alone all the time, and it was so busy and there was so much art there, I felt like a little flaneur hidden amongst the crowds.
I managed to say Hi to Sam, but he was off being the busy curator and artist his is, so after a brief hello I made the rounds and secured a seat waiting for the panel discussion. Now, another thing my brain clocked onto in this moment, was how diverse this space was, another beauty I am finding of London. From racial diversity, gender diversity and just everyone’s shells, it felt so unsettling and so safe at the same time, I loved absorbing it.
Then the panel discussion started with a lovely group of artists (I wish I got all their names) and I have never felt so seen in my life, so supported, my emotions validated and inspired at the same time - it had that Bloss feeling.
Here are some of my notes from the talk and little actions for me to take away.
Reflective Questions
Am I an artist? How does me calling myself that make me feel?
How does my full time work, impact my art work?
What is that ‘ick’ that embarrassment I say to my friends, when I say I have a full-time job?
Is art the ultimate form of resistance?
Does presenting in a gallery guarantee freedom?
What would life be like without capitalism?
How and why do mediums attract different audiences and members? VR vs Tapestrys
Where do I want my work to end?
Is my work for me or for others?
Why do I create art?
What do I want from my art?
What makes me happy in my art?
What negative connotations do I feel around the word artist?
Stolen Quotes
There’s no such thing as ‘making it as an artist’
Refuse to forget
Existence against a media narrative
Your creative output doesn’t always have to be a physical output
People are ignorant of the land we live on
I walked away from this panel feeling liberated, but also lek I’ve had a smack around me face, like a voice had been awakened or given a space to be supported internally that I had been pushing down for years.
I went and had a journal in the cafe downstairs afterwards with an overpriced ice tea and this is what I wrote:
‘I’m currently sat at the ICA after the Tuesday exhibition and I feel like I’m on a comedown from a high. Even thought I went alone, I didn’t feel alone. I felt heard and scene and part of a unified community.
The panel spoke about the realities of having a part-time job alongside making art and I feel it’s awaken something in me and it got me asking questions. Why did I rush into a full-time job? Is it because everyone else around me was? Because I felt pressured to be financially independent? To match the lifestyle of those around me?
What do I really want? I want a job that’s 4 days a week. I can then have a day to myself to art or volunteer. Or even two part-time jobs, one in a charity and one in an art organisation. That would be the dream, diversity to inspired me.’
To conclude from this experience, I have alot to ponder on in my brain. Alot of thoughts to listen to, and I think alot of perspectives and expectations to dismantle in myself. My dream is doable, I just need to believe in it and take actio and the next steps to achieve them.
It all starts tomorrow with that Art K call and Participation Officer Job Applicaiton. We’ve got this girl, you can live your dream life that you envision - not someone elses.
