Curation as a Philosophy of Choice
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I’m playing with this idea of curation as a core philosophy for art and for life.
I always thought it was a step at the end — to curate finished works into one portfolio.
I now see curation at the very start. Before I take an image, I consider if I really do want to take it. Before I commit to a decision, I consider how I want my life to be.
Will the whole be better for it? Or will it dilute the potency of all I’ve fought to build authentically?
We think more options, more words, more people, more photos insures the “right” one will be in there somewhere.
But I find this is an illusion resulting in just the opposite scenario — where the volume of mediocre overrides novelty. Our senses are dulled to discern any resonance which likely doesn’t exist because there’s no true intention at the origin.
It is quality over quantity. And you can’t have both.
You can not edit mediocre into great. You can try, but you’ll just have less mediocre and more of a headache.
Does this thing or person align with the integrity of who I want to be or what I want to create in this world?
It can be a scary question at first when your livelihood and sense of belonging are tied to a process or group of people.
And it is scary — to let go of what you know for faith in what you believe could be.
But this is the reward we receive in perceived “risk,” trading the options others feel secure in for very few resonate elements in our life and work.
What a richer existence — for ourselves and those we serve.
It requires restraint, intention, presence. You can not be lazy and you can not be rushed — in life and art.
