One of the reasons I didn't, for now, want to continue with the installations in Central Park is because the best artist that ever was which is
Nature had to step in with Spring.
It was time for Nature to step in and unfold its incredibly beautiful art which is blooms and flowers and trees so I wanted to defer to that. We are so advanced technologically, we can’t make a leaf or a twig from scratch.
haha
I am also working on my book projects, especially a new book project I have been working on in my mind for a long time which is Minimalism, my 3D School project as well as essays, paintings, and many other things. Going back to my 3D School project is a lot of fun, it will be a way for me to stay with 3D, which I love, computers, and Video Games.
I've been wondering why so many bright adults engage in computer science coding programming and related disciplines. And I figured it out.
Computer Science is a game,
a brilliant game with a partner that never sleeps and never forgets. No wonder so many kids engage in video games, no they don't really play versus human opponents, they engage with the machine who serves tasteful bits at regular intervals never sleeps never forgets it's never busy with other stuff but to serve.
Back to Minimalism, another topic I have been living with but not writing much about and I recently felt that
21 century needs a good guide to Minimalism
and I am going to write it.
I live a minimal lifestyle and minimalist philosophy has come to inform my artwork has become part of the way I live and become a part of my art.
Over the years minimalism has become a way of life for me and minimalist philosophy has become a part of my life and also informs my art. I won't mind installations and my performance work to have the minimal possible carbon footprints and therefore remain fleeting and ephemeral.
The reason I committed to minimalism and left my six-figure job is probably not what you think. The main reason is that
the temptation to not do art is great,
historically very few wealthy people have done great art that has remained. I believe that making great art is about the mentality of a kamikaze, a singular way of operating. This has absolutely nothing to do with poverty or wealth or whether the work sells well. It has something to do with what I discovered about myself, and the fact that I operate better on the verges and thin ledges.
Having a good time is really compelling and I have to say I enjoy it too much. I will always have to fight my tendency to get complacent when I do well.
Well, while practicing minimalism I discovered that it works on many levels.
A minimalist way of life ensures that you think about the right things.
When I had a lot of possessions I used to worry about them all the time. But the questions is - do I want to worry about pots and pans and couches when the world is so incredibly interesting, there are so many fascinating things happening, there's this enormous wealth of past present, and future information, I don't want to go into the nothing without learning about all of it.
My yearning for freedom and knowledge is just greater than anything I can buy.
I feel like Diogenes without a barrel so it makes for an interesting life.
Minimalism has many practical applications and moral principles. Minimalism also applies to social media but also the very basics of life - sustenance.
Over the years I have developed an attitude towards food, I have been a vegetarian all of my adult life and later my attitude towards animals in general changed but this is another topic. I have decided that I will not consume meat of any kind, I will eat primarily raw vegetables, fruits, and small amounts of fish, and will eat organic. I will also limit my meals to once a day.
Once I built this framework it took a lot out of worrying about sustenance. It served many purposes - it eliminated kitchens, pots, and pans out of my life, and the many rituals connected to this dreadful timesink. Now I only have to worry about a meal once a day.
I don't want to think about or worry about food beyond 5 minutes.
What am I gonna eat?- same -done.
Food is a persistent worry and time-consuming activity anyway, I don’t want to burden it with frills and meaningless rituals. Once I figured it out once and for all - it freed my brain to worry about other things. Wait a minute, this also eliminated any need for servants or kitchen help down the road.
When I started living a minimalist lifestyle I did it out of necessity in a kind of wanting-feeling to be free of all the useless possessions I have accumulated, a very natural desire. I wasn't sure if I was going to get a couch again. All my actions were rooted in reason. There's not much space in New York City so I better have not much stuff. I've left a six-figure salary behind so it makes sense to operate on a smaller scale.
When I wrote my A Journey Into Zen book I didn't originally intend to include the possessions part.
All my convictions grew naturally observing the world studying how I work in the world.
I was very sure though for one thing that I will never get a television again. I believe the cost of television watching is so high that even if they pay me a livable wage I won't do it.
Incidentally, the realization that the smaller screens have come to replace the television screen gradually materialized.
I recently decided to think very critically of my social media use, and social media in general. I discovered one thing about it.
Social media apps have become much smarter than me.
I found myself thinking of stuff I have no business or interest in like trends and hashtags. What? I found my thoughts intruded upon by ads, especially underwear and bras, and all kinds of nets for my brain that these apps have placed around me. They are
Brain Traps!
You know I have no business thinking of my next bra or underwear when I am looking at Michelangelo or the next exhibition I wanted to go to.
In fact, I can make this statement very confidently -
ads don’t work for the betterment of humankind but to its detriment.
Ads need to die, I certainly don’t feel like helping them live. I don’t monetize my YouTube channel and cling to Facebook only for now thinking of how to replace the social media aspect of my public life with something meaningful.
I also recently read some advertisement piece about celebrity barn style house and wanted to say this
if your house is a mansion it is not sustainable
You can’t convince me you need more than two rooms in your house - one for sleeping and one for work. Okay, two rooms each person. For exercise - get outside, get some air or join the gym. Or get a garden, I think gardens are okay. Actually gardens are great.