Art as an introduction to life, not an escape.

:::Inspiration is jasmine tea and rain. - What has turned into a self-critique [of my work.]:::

It has come to 2014 and I've passed my first full year out of college - in the real world. It is exciting to think it's just the beginning and that my career is already at jump-start.

Writing while there's a soft rain outside and surrounded by the flowery aroma of Jasmine tea, I pick up my Art History Thesis I wrote two years ago. Quoting John Cage "art is not an escape from life, but rather an introduction to it," I continued writing, "he valued the inter-connectedness between people, objects and nature as well as experiencing the present moments" and reshaping them into art as his way to introduce an audience into his world - what he sees, hears and how.

This indulged a few questions and observations swimming in my mind in regards to 2013 and the beginning of my artistic career. They asked - how is your work an introduction for an outsider into your life? Is it enough?

I want to answer them with a "no," that satisfaction is famously never granted to an artist. It's also too soon to for my portfolio to give such answers.

I do agree that an artist is a reflector with many filters; a magical mirror into the same world yet communicating different views about it. Our goal is to understand our own behaviors, challenge them until we can control them to our artistic advantages. For example, confronting an inhibition (such as social or body issues) and understanding its life in you. Then by overcoming it we use it to reflect ourselves in our work. With this we are on the road to fulfilling John Cage's quote that art is a reflection of ourselves, not something that we are not.

There are things that I battle within my work - particularly when dealing with Middle Eastern Dance and certain misogynistic connotations of sex and seduction. How much sensuality do I portray? Is it subconsciously giving into the male-societal imprints that history has hammered on us, male and female alike? Am I portraying the beauty of the feeling in that movement? Is it powerful enough? Is it weak? ...Is it true to me?...

With my personal questions and a deep desire to clear the taboos towards this dance, it is no wonder I once received a constructive critique that the dance was taking my art hostage. It was not complementing art. It is clear there is a fear I wish I did not have for something I truly love.

And so John Cage came to the rescue reminding me about the essence of art. It came at a very good time and I am currently letting it examine my fear.

So artists, let's set ourselves up to be true to one's self, our work and life. Honesty and courage will only make for better work.