My friend Vilja stayed with us the other day and it turned out that she was having a conversation with someone about my blog. And more specifically, about my relationship to commodities. Vilja explained that trough my art, she had thought or interpreted that my relationship to commodities is more critical than it appears from my blog.
It’s really nice to hear something like that and I wish that she and people wondering about this blog would comment posts more actively. But Vilja hit a point in a way, as I’m struggling a lot at the moment with the blog. Those of you who blog, are all familiar with these problems, I’m sure, but for me there are so many concerns going on that I don’t really know what to write about. And as you know, I tweet, so I use Twitter for micro blogging, writing short tweets daily. And as I’ve wanted to keep this blog as a ‘life style blog’ as supposed to narrowing the theme into something like artist diary, a diary about the process of creating performances, or something specific like a fashion or a diet blog. So I write about my life as an artist and artistic director; about things that inspire me, what I’m busy with, what I’m working on or simply what is happening. So this could be anything.
And as a blogger, you have no control over your readers, and as I’m working somewhat publically, I’ve become acutely aware that there are certain things about my life that I don’t want for example the funders of my work to read. And this, strangely, has partly to do with my love and passion for design and some designers that inspire me and bring joy into my life.
But why is it, that design as a source of inspiration and joy, is often seen as more commercial and superficial than for example literature and music? We all know that creative industries are a big business and literature and music play definitely a huge part in that business.
So, a confession:
I love design. Some people, including Vilja, might think that I’m a brand junkie, but that is not true. I simply love good design where the genius of the designer manifests itself in a brilliant idea. So I don’t care so much about the brand or the designer, as long as the idea hits me, that’s enough. Of course there are some designers that I follow and who’s work I’m interested in, but unless they come up with something that turns me on, I’m just not going to buy their items just for the name sake. Their work has to inspire me intelligently, but of course it has to function well, appeal aesthetically and bring enlightenment to the every day. (Equally, there are designers I dislike or who represent something I don’t want to be associated with. )
A great design item could perhaps be compared to a gorgeous meal. You can eat and get all the nutrition you need from boiled rice, cooked veggies and a piece of tofu or fish or chicken but this all could also be brought to the next level and be eaten in a beautiful dish that brings joy not only for the belly but to the eye and the taste buds – and could be shared in a lovely social gathering of friends and loved ones.
Another confession:
I fancy certain commodities. These are at the moment
1.   a hybrid bicycle
2.   any kind of bicycle for my partner (he doesn’t have one)
3.   hiking boots
4.   iPhone
5.   an armchair (ok, one or two)
Ok, change of subject.
This week has been so busy that I’m not going to match my exercising targets. It’s a shame. But it hasn’t been a bad week. I went twice to Kinesis work out and once water running. And I’ve worked quite intensively although not very physically with Sonja, so I think it’s all ok. Next week I’m off to Helsinki with Sonja to do some background studies for the upcoming show… We’ll check out a Burlesque club and participate in two workshops by Miss Indigo Blue. Should be fun!!!
When I came home from the swimming pool today, this ermine was jumping and running in the backyard & forest.
Photos by Pekka Mäkinen.
Hope you’ll have a nice week. Let me know your thoughts and comments.
Johanna
