About Complexity

Post 126:

            Is it better to be an artist or a tradesman? What does that even mean? Well, probably a lot of things to a lot of people. I think artists are thought of as folks that go for something deeper—one might say, they take something that is inherently simple and try to make it complex.

            This is my own definition, and I’m really spitballing on this, working it out in my brain. Also, complexity by itself doesn’t make something art or even an attempt at art. There’s plenty of complex pieces of shit out there.

            A lot of us just want to make ourselves seen or heard and we want to do it in a unique way. This sounds really silly and pedantic, but I think it’s true for everyone. If you’re in a relationship or ever have been, no doubt you did something to convince that person that in all the universe and for all of time, there was no else for that person but you.

            Is it true? Nah, I don’t think so, but it can feel true.

            And that’s good. We want to feel deep, multi-faceted, stratified, layered, complex—a wonderland of infinite discovery, never to be boring. Strange peeps like me—I want my work to be like that—totally next-level, bro…

            Striving for next-level is a worthy endeavor in life and in work, but there is one thing to remember: sometimes simple is the best. “Free Falling” has three chords, but I can walk into any bar and play it and people sing the mess out of it.

            Is it art?

            I’m not supposed to say this, but yes. It’s art. Boiling things down and making them simple doesn’t mean the process to get there was simple. Much like my over-worked brain and much like the ridiculous syntax in this blog, it’s tricky.

            You know… complex. See you after.