A Portrait Of An Artist Called Kiek
I wake up to her smiling. She’s already got her glasses on, reading.
She’ll say things like: “morning treacle!”. Some English slang she enjoys to reproduce…
Except she’s a bit shy to disturb me too much (she knows I like my alone time in the mornings).
So what is it exactly that makes Kiek an Artist?
She does draw, write, sing and even makes the occasional short film inspired by Nature and the Great Outdoors. She reads poetry also, enjoys art-house movies and even considers herself a bit of a ‘conceptual runner’…
These things are just remnants however; the patterned shapes that are left after drinking a glass of wine. The real art is HOW the wine itself has been poured and enjoyed, and what the conversation was like during. Thus Kiek is an ‘Artist of Life’, as perhaps we all are, whether we realise it or not.
Kiek does it especially well though, it must be said.
Here’s how…
1) The Artist called Kiek is unknown as an online image, story, website, portfolio, youtube channel, Instagram or TikTok trend. She prefers a text message, email or phone call, and resists (without really needing to resist) the mediated version of herself. One senses, when in her presence, as the Ancients were said to believe, that she is untarnished by the electronic flash of cameras and the thieves of human flesh (otherwise called the camcorder or modern video phone).
This is not to say that she’s never been captured - it’s 2024 after all! But she doesn’t live through or for such portrayals. They are occasional moments of embarrassment and laughter when shown on others’ phones, that’s all. On the rare occasions when she reveals (or ‘performs’) herself, it's with the utmost care, quality and restraint. A 30 second abstract film of her lower leg, for example, a short collage of her wearing colourful sweaters, or perhaps some deliberately-designed circles ran and recorded using a gps watch.
One, perhaps two, of her friends or family will be personally shown the work… before it’s forgotten about again.
2) Kiek the Artist is as obsessively courteous and kind in her real-life dealings as she is when (not) using a selfie stick. She treats all creatures the same, knowing that, just like the local alcoholic, every supermarket employee, doctor, lawyer or politician each also have their story. And she is saddened deeply when not able to see, hear and accept them for who they are.
Tears fall out of her eyes like impatient waterfalls when her soul cannot make sense of the supposed reality around her. Only when the truth of equality amongst all is revealed can she find solace in herself.
High sensitivity could well be the only consistent trait amongst all great Artists, and Kiek (the Artist of life) is no different.
3) Kiek is ageless. Truly. Whether it’s her stern frown (as the ears perk up against danger), her graceful, childlike smile or self-conscious giggle, what remains today speaks of her own younger past, still largely unchanged. Young children today even are unable to match Kiek the Artist for innocence of thought, purity of expression and grace.
She is honest like a child and embarrassed or apologetic (when wrong) like one also. More importantly, she lets herself be incompetent at things and doesn’t hide from her shortcomings. In that way she follows her ‘truth’ and takes the middle road, always, between ambition and surrender, learning and self-acceptance, curiosity and resignation. Small steps forward, in this way, keep her vibrant and alive whilst also peaceful.
With gentleness comes integration with the whole, and so the Artist called Kiek is rarely frustrated over, or impatient with, the present state of things. The artwork that is her simple daily life gets pieced together like a patient, nutritious 3-course meal…
Now she’s writing in bed, pencil in hand, looking out over the foggy lake through our bedroom window.
I cannot really know what resides inside of her heart in these moments, or how today she’ll reimagine the world.
But it’s been worthwhile enough to at least try.
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