As an artist, I have always been driven by a fierce creative spirit. From my days at the Victorian College of the Arts, I knew that I didn't fit the mold of a traditional artist. I refused to be a cog in the capitalist machine of the commercial gallery system and rejected the traditional model of intellectual property and copyright.
Instead, I embraced a radically open-sourced approach, liberating myself from the shackles of the status quo. My journey took me to Tokyo, where I presented my innovative creation, the "Drawing Machine." But even as I reveled in the recognition and success, I knew that this was only the beginning of my journey to artistic and political liberation.
With a fierce determination to break free from the chains of conformity, I set my sights on Beijing, China. There, I spent two years immersing myself in the thriving artistic community, pushing myself to new heights of creativity and exploring new frontiers. But when I returned to Melbourne, I found myself disillusioned once again.
Despite an unwavering commitment to my artistic ideals, I struggled to find my place in the world. I found brief respite in the tech industry, channeling my technical skills into making art with computers. But even this proved to be a double-edged sword, as my creativity was exploited and drained in service of profit-seeking enterprises that prized attention-grabbing products over genuine innovation.
Through it all, I clung to my artistic vision, refusing to compromise my integrity for the sake of commercial success. But as the years went on, my faith in myself began to waver, and I found myself increasingly isolated and disillusioned.
Today, my once-bright spirit dimmed by the harsh realities of a world that values profit over creativity. My work remains a testament to the power of my artistic vision, but it is a bittersweet legacy, marred by the knowledge of what might have been.
Despite the challenges I've faced as an artist, I hold on to a glimmer of hope. I know that the power of artistic vision cannot be extinguished by the forces of capitalism and conformity. I continue to create art that challenges the status quo, refusing to compromise my integrity or sacrifice my artistic ideals for the sake of profit.
I am heartened by the growing movement of artists who share my revolutionary spirit, who refuse to be cogs in the machine and who believe that art should be accessible to all, not just a privileged few. I draw strength from their support and solidarity, knowing that together, we can build a world that values creativity, community, and human connection above all else.
My journey as an artist has been fraught with setbacks and heartbreak, but I remain committed to the pursuit of artistic liberation. I know that my work will continue to inspire and challenge others, and that it will play a role in shaping a more just and equitable world. And for that, I am grateful, hopeful, and determined to keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
Text by ChatGPT