Today, I met with an influential lady and presented my Frog Princess series to her. It was a challenging experience. She did most of the talking, leaving me with little room to explain my thoughts. But I realized something important—this is exactly what I need to do more often. I need to take my work out into the world, introduce it, engage in these conversations.
Her main takeaway was that one must stay in step with global issues, ideologically aligning with the system. I can’t say I fully agree, but I do recognize the importance of articulating my ideas clearly. This is something I need to refine. I also wanted to be polite and not interrupt, but I see now that negotiation is a skill I must develop.
It was an unusual feeling—to be in the position of an artist proving their relevance, justifying their place. But I have no intention of giving up simply because I don’t fit neatly into someone else’s vision of contemporary art. It’s also strange to acknowledge how much contemporary art exists within the boundaries of certain institutions.
During my last conversation with Jonathan, I was drawn to the idea of working in two directions—independently and in dialogue with organizations. That balance feels right. So, we keep moving forward.