autonomous bust
another poem
autonomous bust
“As an independent artist, you must ask yourself: what are you independent of and what are you dependent on?” — Auriea Harvey
“Unity in diversity is the plan of creation.” – Swami Vivekananda
The illusion of autonomy is indeed significant. Without it we could not question, would not dare, should know better than to peel back layers, peek behind curtains, peer beyond horizons of what is deemed. Only through fire does illusion fade to clarity. Our independence is dependent on our dependence. Our dependence is dependent on our independence. The pursuit of freedom is dependent on all we share, can bend to see, and eventually we break together, whether bread or bones, this legacy of maternity marred — redeemed by one, many.
Epigraph sources:
Auriea Harvey in the conversation ‘Digital Art vs. NFT Art’ moderated by Tina Rivers Ryan and organized by me for Feral File, July 2023.
Swami Vivekananda in “Karma-Yoga” a series of lectures given in New York City between December 1895 — January 1896 and published in February 1896. The text appears in The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Volume I, published by Advaita Ashrama. Kolkata, India (1989).