Continuing on from my previous post, it struck me in a conversation I had this morning our new year plans need to be things we WANT to do not feel that we HAVE TO do. With this in mind and taking on board all that has been considered as 'lessons learned in 2008', I'm making a list now, it's a combination of things I've been scribbling down (year on year) in my notebook, alongside some new dreams.
If anything, it's going to be things "I hope to experience in my post-40 years....
If this is the case, then 2009 should be a year where mistakes, lessons and newnewss from 2008 make it one of the best. In my mind, that's quite fortunate, this being of course for me where traditionally 'life begins'.
So what were the good things to take from 2008 and take along with me on my trip into 2009?
Easier said than done? Perhaps so, but we're never too old to make mistakes and learn from them...I can honestly say 2008 will be one year to remember for all the good things I come out of it knowing.
"Everything seems a little bit back-to-front"
This is something I keep on saying to myself on a frequent basis at the moment. Not surprising I suppose considering the jump and hard landing I've experienced thus far. I'm a good distance away from anything nearly resembling my 'comfort zone' so I'm trying not to be too hard on myself in the interim.
The last week or so have been very character building and learning new ways to do old things is the mantra of the moment. For example, "Art Dubai" arrived here this week and is considered to be the UAE's own celebration of global art (some of it quite controversial considering the venue). Considering we arrived here expecting to struggle finding creative niches to cling to, the Dubai Art week could be considered to be something on the lines of an exhibit at the Tate Modern with sunshine, heat and big luxurious spaces to view it in.
As I wandered around the vast array of white-spaces at Madinat Arena, I was wondering if what I was looking at was merely a significant venting for a lot of the creative constraints I've seen in daily work experience. Just as we see (well I used to see that is) lots of Japanese visitors wandering around London using dress and appearance to expel years of dress code and tradition, the use of 'art' here seems to act as a similar pressure-release for the daily reaction to "simplicity".
For myself, photography seems to be the escape-pod that goes in some way to work (even in a country where one has to be cautious about what one points the lens at). Anything that distracts from the newness thoughts could be considered a success in a small way and considering my passion and thirst to push myself further into the photography industry, it seems to make sense. I've started the whole 'self-briefing process' and some ideas I've seen around and about have ignited a spark or three...
So using photography as my path of delicious ambiguity, I'm venturing across new terrain and looking to get more involved in an organisation called Soura (Arabic for 'picture'). They're a group of (quite forward thinking) photographers who are looking to introduce a modernity and mood of optimism in taking photography forward in the UAE. Check out their website and their latest magazine (available amazingly at most well known UAE retailers) that is currently celebrating their 3rd birthday of being in existence!
Hopefully by June, when GulfPhotoPlus comes to town, things will have advanced (another organisation I'm looking into at the moment)!
