Thank you for this! I’m living in the USA this winter after living abroad since 2010 and you just put into words so many things I’ve been feeling but haven’t understood (everything changed when Trump was re-elected, but since I missed the first term it’s like I couldn’t quite sink my teeth into why this felt *different*)
Oooh I love that take. It's hard to write about or even muse about problems when we are in the center of the storm (energetically or literally). I'm also having trouble with both those things, and for me, there's something about returning to big universal themes and then a lot of scribbling down for a future thought-piece rather than currently re-inventing the wheel. And also, thanks for your thoughtful comment! "Thinking close to a problem" is beautiful wording that I'm chewing on currently.
This reflects something I’ve experienced: the times change the work and the work changes you. And that’s a good thing, or at least a necessary thing. A lot of people aren’t open to being changed in that way, so kudos for that, Elle.
An excellent artist statement, life update, and prospective for the year to come. Taking notes, and looking forward to your next projects! Here's to maintaining broad horizons even as we battle through the trenches.
Ah, so *that's* how you were in Malaysia (that made an impression on me in your last post).
Thanks for sharing this! I admit, I know next to nothing about Hugo, much to my embarrassment, so I'm very happy to learn. Did you read him in French or English?
Hugo's story is very inspiring. And now half the streets in Paris are named after him, so I guess he got through to people in the end! Looking forward to your next phase.
Wonderful introspection. I also am trying to answer the question of how to be of best use to others and to myself. Sometimes I feel anger and even hate. My strategy lately is to let myself feel those feelings but to wait until they pass in order to write.
It's a tricky time, but that's a good rule of thumb! I think that's my default since it takes me so long to write anything—I could hardly be angry the entire weeks I'm writing something 😅
Thank you for this! I’m living in the USA this winter after living abroad since 2010 and you just put into words so many things I’ve been feeling but haven’t understood (everything changed when Trump was re-elected, but since I missed the first term it’s like I couldn’t quite sink my teeth into why this felt *different*)
Thank you!
It’s very different. And hard to watch and write about. I can’t think this closely to the problem!
Oooh I love that take. It's hard to write about or even muse about problems when we are in the center of the storm (energetically or literally). I'm also having trouble with both those things, and for me, there's something about returning to big universal themes and then a lot of scribbling down for a future thought-piece rather than currently re-inventing the wheel. And also, thanks for your thoughtful comment! "Thinking close to a problem" is beautiful wording that I'm chewing on currently.
This reflects something I’ve experienced: the times change the work and the work changes you. And that’s a good thing, or at least a necessary thing. A lot of people aren’t open to being changed in that way, so kudos for that, Elle.
That's so true.
I'll be honest, I didn't know much of Victor Hugo until reading this. Thank you for enlightening me.
He's incredible. Highly recommend reading more about him.
An excellent artist statement, life update, and prospective for the year to come. Taking notes, and looking forward to your next projects! Here's to maintaining broad horizons even as we battle through the trenches.
Thanks Peter, and yes, here's to it!
Ah, so *that's* how you were in Malaysia (that made an impression on me in your last post).
Thanks for sharing this! I admit, I know next to nothing about Hugo, much to my embarrassment, so I'm very happy to learn. Did you read him in French or English?
Yes, that's why!!! I read Hugo in English—I wish my French was good enough to manage it that way. Alas!
"My work doesn’t lie in the trenches, it lives out on the horizon." Love this so much!
Hugo's story is very inspiring. And now half the streets in Paris are named after him, so I guess he got through to people in the end! Looking forward to your next phase.
Yeah he's the real deal 🤩
Elle,
Wonderful introspection. I also am trying to answer the question of how to be of best use to others and to myself. Sometimes I feel anger and even hate. My strategy lately is to let myself feel those feelings but to wait until they pass in order to write.
It's a tricky time, but that's a good rule of thumb! I think that's my default since it takes me so long to write anything—I could hardly be angry the entire weeks I'm writing something 😅