«You never know where it leads you»

Mein Leben als Künstler:in (8): So viel Mühe, so viel Freude: Die Fotografin Thi My Lien Nguyen über die Arbeit als Künstlerin. In der Serie sind die Autor:innen frei in der Wahl ihrer Ausdrucksformen. Dieses Mal hat sich Thi My Lien Nguyen dafür entschieden, ihren Text auf englisch zu verfassen. (Lesedauer: ca. 3 Minuten)

Never ever have I thought I would call myself „artist” at some point. Coming from a family with migrant background and them experiencing what it takes and how it feels like to start from point zero – financially seen, the importance of „getting a real job”, meaning a well paid job, which secures your existence in our (capitalistic) world, has always been an essential lesson throughout my childhood. 

Today, there are times I still feel weird about labeling myself as an artist, just because people have different views on it – some assume you’re well off or you’re taken care of and you don’t actually have (or need) a job.

Freedom comes with restriction

Being an artist can mean many many things. One of these things I appreciate the most is the freedom it holds – and because I strongly believe in the concept of duality and therefore everything comes in two, just like two sides of a coin or how we experience ups and downs, there is also the other side of freedom – some call it restriction, some confinement, some even trapping. 

I think throughout life, we ought to find ways to navigate between those “two sides” – experiencing the happy but also the sad times, enjoying the sweet, but also embracing the salty/bitter sides of life.

The question is, if the weight of that cost aka “the other side” is something I am willing to carry?

It is all about getting to know yourself

To answer this question it is essential to me, to know myself well enough to make these decisions. So much of making work as an artist is about getting to know yourself really, really well. 

What works for me? What gives you or even drains your energy? What holds your interest and with what kind of people do you like working with? What inspires you? What puts you off?

And believe me, it is an ever ongoing process to answer these questions, because our reality, our life, our environment are constantly changing, right?

I force myself to have a plan

I have always been making things and projects, but never ever have I thought I would do this full-time. With that comes the freedom mentioned before, but I also force myself to have a plan and a schedule, which are designed after my goals, my own found purpose and after all these answers from these questions above. It’s a plan which is not too restricting and leaves space for wiggles – embracing the duality. It is really about showing up for that plan, for that purpose – for yourself.

On that note, isn’t that with everything? If you made a decision and you stick to it, everyday, again and again, you will have developed your practice at some point, no?

What it needs? Courage, persistence, will, some luck an privileges

It takes courage, persistence, a lot of will, some luck and yes, in our current world, privileges are usually also part of it, to make it work as an artist.

What does this mean specifically in my case?

To earn my living, I work as a photographer – in a very classic way. Simply put: Taking on various assignments, delivering the photography and getting paid for it. Then I work as an artist, coming up with ideas and concepts, producing the actual work, doing exhibitions throughout the year, where the artist fees are usually not paid well enough to secure my whole existence solely relying on that income. (If I would even want that though, it is a whole other topic.) There are times, I then sell my editions to private collectors or public institutions. 

About good time-management and money

Within my art practice I also do community-based work, meaning I create workshops, performances or pieces of social engaged art. Like many artists in Switzerland, I also apply for fundings, grants and residencies to create these bodies of work in the end. Because printing photography, creating books, exhibitions and performances need not only good time-management, but also money to pay for the expenses. Unfortunately, the artist fees come last and consist of what is left (or not).

Uff, it does sound like a lot. And sometimes it is, but never ever have I imagined that I would be able to fill my days with so much joy and time to go after my curiosity, translating my ideas and visions from my head into the real world. Creating meaning, community, representation and pushing for a more caring world is why I do what I do. And being able to do that full-time is truly a blessing.