Great Stories: Louisiana Channel

When I look for inspiration, I often visit the Louisiana Channel, the YouTube channel of the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, located 35 km north of Copenhagen.

WHILE MUSEUMS ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE CLOSED, YOU CAN EXPLORE THEIR ONLINE CONTENT.

The Louisiana Channel contains over 700 videos including one-on-one interviews with artists along with talks, performances and studio tours and feature artists from painters, writers, poets, musicians, photographers to architects.

A video clip from an interview with artist Kiki Smith, of their series, Advice to the Young, appeared in my feed this week.

Kiki Smith Interview: Advice to the Young

I had seen Smith’s exhibition, Procession, in the Haus der Kunst in Munich back in 2018. Her work has explored the body, wounding and healing, and resuscitation among other themes. It feels appropriate to hear from her at this time. 

I opted to share this clip because of her advice on the importance of making space and time and showing up for our creative work.

“Artists, the main thing is that you follow your work. Follow it as truthfully as you can. Even when it brings you into ditches and stuff like that... Rather than trying to manipulate your life to be a particular way, let your life just unfold itself.” Kiki Smith

I’VE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT TIME RECENTLY.

Some people in the world have far less of it including doctors and people working in logistics. Others have far more time and may not know what to do with that time.

Some creative filmmakers I know what to rush out to document this time.

There are many ways you can show up for your work.

For me, I am showing up in different ways. Some days I am walking and thinking. Other days I am organizing files and transcribing. As a filmmaker, this is like tilling the soil.

HOW ARE YOU SHOWING UP FOR YOUR CREATIVE WORK?

Looking for some inspiration?

Check out these Louisiana Channel series:
Advice to the Young
Writers on Facing the Blank Page.