Art may be summarised as the single-minded pursuit of an ideal Self.
Much of the pursuit is blatantly Self-ish. Ever notice how artists seem to endlessly seek validation for their creations in the form of likes and loves, awards and accolades, eyeballs and gossip? The 'ish' suggests that it isn't the real Self but just looks like it. No wonder these don't bring lasting satisfaction.
Where does this selfishness originate? Every artist wishes for their art to reach the minds and hearts of everyone. Ideally that's fantastic - the joy is shared, everyone's happy and the artist's objective is met. Reality tends to be slightly different.
Just like perfect go-to market mixes in commerce that only few products seem to discover that too after much trial and tribulation, the marketing mix for art seems to elude most artists, most of the time. This gives rise to the -ish state in the artist's self. This state sometimes persists long after the causes have receded, like a trauma or a ghost.
Selfless artistry can be achieved by transmitting art. It is through teaching that art reveals its process to the practitioner, and makes them fully aware of their potential within the limits of mortality compared to the timeless being that art is. It is pretty simple - teach, and you will transition from the lower -ish state to the higher -less state.
Beyond selfless lies the mystic Mu 무. It is simply a state where "it doesn't really matter either way". What kind of state is that really? Artists glimpse this state of self but no amount of craving or clinging or grasping works with holding to Mu! Its hangul orthograph 무 even looks like a shrug. Mu is the active Self emptying ITSelf out, giving everything and everyone all that IT has but with a smile, a prayer and a nonchalant acceptance. Of existence beyond symbol or manifestation.
Mu is the elusive third Michelin star that few restaurants get except that it is self-given. Something that is so precious has got to be worth the while - for oneSelf!
