Art as Resistance

***Trigger warning: discussions of violence, death, depression, political strife, climate change, economic warfare, general topics of misery and woe. Please only approach this article if you are in a safe space to do so and have the open mind to critically engage.***

I’ve been having a lot of feels lately about the current state of the world. With the ongoing chaos happening with our neighbours to the south, it is natural to feel like the world is crumbling around you. Amidst these tragedies, how can I still find the space to write and create and share my art? Can art be considered resistance despite what is occurring all around us? In a similar vein to one of my previous blogs, discussing if reading is a radical act, this blog will explore the topic of art as resistance.

Current Climate

There is so much chaos happening in the world at our present moment. People are being killed in the streets of Minnesota and elsewhere in the United States. The economic climate worldwide is unstable, and cost of living is through the roof. Geopolitical landscapes are shifting every moment, it seems. Climate change continues to grow, causing extreme cold events in Toronto and the Midwestern US. Don’t even get me started on AI, technology and media, and declining literacy/critical thinking skills… It’s a lot happening and a lot to process on a regular basis.

Creating in the Chaos

In these times of crisis, I ask myself how I can still write and create when all of this shit is happening. It feels… futile? Guilty? Not necessary? It’s as if there are so many other important things I should be focusing on rather than my creative process. I should be doing something else, or something more. At the same time, I know that art is a form of resistance. Art is a vehicle to express ourselves, and is often what people turn to in the most challenging times. Art can allow us to take a stand, to process what is happening in a different way, to provide relief from the chaos, and can be a safe haven or place of refuge. This article is a great piece on protest art specifically.

Choosing to continue to pursue art and creativity doesn’t mean you have to be silent or ignore the atrocities that seem to be happening all around us. You can acknowledge them, and still find space for joy and creativity. We are allowed to feel duality in these challenging times. Feeling the dichotomy of both being pissed the fuck off, and sad, and also choosing softness at the same time. We can hold space for all of these feelings at once. A great example of these multiple feelings in action is the recent statements made my many artists at The Grammys. Though those in attendance were there to celebrate their art, many of the winners still took the time to call out atrocities happening in the US. Holding space for both is possible.

Via @impact

Art in progress…

Any ounce of joy, moment of softness, or mode of creative expression is pushback against a world seeking to harden us to the realities of life. To me, that is resistance. Writing, reading, creating, and making art are all forms of resistance. Baking, cooking, connecting, and being in community is another form. Choosing hope, care, expression, and love. Choosing to still live and find ways to feel joy, amidst it all, is resistance. Any way to create art, moments of softness, and connection is resistance.

Whether it’s painting a still life, crafting a new project, writing a poem, reading your favourite steamy romance, or watching Heated Rivalry for the 1000th time – I believe these can all be forms of resistance against the cruel-natured world we are in. And so I will continue to pursue my art in any way that I can. Finding ways to carve out this space, and hold onto my creativity despite it all. Continuing to share is important, too. So I won’t stop sharing about the events I am hosting, the connections I am making, and the art I’m creating. It’s important, and at the most challenging of times, it is necessary.

My invitation is for you to do the same, and embrace your own artistic practice as resistance. I’d love to hear your thoughts, and invite you to leave your perspectives in the comments.