How to succeed as artist in spite of your own creativity | Tom Sachs | TEDxPortland

Summary

This inspiring talk reflects on the speaker's journey as an artist, highlighting the importance of defining personal standards of excellence. Growing up with struggles in traditional systems, the speaker explores how embracing authenticity, intuition, and transparency helped shape their artistic identity. By integrating the concept of sympathetic magic—creating through love and connection—the speaker emphasizes that true success comes from building one's own world, trusting oneself, and cultivating a deep relationship with the work. This story is a powerful reminder that the path to creativity and fulfillment is deeply personal and rooted in self-acceptance.

Takeaways

• 😀 Embrace your own unique standards of excellence: Success is not defined by external measures, but by creating and following your own authentic standards.
• 😀 Sympathetic magic in art: By physically copying things, you can make them real, which ties into creating art that resonates with your own sense of purpose.
• 😀 Failure doesn't define you: Despite a challenging childhood and early struggles, success came later through perseverance, self-reliance, and creation.
• 😀 Authenticity in art and life: True authenticity involves a deep, lasting commitment to the work. It’s about building something real, even if it's through unconventional materials or methods.
• 😀 Intuition is a powerful tool: Trusting your instincts and accepting yourself allows you to make decisions with confidence, even when they may seem unconventional.
• 😀 Creativity is both a gift and a restraint: Creativity should be used strategically and with discipline. It’s a tool, not the driving force behind every decision or action.
• 😀 Transparency in your methods: Be open about how you work and the imperfections in your process. Honesty and embracing flaws create a deeper connection with your art and audience.
• 😀 Work builds character: Through hard work and enduring challenges, like repairing fire escapes or welding, you learn to embrace the humility of labor and the value of mastering your craft.
• 😀 Passion and love drive success: Engaging in work that you love, even in small, seemingly insignificant ways, can lead to growth and mastery over time.
• 😀 The importance of developing a personal crest: A personal crest symbolizes identity and values. Building one’s own world and systems requires understanding and embracing your core principles.

Q & A

What is the significance of 'sympathetic magic' in the speaker's story?

Sympathetic magic, as described by the speaker, refers to the idea that by physically replicating something, you can imbue it with meaning or power. The speaker connects this concept to a childhood act where they made a camera out of clay for their father, symbolizing their desire to create something real and meaningful out of love and creativity, even before understanding the concept itself.

How did the speaker's childhood struggles shape their future success?

The speaker's challenges, including poor academic performance, social struggles, and feelings of failure, were formative experiences. These hardships led to a deeper understanding of the importance of self-reliance and personal creativity. By learning to rely on their own creations and embracing hard work, they were able to eventually define success on their own terms.

What role did art and sculpture play in the speaker's personal growth?

Art, particularly sculpture, played a crucial role in the speaker's personal development. After learning to weld in college and using sculpture as a form of 'heartbreak therapy,' the speaker discovered a sense of purpose and fulfillment. This experience led to a lifelong commitment to making art, which ultimately helped them define success.

What does the speaker mean by 'authenticity' in the context of creating art?

Authenticity, according to the speaker, involves creating something that is deeply personal and true to oneself. It is not about imitation, but about fully investing in the process and materials to make the work feel real. The speaker emphasizes that true authenticity requires endurance and dedication, where the experience becomes genuine through deep engagement.

How does the speaker define intuition in the context of artistic creation?

Intuition, for the speaker, is the ability to trust oneself and make decisions that feel right, even when they go against conventional wisdom. It involves learning to accept and understand oneself, allowing for the courage to take risks or make 'wrong' decisions that could lead to unique creative breakthroughs.

What is the significance of 'transparency' in the speaker's work process?

Transparency means being honest about the methods, flaws, and intentions behind the work. The speaker embraces imperfections in their art, allowing materials and processes to show through. This openness creates a genuine connection with the viewer and reflects the speaker’s belief that the raw, honest approach to creating art is crucial to building a true personal standard of excellence.

How does the speaker view the concept of success?

The speaker views success as a personal and evolving journey rather than an external achievement. Success, for them, is about defining one's own standards through authenticity, intuition, and transparency. It is also about persistence over time and finding fulfillment through the creative process, even if it takes years to make a living from it.

What is the connection between the speaker's work as a fire escape and elevator repairman and their art?

The speaker connects their time as a fire escape and elevator repairman in New York City to their art by highlighting the emotional gratification they found in hard work and craftsmanship. Forging metal and solving problems with their hands gave them a sense of purpose and creative satisfaction, which reinforced their connection to the process of making and creating in their art.

Why does the speaker refer to their version of Mondrian's 'Broadway Boogie-Woogie' as a 'genuine fake'?

The speaker refers to their version of Mondrian's painting as a 'genuine fake' because, while it is not a literal replica, it is a sincere and authentic reproduction of Mondrian’s artistic spirit using materials the speaker personally connects with. This 'fake' is genuine in the sense that it reflects the speaker's understanding and engagement with the work, even though it diverges from the original form.

What is the meaning behind the speaker's 'Sachs family crest'?

The Sachs family crest represents the speaker’s evolving identity and values. It embodies the principles and influences that shape the speaker’s worldview and creative journey. The crest serves as a visual metaphor for the internal standards of excellence they have cultivated over time, incorporating various cultural, personal, and philosophical influences.