The sun holds nostalgic promise

Sing to me of your life long ago
mixed media on canvas
20x25cm
Megan Chapman

I am facing the wrong way. I close my eyes and smile as the sun illuminates my face. It beams at me fiercely through the back window of the bus, and no one is enjoying it more.

While waiting for this bus I watched the sun on the walls of a building across the street. The sun holds nostalgic promise, I typed into the notes of my phone. I quickly returned to the warm glowing wall and my dreaming. I was somewhere else then, I was riding in a car through a forest by a river. I was in a different country and I was young.

Weather report

 

Radical dreaming in art for a better future

To be made uncomfortable
A3 size/11.7x16.5” 150gm smooth cartridge paper
Megan Chapman 
2020
private collection

The pandemic has changed how some of us think about art and work. Perhaps some have realised that the traditional capitalist system is not always beneficial and that there are other ways of living. This has led to a shift as we desire to create a more compassionate inner landscape and society.

We are becoming more aware of how our work can contribute to the greater good. Some of us also realise that we have been exploited or have even exploited ourselves in this outdated system. We may also have begun to deepen our understanding of the importance of art-making post-pandemic, as it allows us to express ourselves in creative ways that can bring joy and deep healing during difficult times.

This shift in thinking has helped us to see our lives beyond striving or has helped us redefine success. Some of us are learning to be even more mindful of our actions and decisions as we build a better future for ourselves and others.

I have always questioned the system rooted in production and consumption. I realise the need for a post-capitalist society. Art can bring joy, solace, understanding, empathy, and hope in times like these.

In a post-capitalist society, joy and optimism are essential for creating a better future. By allowing ourselves to dream of utopia, we can explore the potential of our collective imagination and creativity. We can use this to envision a world where everyone has access to basic necessities, is treated with respect, and is free to pursue their dreams without fear of oppression or exploitation. By looking beyond the limits of our current system, we can create a more equitable and just future for all.

To create this utopia, we must fight against the dominant paradigm, educate others, and challenge their current views with a more radical vision of an equitable society. This means that we must work collectively, in solidarity, while also challenging our assumptions and biases to continually improve our understanding of the world. This idea of creating a better future is not new—it has been part of human life for thousands of years. Utopian ideals are constantly expressed through art, literature, religion, philosophy and science as people endeavour for better lives.

Join your union: https://www.artistsunion.scot/