I'm not used to this, but I think it's as necessary as it is healthy. There have been too many opinions received, points of view contributed, "advice" and messages of encouragement in just 24 hours after communicating the plagiarism of several of my original artistic projects on my social networks. And now the first thing I want to clarify is that:
Although these projects are mine, there is always the possibility that I was not the only one who had that idea. "Anyone could have come up with something similar." In any case, I would like to clarify that: the approach that has been given to these and the way in which they have been executed are not the ones I proposed. And that makes me sad. It wasn't difficult to do them well, it was written how to do it. I clarify this, because I continue to fight day after day for the valorization of art in the Canary Islands, the support of emerging talent and betting on the local. A discourse that I will fight as much as I can and with which I sign each of the projects I carry out. A way of working that is not what is being carried out, unfortunately, in general.
Second: it is worth it. I asked on my social networks, where all this commotion started, and I have been surprised by the number of messages I have received doubting whether we should continue fighting for such an infected system. "Why don't you go abroad," is one of the most repeated questions in conversations on the same social networks or even with colleagues between coffees or beers. Yes, it is worth it. In less than a year in Lanzarote I have been able to work and give opportunities to more than 200 different, incredible and talented artists. Among them, many have managed to fully dedicate themselves to their artistic career and others continue working with me to this day. Knowing that some of the shared knowledge has served to grow and improve, for me is the greatest indicator that indeed: it is worth it. And as a good friend told me: "if not, what would we have left?"
Third: we are alone. Many people show a lot of empathy for certain topics, but the realities of each of us are so specific that showing absolute understanding seems too unfair to me, that possibility does not exist. Because if we add to this the peculiarities of the artist's life... But I don't want to focus on that, this goes far beyond oneself. As a result of this anecdote with which I started my speech, the number of messages of "I've been going through the same thing for x years" has been overwhelming, and I'm still thinking about how to answer these people. For now I hope this article serves as an answer.
There were also other messages in the form of "recommendation" about deleting that type of exhibition or public denunciation. To that I can only say: "I have not committed any crime, your honor."
Fourth: art and the art industry are very complex and convoluted organs, that is a reality. And I wish I had the solution for a perfect or, simply, better system. I am very aware that it will be a slow change, the industry depends on many variables. However, in a very short time I have come across many highly qualified agents in different fields that I do not understand why they do not participate in this type of decisions.
I was talking to a friend, for example, about how important it would be to discuss "good practices" in island cultural organizations, or about the public denunciation of these injustices/abuses. I have talked about countless very good ideas that I encourage to be carried out and that people participate in them. The discourse is clear, what is missing is the real union, demanding that there be less talk and that people start listening for real.
Fifth: just as there are different philosophies about the consumption of "real" food as well as veganism or vegetarianism that are so booming, or the philosophies about capitalism or minimalism, fast-fashion / slow-fashion, etc, and, taking advantage of the fact that we are in a moment of awareness (or so I dare to think), I propose something:
Let's inform ourselves about what we support, what ideas these projects promote, who is behind them or what is the same: what principles are behind them. I don't know what to call this term, or if it already exists, but I would talk about something like "responsible artistic consumption". What I do know is that we are living a moment, I consider, of excess due to all the past needs during the quarantines and COVID, and I propose to pay attention, because I think that not everything is valid. All slogans are not valid for me.
I'm sorry, but a hotel dinner, enlivened with "live music" is not supporting art, much less culture, or Lanzarote.
I'm sorry, but staying silent in the face of abuse is not supporting art, culture or Lanzarote.
I'm sorry, but talking bad about other artists because they sell more or charge better for the same work is not supporting art, culture or Lanzarote.
I'm sorry, but complaining about the lack of support for the sector and not going to the events of your fellow artists is not supporting art, culture or Lanzarote.
I'm sorry, but asking for a free ticket to attend any artistic event is not supporting art, culture or Lanzarote.
And I am very sorry but, deciding to work alone, under the sole objective of making money, ignoring the social, political and economic panorama of our island, our environment and the world is NOT supporting art, culture or Lanzarote.
Let's put on the high beams, where do we want to go?
The change starts with us. We are the ones who generate, we are the ones who consume, we are the ones who vote.
Ubay T. Alemán Benítez | @soyubay
