The Art of Noticing is deceptive in its simplicity. In our times, we have the unique opportunity (for the first time in history), to practice our attention in retrospect by doing unbelievably easy visual & audio documentation. What captures your attention during your daily commute? One thing that is slightly different today, or something that has impeccable consistency & thus becomes mundane? On your winter outing with friends, does the the turn of light on trees & water, or the sweet rotting of dead leaves, or the human voices expressing frustration at their friends’ photography skills make you smile or bemused at our priorities? What colours tie your day together, which shades are random spottings in a sea of uniformity? What qualities of the season does the blowing or still wind, communicate? We can all be artists, because every perspective is unique & necessary. Even if your audience is just you going through your own phone’s photo gallery at 3 in the morning.
I ask you to notice— what has the potential to be special?
December afternoon visions from
Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Delhi, India.
The book page featured in this post is from Keri Smith’s How to Be an Explorer of the World: Portable Art Life Museum.
