Your work doesn't matter. 

Yes you heard that right.

It has recently occurred to me, that my work doesn’t matter. I’m unlikely to change the course of history by making art that counters issues of the Anthropocene. Mostly the people I work with have no interest in my work at all not beyond a citation number anyway. Shocking I know. Nothing I write, or produce will likely make any impact at all. For what ever reason, I am not, one of the chosen ones. Never have been, likely never will be. That is not to say that my work is not good. But that my work, and most likely yours, simply dos not matter to anyone but ourselves.

Today, as a lectures and elder millennial I often encounter students in the undergraduate program, who are comparing themselves to, field experts, with 30-40 years of experience, wondering why they don’t measure up. Young creatives who feel that if they are not internet famous, by 30 (that’s 6 years into a career for architects by the way) that they have failed.

To those who are not Millennial, or Gen Z or Alpha. You may be wondering, obviously, what is wrong with the ‘youth’ these days. But for those of us, born after 1981, brought up in the cultural melee of, individual exceptionalism. A World where, we are raised to understand that we were unique. Great things where to be expected of us. That amount of pressure, that amount of, well what ever you produce must be exceptional. Is immensely intimidating, so much so that a great many people, these days fail to even begin. In a world where everyday, you are surrounded, by the very best work of others, no wonder a great many people, think why even try.

But the fact, that your work is not deemed note worthy, may actually be the silver lining. To make whatever you want, when the stakes are lowered and you can understand that there is no consequence to you potentially making bad art. it liberates you to make work, try new things.

It is worth, remembering that, Picasso over the course of his career produced an estimated 150 000 artworks, there are likely 50-100 of those works that are exceptional, most people can name 5-10 of his artworks. That leaves 100 000 artworks, that were okay, good even, likely some bad ones. Not to diminish Picasso oeuvre, that is over an 80 year period a hit rate of 1.2 /10 years, to remind us that even the best artists, make bad work.

The point here being make the work, don’t wait for perfect, don’t wait for exceptional. Done wait for a gold star. Don’t wait to publish the paper, until the work is perfect, that day will never come for most of us. Don’t wait to put up the show, until its perfect, that unlikely to happen.

Understanding that is the grand scheme of things, You work doesn’t matter, is one of the most liberating ideas, because it takes that immense pressure off. So what if this one sucked, it didn’t matter anyway. Begin with the assumption that the only person who actually care about this thing you are laboring over is you. Yes what ever your current project is, is import to you, but in the grand scheme of your life, know that it really doesn’t matter.

This also goes for lectures, your student produced mediocre work, so what, who cares, did they learn something in the process? did they take a risk? did they try something new? Excellent, that was the point of the learning process. They have a life time, in which to get better.

For the architects, stop wondering around with a god complex, you are not going to solve all of societies problems with your design, so what if the projected sucked, so what if your thesis didn’t change the world, who care if your PhD was unacknowledged. Who cares if you are for whatever reason, not the favored one. While other are out there looking for the shinny prizes, and the merit awards, the praise of the dean, be out there doing the work. Be productive. Be productive with an wide open mind, and a playful spirit. Have fun, do outrageous projects, run at life with open arms. Try things out, play with different mediums. In the end the only person who cares is you.

You matter sure, make work that you are proud of. But don’t let your idea of other peoples perceptions stop you from making or finishing work. In the grand scheme this one thing, doesn’t matter.

Happy creating.

Brigs.