Ode to Art in the Age of Ai.

No Matter What Your Art Is, Create It. Relentlessly.

Our gfhx posts (on LinkedIn) are mostly populated, punctuated or adorned with art. Mostly human created visual art. That’s because all idea generation is built upon the bedrock of human creativity. 

Humans beings' innate ability to create beauty has illuminated & inspired mankind's journey through the ages, helping us endure the harsh realities of life. Only Art and its exquisite beauty can offset the ugliness of human suffering brought about by conflict, conquest and change. Man must create art as naturally as they destroy in war. 

Think the ancient pyramids of Egypt and the splendour of the center of creativity in Alexandria. Imagine Greek architecture, art, antiquities, politics, sports and theatre replicated in Roman civilisation. The classical and renaissance artists of Florence, and Venice spread across the Bosporous to Constantinople and beyond, created art not only in the name of religion but out of a deep, innate need for expression.

In the far east, for millennia, the insular Chinese in their jade kingdom were quietly pioneering art in painting, porcelain, silk and tea in harmony with nature till this day. 

Human beings birthed creativity including Ai. Staying the course in the creative field today demands that humans stay on top of Ai inputs, managing output and promoting safety. Navigating today’s complex landscape of creativity, we use Ai to augment and enhance human output creatively. 

Our manifesto - Live By Design, is a clarion call to wake up from past and existing structures of work models that no longer work or are soon to be annihilated in this exciting yet ominous age that the metaphorical 'shifting sands of time' are happening in real time. 

Ai upgrades in improvements and capabilities are being detonated on the Ai battleground in intervals of weeks and months. The fallout is perhaps too soon to be fully felt or imagined. 

While awaiting the imminent fallout, no one really knows what real implications could impact lives or livelihoods. The best anyone can do is embark or join the exodus in seeking higher grounds for human footing in the age of Ai infestation. 

In preparation we implore you to tune into your creator mode or right brain thinking to uncover authentic human creative endeavours which is probably the only resource left for us to thrive upon. 

There will be few roles and job functions created by the advancement of Ai and the new ones would require a higher calibre of human inputs and supplements bordering on creativity and adaptability. 

Human ingenuity, creativity and adaptability, may have been sacrificed long ago in the sterile corridors of corporations and work places but nonetheless they’re still there if you’re human.

So here’s a reminder of who we truly are, laid out in a harsh poetry of five stanzas as an urgent anthem to Live By Design. 

I love you. HB Summer Gan

 To my daughter on her birthday. 

Happy Birthday Summer 

May You Be Well, May You Be Happy. Always.

Photo by Ahmad Odeh on Unsplash

My daughter taught me many things. 

Here are just some of them;

1. We are born dancers. 

The human body has 202 bones connected by 360 joints. Doesn’t this tell us that we should be moving a lot? Shouldn’t we all be dancing? 

Often reminded of this fact I dance like no one is watching every time I get a chance or when the music moves me. 

2. Dancers are the most meticulous thinkers. 

They have to remember every single move in a dance routine down to that intricate little gesture. A dance routine can last from 3 to 30 minutes and more. Imagine how many moves, steps and little details a dancer needs to remember performing on stage. Some of us can’t even remember 10 things to save our lives. 

I have been so intrigued by this truth that I am excited yet intimidated at the prospect of having a conversation with a dancer. After all how does one interact with a genius?

3. Some dancers can sing and act. 

They're called “triple threat.” Accomplished dancers, actors and singers can do all three. 

These people are truly gifted and talented to be able to sing, dance and act at the same time. Imagine the complexities of memorising the script, lyrics and moves required in a scene let alone an entire show or movie! That's how movie or film stars are made. 

What type of work could be more demanding yet so fulfilling to all? 

I can’t think of any. 

Aren’t they then the most perfect humans on the planet with talent, poise and compassion? 

Aren't they artists who do insane things with great beauty to delight us and keep us sane?

I have a good feeling that my daughter is doing well in her chosen path in life. 

Having balanced her emotions carefully, she has embarked upon her professional career in full flight. 

Whatever multiple roles she is pursuing I would just like to stand by the wayside and cheer her on, on her birthday. 

1. You are enough. Ten thousand times enough. 

You have everything it takes to do whatever you are doing and more. You know it deep down. 

Keep going no matter how hard or easy it gets. You’re on track to greatness. Believe it. 

2.  You have great focus. 

Whatever you choose to focus on you will excel. You have done it many times before. 

Your single minded focus has won you many medals. Keep going. Our ceiling is your floor. 

3. You have great compassion. 

It is embedded deep in your heart- more than passion, you have compassion. It is what differentiates great from good. When you do things with compassion you can’t help but to move people. 

Keep going. The world need great artists with sensitive hearts. 

Remember you have come so far all on your own. 

Know that I think about you constantly and that I hope you get to spend quiet time with your inner self through deep contemplation or meditation. I hope you do it daily. 

With love. 

Pxxx. 

P/s. “Scientists are dreamers of doom. Dancers are doers of delight.” 

Pp/s. I've dedicated this Bob Dylan classic for you today- Forever Young. Hope you like it. 

I love you. Summer is Autumn in New York.

 Today is Summer's birthday. 

As birthdays and summer go, they bring great Joy to everyone everywhere.

I had the precious joy of assembling a goodie bag of sorts, with a little help from my friends at the florist and work creating little bundles of delight.

Then the joy of discovery, after delivery of the unique combinations, that she's safely back at the big apple. Pursuing her heart's desire once again.

 

It seems like only a short while ago that I left the girl then perched atop Columbus Circle at The Mandarin Oriental overlooking Central Park in New York city. She had settled into dance school to begin her journey into music and drama at AMDA. That was six years ago. 

It must have been a fabulous journey seeing where she is now. Back to doing what she loves doing most- Musical Theatre and Dance.

There is great joy revelling in that thought today. 

Here's wishing you A Happy Birthday and Bon Voyage on yet another great adventure.

Just remember this; "Our ceiling is your floor" ~ Daughter (Venus-Sleeping at last)

And as you spread your joy, May you find Joy in everything you do.

I love you. The Invitation #5

 The Joy.

This chapter explores joy. And sharing it.

Why is it often hard for us to choose joy, even in moments when there are no painful circumstances in our lives? Sometimes we simply do not know how. Many of our secular rituals of celebration and relaxation involve moving away from what is- numbing out, if only a little, with drugs or alcohol. As one of my students once said, "We don't seem to know very much about how to lighten up without numbing out." Music and dance are obvious exceptions to this, but in our culture we are too often only spectators and not participants in creating and moving to the sound of celebration.

 

I want to cultivate ways of celebrating joy in my life and I want to recognise and savour the moments of joy that come. I want to enjoy the full variety of pleasures life holds, even when some of those joys appear to others to be incompatible and contradictory.

 

"I want to know if you can be with joy

mine or your own,

if you can dance with wildness

and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your 

fingers and toes

without cautioning us to be careful

to be realistic

to remember the limitations of being human."

~ Oriah Mountain Dreamer

So get up and dance. 

 

The Mystery Cat

Summer worked hard for months in preparation for this Dance Festival at Putrajaya Auditorium held on 6 Dec.

We were of course very thrilled and very proud to see this young lady slink onto stage to deliver a mature, slick and sophisticated performance.
But don't take our word for it, read about how she felt about the whole shindig HERE