Social Dilemma

Rulers of Social Media | Image generated by AI in DreamStudio; Promt: ‘diverse group of crazy kings and queens’ | No creativity was involved.

My relationship with social media has not been ideal, and I admit that I despise it. My primary motivation for using the various platforms has been as a medium to showcase my creative processes and share my artwork while striving to remain authentic. Nonetheless, the ever-increasing AI-generated content, promotion algorithms, and a deluge of countless advertisements and irrelevant information that inundate my feeds, have made it challenging and disadvantageous to remain active on social media. Furthermore, the negative impact of social media on my mental health is a cause for concern. When the focus of my work is intuitive and directed inward but then consistently stimulated and triggered by the opposite, the extroverted world, this is a distraction from my creative process.

As an artist, I have a sensitivity towards distinguishing authenticity from inauthenticity, and ego from humility. When I get caught scrolling through the feeds, I often wonder if I've entered another dimension where self-reflection no longer exists. I’m inundated by the numerous (well-meaning or other) opinions, those that are easily offended and the self-righteous. It is a realm where the village idiot and the ego-centric have become emperors, kings and queens. The few profiles containing gems of wisdom, the creative geniuses, and the authentic are so easily drowned out by the mediocre, which is a loss for all of us.

I aspire to be more present in the physical world without these distractions. However, I fear that my absence from social media could undermine my investment in my artistic practice. I have ruminated on the advice I have received on self-promotion and business practices, being seen and exposed, hoping for 'just that one connection' that could make a difference in my career. I have struggled with how to remain authentic, following my intuition and my natural desire to be 'in the background' and focused on my practice. There is an irrational fear I will be forgotten, so there is work to be done on a personal level, but as of now, I seek less 'superficialities' in my life and more realness and space for deeper reflection. As an artist, I claim the prerogative to do things my way and embrace the potentially negative consequences…but remain hopeful for positive change.

While I'm concerned about losing valuable connections, I aim to maintain meaningful connections in the real world outside of social media. I'll be sending out biannual news updates for those interested in my work and practice (sign up using the form below), and I'll continue to share writings and updates on my website. Additionally, I may create a 'living blog' that I'll update regularly.

As of February 21st, 2024, I will remove all social media accounts under my name.

Love and light!

Update 27 September 2024:

After a blissful seven-month hiatus from social media, I have chosen to rejoin Instagram and Linkedin, which is not a decision taken lightly. I intend to exhibit my latest creations and reconnect with valued professional contacts and supporters of my work.

Instagram: renzobrandsma.art
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/renzobrandsma