7: Embracing Imperfection and the Power of Being Misunderstood

Perfection is a mirage. I used to chase it—relentlessly. In both art and life, I thought every detail had to be refined, every stroke controlled. But I’ve come to understand that beauty often lives in the unexpected: the crooked lines, hesitant gestures, and uneven textures.

I can now say, with a smile, “I am a recovering perfectionist.”

When I painted Knowing in 2004, I wasn’t aiming for flawlessness—I was reaching for truth. This work emerged during a time of personal and artistic metamorphosis. It became part of my solo exhibition Human and Metamorphosis, a collection that explored how we shape and are shaped by the world around us.

Knowing was inspired by a powerful moment in Tom Stoppard’s play Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, which reimagines Shakespeare’s Hamlet. In a pivotal scene, Hamlet hands a flute to his friends and says:

“You would play upon me… do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe?”

This line struck a chord in me. How often do people assume they can “play” others—read, steer, or use them—without truly listening or understanding?

That’s where Knowing came from. A silent rebellion against assumption. A soft but steady declaration:
We are not instruments.
We are symphonies.

We are not made to be deciphered at a glance or manipulated to fit expectations. We carry layers—of memory, emotion, contradiction, and grace. And yes, we carry imperfections too. But that’s precisely where our authenticity lives.

In this piece, the cello symbolizes not just sound, but the soul—resonant, full-bodied, and textured with all the flaws that make us real. Every smudge and uneven tone in the painting echoes the messiness of growth, the beauty in process.

And just like in life, in my art I’ve learned to let go of the urge to fix every flaw. Instead, I honor them. Because they are the marks of a journey lived, not just observed.

So I ask you:
How do you relate to imperfection in your creative journey?

Let this be a gentle invitation to reflect—not just on what you create, but how you live, love, and allow yourself to be seen.

🎨 Knowing, oil on canvas, 85 x 65 cm
🖼️ From the solo exhibition Human and Metamorphosis, 2004

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