Leaning into Vulnerability.
Reflections on Starting My MA Fine Art Journey.
Today marked the beginning of my journey in the MA Fine Art: Digital program at Central Saint Martins. As I sit here reflecting on this first session, I’m both excited and apprehensive. There's an undeniable pull to see how I can grow—not just as an artist, but as a person. I hope this course will help me develop confidence and self-assuredness, though putting myself out there feels daunting. It’s like I’m peeling back layers I’ve always kept guarded, exposing parts of myself that I've usually kept private. But now feels like the right time to lean into that discomfort and start creating the public narrative of my practice.
We touched on a concept today that resonated deeply with me—compassion. In a study on team dynamics, the defining characteristic of successful teams wasn’t talent or structure, but kindness. It made me think about the importance of care, not just for others, but for ourselves. The drive to care for someone else is as intrinsic to our nature as the drive to survive. Compassion, as defined, is noticing distress in yourself or others and doing something about it. This idea will likely play a pivotal role in how I approach my work over the next two years—nurturing myself as much as my art.
This theme reminded me of a moment from a solo trip to Tallin’s airport, where a stranger helped me get juice from a vending machine when it wasn’t working. It was a small act of kindness, but I was overwhelmed and lost at the time, and that simple gesture gave me the comfort and confidence I needed. It’s a moment I hold on to.
During the course introduction, we were encouraged to reflect deeply and to "find our rhythm" as artists. It’s comforting to know that this environment will allow space for growth, for exploring new perspectives, and for pushing beyond the comfort zone. One of the tasks we were given was to establish a reflective journal, which is what this blog will serve as. I want to be mindful, hungry, and generous in my practice—mindful of the opportunity to reflect, hungry for discomfort and growth, and generous in the way I approach sharing ideas and creativity.
We were reminded that the course isn’t about being told what to do, but about asking the right questions to help us uncover our own answers. That’s exactly what I hope to do here. Over the next two years, I will share my experiences, my thoughts, and my work as I navigate this exciting and sometimes unnerving journey.
Stay tuned, and let’s see where this takes me.
