On - Process

Having watched me working almost my entire life, I deeply love 'Process'. Whether it's printmaking, letterpress, typesetting, film/darkroom photography, bike maintenance, diy, making books, music, recording or playing an instrument. A significant proportion of the time the process is far, far, faaarrr more compelling and enjoyable than the outcome. The outcomes, are obviously important. But more often than not, are secondary to the process - if we're talking about 'What are you even doing that for?' I love wrestling with processes. I love mixing up and blending processes. I love knowing just enough about a process to be able to make it mostly work - and then working out the rest by investigation and experimentation. I love not really knowing every little detail of a process or how it will affect the outcome, but doing it anyway. There are things I Can do 'properly' (I used to teach them!) - but I just don't -why do I need to? Where's the fun in that? 

There's an old Monty Python skit about learning to play the flute that goes "You blow in one end and move your fingers up and down the outside". And that's it. That's really all you need to know.

There are pedantic people who get really deeply upset about other people "not doing it right/properly" - Like, properly offended. As if you've been rude about their mother by ignoring some intricate detail of the process be it whatever. Hm. Some things are important - others, just ain't. And here's a thing - my aesthetic is very definitely linked with my identity - probably in a more significant way than you would imagine on the surface.

It's all about the process. It is a Natural Sensibility too. By which I mean something key within the evolution of consciousness - as the brain of an animal gets better at processing (*not necessarily 'bigger'), evidently the functionality of the senses expands, awareness and 'imagination' seem to grow. One of my biggest questions about being a living H. Sapien is "Where does this fundamental urge to "make stuff" come from? What part of the brain, and how does it work?" (Right down to the level of Quantum Mechanics of synapses and the structures of neuro-proteins needed to make this shit work, right? - I have questions Prof. Jim Al-Khalili - local Southsea resident.....) (Next time I see you in Waitrose mate....)

We're unquestionably not alone in this. There are fish, birds, mammals, that build elaborate, temperature controlled, aesthetically attractive, highly camouflaged, secure nests - and decorate them, to the level of removing unwanted detritus - prospective mates judging what's good or 'better'. Rivals eyeing up their handiwork and nicking all the best ideas... Many, many animals build protective shelters for sleeping, breeding, raising young, storing food... There are insects that create sophisticated well-organised, socially structured, environmentally controlled earth mounds... 

What was the evolutionary trigger? What practical, evolutionarily advantageous function does an aesthetic creative ability, the ability to imagine an artifact, a state, a sound serve. But then also, the ability to work out a process by which that animal (*includes us - H Sapiens, monkey-boy) can identify and gather suitable materials, not just for the artifact, but for the tools and the method to make it. And to have a clear enough understanding of that process to be able to pass that knowledge on to others. 

I've tried to have this conversation with many people over the years, mostly hitting a wall where they cannot understand that we are just one of the other animal species filling an evolutionary niche. (We are just another one of the animals folks.) And the algae and bacteria waaay outnumber us. And that's just on this planet......

And yet... For sure, we've carved ourselves a pretty big niche. The iPhone is just the latest iteration/extension of this same functional process. The application of the conscious ability to imagine a thing and to work out how to make it. We have iPhones, cars, health care systems, multiple cures for multiple cancers... We have so much good shit going on. And it's very very easy to get distracted and forget that in the current geo-political climate. But we need to remind ourselves, and to remember, that we also have the inate ability to create some truly wonderful things.

We are H. Sapiens and we are the last of our kind.