Caffe Interactions

As a brief introduction to the subject, in 2019 I came from Argentina to Europe; yes, the whole continent. First I arrived in Barcelona, then I settled in Castelldefels and, after two years there, I traveled several countries in a quest to find a city to live in. Then I returned to Argentina for 4-5 months and came back to Europe yet again to make another trip-scouting-tour. This time, the quest led me to Italy, where I stayed two months in Sardinia and then five in the region of South Tyrol, in Val Senales. Since June 2023 I live in Valencia and we’ll see how long this lasts.

Contrary to what being in constant motion could have meant, it taught me to make a pause and start paying attention to times of matter, soil and earth [subjects I still have lots to learn from]. I began to migrate and the traveling itself became a constant lesson while being in transit, instead of the pursuit of a specific goal. I started paying attention to slower times, connecting to organic elements and a series of transformations that happen silently but constantly within them, until one day they bear fruit. Processes that for an erratic mind, of dizzying speeds and non-Newtonian accelerations, are proving to be a beautiful lesson on how to change many unconscious processes.

Beans: two lessons. The first one is to be present and the second is to persevere. Hydrate them, plan for tomorrow and – why not – for the week, be consistent… A plan that’s not rigid but more like a draft, a general outline. Plans that are versatile like the variability of salads and possible binders, but with solid grounds or intentions, like proteins. To follow that plan, one step a day maybe, little by little. Steps such as: one day hydrating, then boiling, next processing or bonding and so on. Assimilating that regularity not only builds routines but also healthy habits that multiply (my) opportunities. Habits such as taking care of myself and my intentions while integrating them into real timelines, like with life and matter, achievable timelines… Unlike the concept of time in your (or my) mind, which sometimes becomes ruminant, overlapped, anachronic and even corrosive, asphyxiating in piling things up. Timelines that are palpable as matter and potent as energy. 

Another lesson, my consumption levels and their impact. The sense of belonging to a network of universal nature or to a natural network of the universe. I slow down my thinking and focus on what my senses are able to appreciate and I can’t cease to be amazed at how much warmer the planet is. The spring flowers growing in the middle of autumn, the snow that’s not falling where it should, the coats that become obsolete in certain regions, the water that evaporates in excess in some places and overflows uncontrollably in others, the smells of decay that become tokens of the city and urban indifference as a characteristic of its habitability. To assume once and for all that the seasons are not just a period in the calendar but a condition of existence and potential in nature and earth. Beginning to understand the concept of Resource in a greater dimension: food, the elements, energy as fuel and the energy of my body as well. Going back to listening to this body almost as a revolutionary act. Learning to rest. Buying in bulk, reducing the amount of plastics, reviewing my stereotyped desires, stocking up by understanding the relationship of my body as a means of transport with the amounts and needs in a realistic way. Reviewing the notion of need: what do I have, what do I want, what do I need and what of all that survives an examination. To become aware of the power when balancing thinking and doing, if what I am doing and wanting is to enjoy this life that is today on earth and that is the only thing I can be sure of, for now.  

I am still figuring out the illusions our mind holds on to when we begin to awaken consciousness. One forgets what used to be our previous beliefs when considering general worldviews. Today I identify myself with ecological perspectives and I cannot understand why so many people are still asleep but, to be fair, I also forget how I used to do things before. How non-linear thinking can be when forgetfulness kicks in, right? Yet reason is always there trying to convince me of that false straight line. #Bullsh!t

Speaking of which, I’ll use the notion of bull-shit to fertilize my thinking, slow down with the simultaneity of the mind and bring back my feet on the ground, as a new habit… There is no trendier activity to suggest to an anxious soul than Grounding. 😉   

All in all, these are just notes on the process of beginning to understand something in this school of slower times of everyday life. «Understanding» still feels like a big word for me; something like «the more I learn, the more I realize the enormity of what I ignore».

So, to recap, accepting that our movement has an impact like any other energy in relation with “the whole”. Action-reaction. Consume in accordance with the organic calendar + Do not exploit  the Earth but co-create with it + Build one step at a time: habits as recipes, as steps and processes. To hydrate projects with perseverance, aware of the flow of Earth, learning to write possible lists into each day of the agenda, which only then can make them REAL lists. 

The real as that belonging to this side of reality. Here.
And, yes, to assume the notion of what I consider «real» now.

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And… Speaking of impact, nature and ways of inhabiting, here is a link to the work of Andy Goldsworthy (https://andygoldsworthystudio.com/ ). He is an artist born in the UK in 1956, whose work is considered to be Land Art (art of land and nature). Regardless of the categories, his website is very simple and beautiful to visit. In the index you will always find images of his most recent work and in the archive you will find one work per month, from each passing year. If we are talking about ways of observing nature and observing ourselves in the process, according to the Mirror concept [spirituality and self-awareness], some of his works made me think about how simple can be the act of creating something beautiful with what is given, almost like choosing how to dress or comb our hair in the morning. It’s just about observing and deciding. Other works could be games with the elements that we consider part of  the artistic domain, namely design, drawing, photography or architecture, recreated in-nature-with-nature itself. And some others that I was able to investigate have to do with the relationship of the human body in its manner of inhabiting the environment, be it the city, the countryside or other. In these works there is more intervention with mechanical means or industries – such as granite, e.g. – to recreate shapes or organic directions that go unnoticed in our daily routine and urban commutes. I personally am a little uneasy about turning to these industries (with the impact they have) to make artwork that deals with nature. But I’m not judging, it’s just something that makes me think and I want to read more. In short, I bring it to you, because I find it pleasant to go through the purely visual way in which he presents his works (ephemeral, almost in their entirety), by only adding simple epigraphs on the works that need it. 

In a way it reminded me of the website Astronomy Picture of the Day (https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html), where we can daily see episodes of the universe itself, out there. Difference is that Goldsworthy shows human actions within nature – with a monthly frequency-, even if the human body remains as a tacit subject in almost all of the works. 

I don’t know if you’re into listening to podcasts on a regular basis, every morning or week, or watching certain IG profiles, be they news, sports, astrological data, cooking – whatever your algorithm suggests-, but the work of this artist seemed to me a nice monthly bridge to other scenarios in the city. Also, they allow us to build a closer relationship with the work, by simply enjoying it or not, liking it or not, fading away some of the distance that works of art can often generate.

In short… that’s it for today. Have a nice day, afternoon, evening, night or whatever fraction of time you have ahead of you. Whatever it is, may it be by being present (I say it to myself too).

 And all feedback is always welcome. Things get more interesting when there is a two-way flow 😉