Smokey Robinson

Whilst in London today (see previous post) I realised how little I wanted to live there.

Its always been a bit of a tough call as I do love London. I think its a beautiful city (in parts) and hostorically fascinating. There is a great culture scene there with constant access to whatever type of whatever art form you like.

There is also a certain 'cool' factor to London. Its promoted as being the place to be and those from London walk around as though it is the place to be and they are the people to be in the place to be, you see? Sometimes I see these folk and a hazy mist falls over mine eye and I picture a world where I live in London and I too am a cool cat strolling the streets and doing my thing.

Then, reality bites again. I leave the train or tube and hit the streets. They are big, smelly, crowded and move at a pace that no human should sustain. As one of the anonomous crowd you rush with a new and unwanted purpose to your destination. It seems like London is comprised of millions of small particles some of which collide for moments to show cohesion, but often are in their own world. When viewed from above all seems connected, but when amogst the particles the opposite seems true.

I also noticed teh school kids on the tube today and thought how crazy it must be to go to school in London and commute to school on the tubes each day. What an amazing place to grow up but also what an unnerving one.

I love London, but as a tourist, visitor or casual observer. I like to spend time there, but I also like to know I can escape to a home in a slower place where I am more conspicious and green space is not something you dream of owning one day as part of a roof top garden of an executive flat.

For me, London could only be done with pots of cash. For me, I could only have pots of cash if I sold myself to the corporate devil. For me, that is the last thing I ever want to return too.

Interestingly, as an 'artiste' people always ask if I will move to London after I graduate. That scares me a bit as I don't want to be forced to move to 'where its at' in order to be at. But London is but a commute away and hopefully there is room for artistic survival outside our elitist capital.