The world has erupted in such a loud and angry blaze that it’s no surprise that a new vibe has emerged – aspirational boredom. Glass explores how the world of art and culture has taken it on board.
Australian-born but living in London, Jess Cochrane also draws from the hedonism of summer in lively paintings where friends smoke, talk on the phone, snap pictures, lounge in pools and share food and drink together – a modern day Impressionist scene. For Cochrane “the best paintings throughout history are those simply capturing what it was to exist in that time and have done so with great joy”. Indeed, there’s a buzzing aliveness to her work that celebrates the shared experience. In response to the onslaught of depressing news, Cochranes finds “listening to the voices of friends and their experiences to be helpful in my understanding. One of the best things we can do is to gather with our friends and continue building our community, being open to others. To be together. I think we know that sense of community is beneficial to our wellbeing and helps create a space to process. In times that feel very polarising, I believe that togetherness is the greatest and most grounding protest of them all.” It’s all too easy to romanticise the floaty and free foundations of aspirational boredom but, as Cochrane argues, “That’s not to say there isn’t discipline or rigour but there’s a balance.” She adds, “I don’t know why or when it becomes sexy to grind yourself to the ground but I find myself talking about this with artists and writers more and more. We’re all sort of realising that if we’re not careful, stress and anxiety can take over and sort of mask as fuel for the work.” Work inspired by aspirational boredom elevates the beauty and strength to be found in the every day. Keep your deck/jelly/net clad shoes firmly on the ground and tinker, work and play in the delights of the day.
