Show Notes
Walking art is a nice metaphor for the experience of experimentally oriented people.
In this episode of The Gentle Rebel Podcast, I chat with Australian multi-form artist Amy Tsilemanis. I’ve known Amy for a few years and was excited to talk with her about the naturally curious approach she takes to her work and life, as it resonates with much of what we regularly discuss here and on Serenity Island.
In our conversation, we explored:
What caused Amy to question whether she is really a highly sensitive person ten years after first hearing the term?
Why I believe the highly sensitive label is useful until it’s no longer necessary (and how I see this applying to Amy).
How Amy has made such a broad range of art forms work for her. She uses audio storytelling and podcasting, poetry, collage, walking art, participatory events, installation, archives, multimedia, and the creative activation of heritage places and collections.
Why having a lot of strings to her bow can sometimes lead to impostor syndrome.
What drives Amy’s relationship with art (and how she discovered her creative values).
Why the image of the flâneur caught her attention.
How curiosity about audio walks led to a conference in northern Greece, which turned out to be near Amy’s ancestral village, which connected her to a global community of walking artists, which brought her back to Australia to help start a walking art organisation. Don’t you just love how unexpected happenings become big parts of life!
And more…
Noticing, Wandering, and Everyday Creative Expression
Amy’s work gives a strong sense of anchoring in space and history. She is clearly driven by the power of human connection, bringing people into the creative process whenever possible. I was also keen to ask her about the impact of slowing down on what she notices in the world around her and within her.
It was fascinating to hear her trace her joy in sharing what she notices with others back to messages her mum left for her in her lunchbox as a child. She learned to see these small creative acts as ways to tell people she was thinking of them.
Amy is the embodiment of experimental and accidental creativity. Her life has often taken unexpected twists and turns, including her latest role as a model for a local charity shop. Listen to the end to find out about that one.
The word ‘creativity’ can seem big, heavy, and even scary at times. But I hope this conversation paints a different picture and that you might feel encouraged by what we discuss.
Links
Amy’s website: amytsilemanis.com.au
Walk Listen Create (global walking art hub): walklistencreate.org/
Australian Walking Artists: australianwalkingartists.org/
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