Hi y'all.
Here's to you some inspirations 'On History and Writing'. Enjoy.
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Until next time - Majken xx
Krasner, Kooning and Frankenthaler
Three takeaways from the short video The female Abstract Expressionists of New York shook the world of art by Great Art Explained:
Leonore ‘Lee’ Krasner (1908-1984), American abstract expressionist painter, married to the painter Jackson Pollock. While her husband, Jackson Pollock, was creating his (big) paintings in a big barn, she was working with her art in a tiny bedroom. Here, she made small, powerful pictures, among which her breakthrough ‘little images’ series. Mostly, though, she spent her time promoting her husband’s career, but when he died (in a drunk ’ n-drive car crash), she moved into his old workroom. After this, her paintings grew significantly in scale and energy since she now used her whole body to create her works. Krasner ended up becoming acknowledged as one of the founders of abstract expressionism.
Elaine de Kooning (1918-1989), American abstract expressionist and figurative expressionist painter, married to the painter Willem de Kooning. Kooning painted male subjects in provocative poses, which is rarely seen in paintings (I’ve often wondered where the more sensual - or sexual - paintings of men made by women were. It has always seemed to me that they are nowhere). Kooning herself puts it this way: “In the past, women painted women and men always painted the opposite sex, and I wanted to paint men as sex objects.”
Helen Frankenthaler (1928-2011), American abstract expressionist painter. Frankenthaler created a new type of painting known as ‘soak stain’. Already in her twenties, she was considered the bridge between the first and second generation of abstract expressionists.
[Photo: Painting by Elaine de Kooning - Detail.]
Ofuro
In Japan exists a bathing ritual in which parents, children, and sometimes even grandparents bathe together in a tub - if there’s enough room. It’s called ofuro.
The ritual is not only an important element of hygiene or relaxation, as this article explains, it’s also a way of showing affection, bringing up children in intimacy, and building social relations. It’s about being close to each other, skin-to-skin, and communicating to your nearest and dearest that they are important to you - without using words.
If you feel like doing Japanese bathing ofuro-style, you’ll need the following:
A deep wooden tub (preferably made of hinoki wood, also used to build Shinto temples); a very deep enamel bathtub will do;
Water with a temperature of 38-42 °C (it should reach your shoulders when sitting down).
After a cool shower and washing your body with soap, tie up your hair and immerse yourself in hot water. You can sit in the bath for up to 30-45 minutes.
And because this is supposed to be an experience in intimacy, you might invite your partner or lover, husband or wife, mum, dad, children and friends to join in, although probably not all at once!
Hello from the South Pole
On 14 December 1911, the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first to reach the South Pole. He was just five weeks ahead of the British explorer Robert Falcon Scott and his crew, who all tragically died on their return journey. Originally Amundsen had planned to head for the North Pole; however, as the two Americans Frederick A. Cook and Robert E. Peary beat him to it, he decided - in all secrecy - to travel South instead. Here are some fine photos from the Amundsen group adventure.
Get uncomfortable
I rediscovered this old blog post from Michael Hyatt, the American author, podcaster, blogger, and speaker on leadership, productivity, and goal setting. Also, he’s the CEO and founder of Michael Hyatt & Company - now known as Full Focus. The post is a bit provocative, but if you need to light up a fire under your butt to g-e-t o-n w-i-t-h t-h-a-t t-h-i-n-g you want to get on with, I believe this will do the trick. Enjoy & toodle-oo.
3 Truths for When Your Goals Feel Uncomfortable.
Having big goals is the only way big things happen. And the only way to achieve big goals is to become tolerant of the discomfort that comes with them. Of course, this isn’t our natural tendency. We’d rather play it safe and avoid failure. That’s perfectly understandable. It’s what’s comfortable.
But inevitably we start to wonder what else is out there, beyond what we know or have experienced. Why? Because each of us is meant for something more. It’s in our nature to explore, to be innovative, and to feel pulled into some uncharted territory in our lives. We just have to take the first step. And it’s never comfortable.
No matter where you are in your goal-setting journey, you can achieve breakthroughs by remembering these three truths.
Discomfort is normal. Fear, uncertainty, doubt, even hating your goals - these are completely normal feelings. Our brains are wired for predictability, stability, and safety. When you venture out of your comfort zone and stretch yourself for a goal, it’s normal to want to call it quits. These feelings won’t necessarily go away, but they don’t have to control you.
Discomfort is necessary. Pursuing goals strengthens you. Like exercising, when you first start, it feels really hard. Maybe even painful. But the more you do it, the stronger you become and the better you feel. Who you are changes along the way. So if we’re serious about growing, then we have to pursue big goals that catalyze the transformation process. Discomfort is a necessary part of that.
Discomfort is good. It’s only through discomfort that our breakthroughs come. Discomfort looks different for all of us. Maybe you’re setting out to do something you’ve never done before, and you’re scared you won’t succeed. Or maybe you’re struggling with feelings of inadequacy, like you don’t believe you have what it takes to pull this off. However it looks, embrace it, because it sets the stage for the breakthrough you want. The weight of the discomfort forces you to put your nose to the grindstone, to keep chipping away at things until something gives - and it always does.
If you want to experience your full potential, you’re going to have to travel through some discomfort. It sets the stage for breakthroughs. There are no shortcuts, no cheat codes. But the more you do it, the easier it becomes to lean into the tension. There’s encouragement in that. Most of all, there’s hope - for achieving big goals and becoming a better version of yourself.
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‘On History and Writing’ is a blog post from me to you in which I share historically rooted real-life stories from around the world - told in exciting and creative ways - along with thoughts that circle the creative process of writing non-fiction texts. I post an email once every fortnight. If you're not already a subscriber, you are welcome to join the list. Thanks for reading! Majken xx
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