Amid the rise of Artificial Intelligence, Thea Quiachon wondered, “What even is the point in creating anymore?
Rather than abandoning art, she started examining it more intently—paintings, music, movies, books, architecture, and the lives of those who created them. She became drawn to the stories and experiences that exist beneath the surface of a work. What we encounter as art is often shaped by a person’s memories, emotions, questions, and way of seeing the world. For Thea, there is something intimate in knowing that a work can carry traces of a life beyond what is immediately visible.
Maybe this is why we create. Some things move through us and refuse to simply disappear. We give them a form, not because we have all the answers, but because we are still trying to understand. And in doing so, we leave room for someone else to feel it, too.
The Catalyst of a Catalyst is a contemplation of the reasons behind our ongoing production and appreciation of art: to be human and to find purpose in slowing down to look, listen, feel, and be moved in a world where so much can be made easily and quickly.
Text by Agatha Gawaen
