The Bread: On Art

The inspiration of this piece draws from the famous Filipino phrase: “Kapag binato ka ng bato, batuhin mo ng tinapay.” (If someone throws a rock at you, throw bread back.)

It borrows essence from a Bible verse I never knew was connected with the phrase. The bread (tinapay) is one of the typical Filipino breakfast and snack staples for Filipinos and I loved it since day one when I have tasted it (give it to the Filipino Pandesal always capturing my heart).

It was the perfect metaphor for ideas— being a tangible, tasty piece of bread. It was created when my friend, the mad muse Sofia Cope, and I was on a creative high during our stay in Patis Tesoro‘s home for a personal creative retreat. She told me to write it down, so I did. It made her understand, so I guess, here it is:

Since the industrialization has boomed, we have curbed our satisfaction by taking a fast way.

THE INSTANTANEOUS SENSE OF GETTING SOMETHING AS FAST AS WE CAN REFLECT IN THE MANY THINGS WE CONSUME– PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND EVEN ART. CLAIM IT: “I AM AN ARTIST.”– WHETHER YOU’RE A DOCTOR, A TEACHER, A CONSULTANT, AN IT ANALYST, AN ENTREPRENEUR, A COOK, OR A PLUMBER— EVERYONE FINDING MEANING AND SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS, EVEN SOMETIMES NOT MAKING SENSE AT ALL AND ONLY MAKING SENSE TO YOUR OWN UNIVERSE, YOU STILL ARE ONE.

AS ARTISTS OR AS MERE HUMANS, WE REACT TO STIMULI— THE PERSON THROWING BREAD AT US. THE STIMULUS IS THE REASON WHY SOMETIMES WE ARE BAFFLED, CONFUSED, SHOCKED, OVERWHELMED, OR ALL OF THE ABOVE.

WE ARE SO COMPELLED TO MAKE THE PERFECT, MOST MASSIVE, AND MOST DELICIOUS ONES WE COULD EVER CREATE IN OUR LIFETIME BUT IN CONTRAST, WE WERE JUST REALLY EAGER TO GET TO THE POINT THAT WE THROW OUR BREAD — A VERB DRIVEN BY OUR PASSION— TO ACTUALLY JUST GET OVER IT BECAUSE WE THINK THIS NEEDS TO GET A REACTION/ADMIRATION ASAP.

But the question is, have we even started baking our bread lovingly? Satisfying the soul and the need as we seek necessary?

BAKE THE BREAD LOVINGLY BEFORE THROWING IT BACK TO THE PERSON, TO THE UNIVERSE. SOMETIMES, YOU MIGHT THINK THAT THE UNIVERSE ISN’T ASKING FOR YOU TO THROW IT ANYWAY.

MAYBE YOU CAN PUT IT OUT THERE IN OTHER WAYS. MAYBE YOU CAN JUST PUT IT ON A TABLE AND LET ANYONE OR SOMEONE SAVOR ITS SMELL AND GOODNESS.

You’ve made the bread with your intentions.

That is enough.

The rest will follow.

THANK THE GENERATIONS BEFORE US FOR MAKING THE GREAT OVENS THAT OPEN US UP TO NEW AND BETTER OPPORTUNITIES— TO BE SOULFUL MAKERS AND CREATORS IN THEIR OWN FIELDS, WHICH ARE ALSO PART OF THIS NEVER-ENDING WEB OF STIMULUS WHY WE EVOLVE AND CHALLENGE OURSELVES TO FIND MEANING.

THANK THE BRILLIANT, THANK THE MEDIOCRE, THANK THE WORST— THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE US REALIZE WHAT A GOOD, LOVINGLY BAKED BREAD IS AND WHAT ANY OTHER WAY IS TO MAKE OTHER PEOPLE TASTE THE BREAD SO THEY KNOW THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING AND IT WAS THAT BAKED CREATION ALL ALONG.

WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF YOUR CREATION ON THE TABLE?

DOES IT INVITE MORE PEOPLE TO BAKE IT LOVINGLY?

OR HASTEN THE PROCESS JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE?

DANCE WITH THE STEAM AND HEAT FROM THE BREAD.

DON’T LET IT GO STALE.

I hope this piece serves you something, or maybe nothing.

Thank you, Sofia for believing I should write about this.

Love and light,

Clarisse

This article was originally published on pinturaatpintig.wordpress.com in 2018.