John Michael is a multi-disciplinary creator based in Berlin. In this interview, he speaks on the nuanced relationship of the creative process, the importance of context and environment, and the journey of exploring your creative identities.

I’ve been ruminating as of late on my relationship with creation and have become perplexed by the cultural pressure to commercialise creative practices. The jarring awareness the contradiction of wanting to freely create as I please, and the craving to feel ‘legitimised’ through careful troubleshooting of work.

Often, I’m left in a state of paralysis, building the courage to create. A self-compressed state of frantic non-making or making. My output then becoming an indicator of my self-worth- the inner critique yelling over my shoulder while the creator quivers in its seat.

Compare this to the days I’m sitting and just exploring, allowing space to simply ‘feel-out’ the moment unapologetically- letting the heart and mind stretch out and materialise through paint strokes, the critical self takes the back seat for a moment.

I then meet with John Michael. Originally based in Djubuguli (Sydney), he has been living, creating, and working in Berlin for the past 6 years.

Looking at his Instagram feed, I’m impressed by the collection of work he has accumulated over the last 2 years- with pieces varying from videography, branding, and design projects, drawings, and fashion to more explorative visual art that marries the foundations of design and the experimental.

It’s 8pm here in Australia as I catch up with John Michael over google hangouts, on what on his end is a bright Berlin Morning. We discuss the sacredness of creativity, the fear of producing and sharing your work, and the leap to distancing yourself as a creator from the co-dependency of the soul-draining 9-5 culture.

“Back in Sydney, I had a 9-5 design job which was growing stale. That job, amongst other reasons, led me to consider some sort of life change which materialised into moving to Berlin. I had one main intention with that move, and that was to explore my creativity. For the most part, my early years in Berlin was a self-exploration, finally feeling a sense of belonging in an environment surrounded by such unique characters. Despite not being creatively productive I learnt a lot about myself and absorbed what I learnt and experienced from my surroundings.

There came a point where I assessed where I was on a creative level, and I felt my body of work at the time didn’t reflect the person I had grown to become. That was the turning point of my creativity, I metaphorically threw out everything I had made and decided to start a new chapter. It ended up being Instagram (of all things) that really drove this new-found creative journey. I realised I had a platform to express my feelings and my thoughts and my style developed organically from there.”

I’ve had a look at your videography work and I love how there is still a meeting of your static art aesthetic incorporated in moving pictures- you’ve also incorporated your own music. When and why did you start delving into videography work?

I was working on a fashion project two years ago and needed some video content, however, I didn’t know anyone doing the style I had in mind. So I decided to buy a cheap second-hand camcorder and simply try it myself.

I was incredibly shocked to discover how natural it felt to shoot and edit. I reflect now on why I took to it so organically and that’s because video really is a combination of most of my interests; sound, movement, and visuals. Being a music lover, a passionate dancer, and being involved in visual creation for years led to that organic transition into Video.

I will also mention that a huge part of getting into video was the free time to do so. This is one aspect of Berlin which I love, not having to be part of the 9-5 lifestyle and be fortunate enough to explore one's creative boundaries.

We talk a little about his current creative process.

Most of the time when I create art it’s quite unintentional. I will start a piece based on a thought, a quote from a film, a song which resonates with my feelings at the time, or an image I find on Tumblr. When these creative journeys start, I have no idea where they will end, it’s about creating based on intuition rather than striving for some sort of specific end result.

This more nurturing approach to making reminds me of the importance of letting your creation gestate, caring for it as it evolves before pre-defining and ‘choking’ its potential. It really underlined for me how often I’d fall into a frustrating spiral after boxing in my work before even starting.

I really believe in things being organic and never forcing something. Everything happens at its own pace. I reflect on my own creative history - for example, I would never have predicted that I would have gotten into Video. Everything has its organic flow and you should never fight against that flow. As soon as you do, you go against this energy that's already existing.

Slow Motion Thunder Storm by John Michael

He shares his thoughts on the hesitations and fears of sharing.

I can't really speak on behalf of other creatives and their own personal fears and hesitations for not putting out their work. I am sure there are many and varied reasons which I fully respect.

But I think the question needs to be, why is the creator creating whatever it is they are making? What are their motivations for creating that thing? I believe one's work should be for the creator and no one else, that way it exists in its purest and most authentic form. Otherwise, you are attempting to create a product, something that other people will find appealing.

My work is created for me and if someone out there happens to feel something from it, then that's a wonderful bonus. But an important part of the creation for me is the release. It must be set free into the world, whether it resonates with someone or hides in the shadows is out of my hands.

This encounter with John Michael, his work and philosophy on creation acts as a reminder of the intertwined relationship between individuals and their Art. And how the ever evolving identity should be allowed reflection in the work we create, unapologetically.

Words and interview by Nadia Cao
Image credits: John Michael

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'A conversation on the creative journey' / Interview with John Michael

John Michael is a multi-disciplinary creator based in Berlin. In this interview, he speaks on the nuanced relationship of the creative process, the importance of context and environment, and the journey of exploring your creative identities.