David Gebski
Me for a Moment
Describe yourself in one word.
Artist.
What connects you to everything under the umbrella of artist?
It’s a search for myself - the expression of myself and the feelings I have about the world. It’s about describing emotions through images, images in the most abstract sense because music also is an image.
What about the aspect of sharing do you find fulfilling?
It allows us to look beyond ownership. Ownership is this weird concept that we have to deal with, whether it’s copyright or your house or your skateboard it’s something that is inherently human, but at the same time doesn’t make any sense. Sharing illustrates the paradox that we live in.
Do you feel this sense of ownership over anything?
To a certain extent, I do, my thoughts, my paintings, but at the same time they live their own lives. Someone else sees them or I share my thoughts and you have your own reflections on them - that is beyond my control. I think ownership in the end comes down to controlling certain aspects of life.
What grounds you?
I’m not sure if it’s being grounded or being so afloat that you have no sense of the ground; You might as well be flying.
What motivates you to create?
Creation is survival, the motivation is the inspiration. What inspires me? Life itself, everything around me, the ground under my feet, my thoughts, everything comes together in this moment of creation.
How do you survive as an artist in this world?
Just surviving is a matter of breathing. As an artist you have to protect your integrity. If you believe in yourself, you are already there.
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I also write in a log book everyday. I want to make the most of my time here and writing things down helps calm my mind.
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It’s important to appreciate the little things, sometimes when I have a healthy meal I just write down “cooked good.” Not everyday is a grand opening or an exhibition, it happens and it will happen and it will continue to happen, but if you don’t allow yourself to breathe in-between the big things you’ll run out of breath too soon.
Where do you find your sense of home?
My home is in my heart. I carry my city, where I come from, Amsterdam, forever in my heart. I will never not be an Amsterdamer, but I’m also a New Yorker, and when I move to Athens, I hope I have the honor to also be Athenian.
Is there anything that always makes you smile really big?
When I’m able to level with someone and I realize that we are on the same page. It’s a great feeling. It’s a confirmation that you’re not alone in this world and that we are not all so unique and different as we’d like to believe, but we are able to share this uniqueness and that makes us the same.
Can you describe something that empowers you?
My parents, they are both artists and I see how they are able to raise me and live a happy life. It empowers me to see that this is possible.
What gives you a sense of gratefulness each day?
Just waking up in a bed and feeling comfortable having a place to myself. It goes from there to having healthy food to eat. I’m always trying to take care of my body, because in the end it’s the vessel that is flying me through this life, so I am very careful with and mindful of my health.
