One thing I’ve been working hard on is to try and forget everything I’ve learned in dance, in photography, in writing… I think I might have been too good of a student, taken too many classes and took my teachers too seriously. Because what usually ended up happening in all aspects of my “serious” learning was a really robotic cut out of technically correct moves, but lacking of any authenticity.

I haven’t really been dancing for the past 5 years. I’ve still been taking photos but I really haven’t been as active as before. I also haven’t been writing as much. I got bored. It wasn’t really that fun anymore. I think it's partly because it felt inauthentic. Like each time I got to work, I wasn’t being myself. I was just being an idea of what I thought I should be.

So, lately, I’ve been trying my hand at these things again. But this time just kinda going for it and seeing what comes out. It hasn’t been looking very pretty. Honestly, everything looks kind of weird. But it’s been quite fun to create without constantly comparing yourself with “the greats,” without searching for “how to” videos on YouTube, and without critiquing your work before you’ve given yourself a chance to grow. I love learning, but I put equal emphasis on the importance of unlearning.

by Jason Lam