I’m not an artist. I’m a heARTIST.
My best friend Kiko wants to change the world. He has this vision that through advocating the value of artistic expression, he can make the world a friendlier place for others. With that in mind, the UPV Marketing Society’s heART campaign was born. (http://www.wix.com/heartcampaign)
As the ever supportive best friend of the campaign’s founder, I took the time to watch over the exhibit in SM City Iloilo. There, I met Marius. He was there for most of my two-three hour shift. He was there just lying down on the mall floor and doodling stuff. I wondered why no one looked for him as he’s just a boy of about nine. It turned out that his mom owns a store inside Salad Dressing, that’s why he can spend most of the time in the exhibit.
I thought to myself that Marius was lucky because he seemed to have all the time in the world. I couldn’t imagine me spending the whole afternoon doodling on the mall floor and not worrying about other meetings to attend to, friends to see and family gatherings to go to. I couldn’t quite remember a time when I was just hanging around and not thinking about school or extra-curricular work. A child’s life is a mystery. One I’ve lived but have suddenly forgotten in the blur of “teen” issues and activities.
I want to be that child again but how about the things I’ve learned and experienced as I grew up? Is it worth sacrificing? If I go back in time, could I actually make things better? Or will I just have to face different choices leading to different consequences? I don’t think there is what we call a “better” life, just a “different” one. And the limitations in my mind are merely products of different priorities.
I could lie all day on the mall floor and doodle. I could spend my time just doing nothing. But the problem is, I choose not to. Because in my 18 years in this world, I’ve realized there are a lot of things I could do that I wouldn’t have been able to if I was a child. Marius taught me life is just child’s play. You can do what you want to do if you just allow yourself to imagine more and worry less. His “heart” for art changed the way I look at the life I thought I enjoyed. He reminded me of what we have in common: the freedom to choose which way to go.
Anyone can be an artist, even me who doesn’t know how to draw or whatever.
But Marius—he’s not just an ordinary artist.
He’s the real heARTIST.
