Mood Bores

On social media, everyone is an artist. Or at least it can seem that way as we scroll through an endless stream of charming snapshots of writing desks, sketchbooks and moodboards. The artistic process, regardless of what it might or might not produce, is a lifestyle statement. You might be wondering where the fruit of all this beautifully documented labor is. No need: The focus here is on the process itself.

There has always been something alluring about the mystery of creativity. That’s understandable; a great work of art is mystifying, and it’s natural to be curious about the steps taken to create it. But while many of us may dream of making art, what platforms like Instagram have done is shift the focus from the art itself to the creative process, as a product to be marketed and profited from.