The origin story of Less and Less of More and More. Less and Less of More and More isn’t about having a certain amount, e.g., a capsule wardrobe, or aspiring to some ideal state of efficiency by cleaning out your inbox (though I’m all for that).It’s about having less, not necessarily fewer.
Sarah, this is FASCINATING! How the performance artist Marina Abramović inspired your adopting the phrase “more and more of less and less.” I love those words. Although I confess that each time I say them I must untangle exactly what you mean. That’s part of the point, isn’t it?!
Loved reading about Marina's life and her various performances.
Of course I relate what you wrote to myself. Connection, narcissism, likely both. I
have many trappings that I would not give up, either because I don't want to or because doing so would go against my code of behavior. So I wonder at what point that becomses incongruous with an artist's life.
Thank you, Sarah. I agree about the difference between less and fewer. I think about that from time to time. Also, I am not on social media anymore, either, and it has given me the freedom to discover what being an artist looks like for me instead of following the cultural expectations and ideal. Very liberating. I will be reading this memoir!
The memoir is so good. I kept wondering why I was so entranced by it. I did skip through some of the early childhood chapters. It’s not that she was so horribly abused. Maybe I just couldn’t read about it. She was abused.
Sarah, I get that. It's hard to read about someone else's pain. I found Augusten Burroughs 's memoir disturbing, albeit entertaining in a certain morose way. I'm of the opinion that we can give ourselves space and permission to read or receive what we're able to. Sometimes it's about self-preservation, sometimes we just can't carry more than what we already have. Both are okay.
Thanks Sarah, I really enjoyed reading this piece. I've known about and appreciated Abramovic for a long time, while only knowing a little about her and love the way you appreciate her here.
This was so good to read, thank you Sarah! I also enjoyed the overview of Abramovic’s work. Over the decades I started appreciating her work more and more… I remember that in the early 90s I just couldn’t relate to it and thought it pretentious. But I was very young and the world (my world) was a different place. The Balkan Baroque is such a powerful work and, as someone who went through that very war, I very much respect her for it.
I played her in the recreation of her MoMA piece on Sex and The City. It was profound to sit on the quietness and look people ( one of them being Barishnokov!) hello ! - in the eyes. The pic caught my eye. And yes to less. I like to say less is always being revealed.
Beautifully said Sarah. I have too been moved to tears by her work
Loved reading about Abramoviç
That should be Abramović
I’m so glad! I worried performance artist wouldn’t get much much of a draw.
I love this so much, Sarah. Thank you for writing it.
Thank you! I’ve been thinking about you and your big move!
Sarah, this is FASCINATING! How the performance artist Marina Abramović inspired your adopting the phrase “more and more of less and less.” I love those words. Although I confess that each time I say them I must untangle exactly what you mean. That’s part of the point, isn’t it?!
That is the point. And I do the same.
Loved reading about Marina's life and her various performances.
Of course I relate what you wrote to myself. Connection, narcissism, likely both. I
have many trappings that I would not give up, either because I don't want to or because doing so would go against my code of behavior. So I wonder at what point that becomses incongruous with an artist's life.
What I love about her is that we all get to choose. She doesn’t live like a monk. Not at all. Her houses are spectacular.
It’s more about choosing what we’re gonna have more of and what we’re gonna have less of. That’s my attitude. She’s so extreme in so many ways.
That’s also why I like the distinction between less and fewer. Less is abstract. Fewer is all the things that we can count materially.
What an amazing person! Thanks for sharing her story 💛
It does? I must’ve uploaded the wrong one.
I’ve been there!
Thank you, Sarah. I agree about the difference between less and fewer. I think about that from time to time. Also, I am not on social media anymore, either, and it has given me the freedom to discover what being an artist looks like for me instead of following the cultural expectations and ideal. Very liberating. I will be reading this memoir!
The memoir is so good. I kept wondering why I was so entranced by it. I did skip through some of the early childhood chapters. It’s not that she was so horribly abused. Maybe I just couldn’t read about it. She was abused.
Sarah, I get that. It's hard to read about someone else's pain. I found Augusten Burroughs 's memoir disturbing, albeit entertaining in a certain morose way. I'm of the opinion that we can give ourselves space and permission to read or receive what we're able to. Sometimes it's about self-preservation, sometimes we just can't carry more than what we already have. Both are okay.
Powerful. I did not know of her—but certainly believe in the concept. I love that you described both the laughter and the seriousness. 🙏
Yes, you'd expect her to be pretentious as hell and she's the opposite.
Thanks Sarah, I really enjoyed reading this piece. I've known about and appreciated Abramovic for a long time, while only knowing a little about her and love the way you appreciate her here.
It’s so amazing. And there’s so much I left out.
Refreshing! Thank you!
“If less is more, just think of how much more more will be” - Dr Frasier Crane 😅
There is so much to love in this essay. I relate deeply to it all. 💕
That means so much coming from you.
... even that part about choosing to not have children. Thank you for helping my sometimes indecipherable interior feel heard and seen!
What a fantastic newsletter. I have come away breathless. Thank you for feeding my soul today.
Thank you! You just fed my soul in return!
The more you have, the more they become invisible to us, only more information is always better than less.
This was so good to read, thank you Sarah! I also enjoyed the overview of Abramovic’s work. Over the decades I started appreciating her work more and more… I remember that in the early 90s I just couldn’t relate to it and thought it pretentious. But I was very young and the world (my world) was a different place. The Balkan Baroque is such a powerful work and, as someone who went through that very war, I very much respect her for it.
You went through that. I can't imagine.
I played her in the recreation of her MoMA piece on Sex and The City. It was profound to sit on the quietness and look people ( one of them being Barishnokov!) hello ! - in the eyes. The pic caught my eye. And yes to less. I like to say less is always being revealed.
Oh, my goodness! I'm floored. Awestruck.
And yes, less is always being revealed.