UNFINISHED
Sep 5, 2018 · 4 min read

One Finish — Cosmin Sipos

As we grow up, we discover the unlimited tank of knowledge accessible all around us. Our world can definitely be described as an epistemological heaven, where flowing pieces of information, events, facts and experiences are freely moving in a cognitive ether. We should be proud of that, as we are the creators of an overwhelming volume of both fictional and scientifical literature. And we will keep expanding it for one simple reason.

Our brain loves that. It loves creating algorithms, arts variations, and languages; it loves building histories, arguments, and ethical systems because those represent its essential nourishment — that’s how one’s Weltanschauung (world view) appears. We keep on building it every day, mostly unconsciously. But it’s not enough. It would be too tragic for analytical beings such as it would be for us.

Human beings have always been gifted with one fundamental ability: self-observation. It is a fascinating trait, mainly if you realize that we discovered it by doing it. But there is one instrument needed in order to properly make use of it: autodidacticism. That is when you reach a highlight of your evolution, when you come to the realization that those two elements are the corollary pillars of our epistemic growth. Self-observing + autodidacticism = self-improving. Certainly, we would live in a much more prosperous world if everyone would fathom this interdependent relation.

The place where self-awareness meets informal means of education. That might easily be another description of UNFINISHED Festival. Doesn’t it sound like a derived pattern of the formula above? If that’s so, then it is extremely valuable and empowering to all individuals. We should constantly give us the opportunity to stretch our set of beliefs in order to find or give a significant meaning to our everyday actions. It is what UNFINISHED promises by involving interaction and experience. It is the place where I can work on my abilities and where I hope to accomplish a little bit of my better self. Why? Why question? Is it not because you want to be fully enriched and find the “thing”, your ultimate life goal? Even though I may align myself with an existentialist point of view, I shall not disregard the fact that one’s alleged truthful destination or moral view may genuinely embody its rightful life meaning, considering that we’ve got a shortage of objective moral authorities. But let’s not forget, “One must imagine Sisyphus happy”.

One of those rightful life meanings may be following the path of Arts&Politics. Which, to be sincere, have a unique way to handle one another. Being fascinated by both political philosophy and history, with a deep focus on the totalitarian experiences of the XXth century, I was always curious about civic methods of expression. Latin America is no stranger to that, as it symbolizes one geographical and ethno psychological area where people have constantly reinterpreted the concept of political creativity. “Magical realism” pops up in my head almost immediately. Also movements such as Tropicalia or Mexicayotl. Also lots of subversive literary works, starting from representative authors of the Latin American Boom (Gabriel García Márquez, Jose Luis Borges, Mario Vargas Llosa) to writers such as Héctor Abad Faciolince and Roberto Bolaño. Protesting is an art itself, as it arouses not only the individual or collective cleverness, but it also constrains people to find an effective mix between governmental heuristics and reasonable claims. Nowadays, the poor management or even the lack of basic human rights in some Latin countries affects people constantly. Danilo Maldonado Machado, speaking this fall at UNFINISHED, depicts this kind of realities through his urban works, trying to raise awareness on the brutal maneuvers made by the Cuban government. That is one reason why I am thoroughly interested in grasping his in-depth and explicit graphic view on how Arts meddle with Politics and vice-versa, which he will present this year at UNFINISHED. Want more paths?

Well, how does “a wide range of exceptional people from all backgrounds that practice knowledge-sharing through honest dialogue in order to create lasting relations” sounds like for a mosaic of perceptions, directions, themes, and adventures? Kind of encapsulates the dynamic of a perfect community.

So, if we bring down the curtain, there’s only one idea that we should carry with us from now on: seize the means of education and benefit from your inner potential. Karl Popper once said in such a simple, but profound manner, that “all life is problem-solving”. Solving means cultivating, enhancing, improving myself and my knowledge. Ultimately, that’s what I am searching for. And that leads me to my one finish: UNFINISHED Festival, 27–30 September 2018, Bucharest. See you there?

This material has been written by Cosmin Sipos, currently working for Kooperativa 2.0 in Bucharest, Romania.

UNFINISHED

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A multidisciplinary festival of ideas. 4 days of talks, workshops, performances, and art exhibitions, all in a creatively unique space. www.unfinished.ro

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