Los Angeles, California May 2, 2019 (Issuewire.com) - We are made better through the work of people who align dedication with passion. Atticus Li, a poet, philosopher, photographer and behavior analyst, is one such person. His meditative, deep exploration of life and human existence harmonizes beautifully with his technical abilities to produce work that inspires, ignites and expands all those who encounter it.
Here, Atticus speaks about his personal perspective on the world and our place in it, his creative journey so far, and what new adventures await him just past the edges of this moment.
Talk a little about your journey – where you came from and how you got started as an artist.
To find out what is authentic about you, all you must do is to remove all that is not.
I would say that I started not with a gifted skill but with a burning desire to express what I am feeling as a human being.
For many of us, we live day to day, and nothing seems to change until we reach a moment where we think, "There has to be more to life.”
It could be after a long day of work or school, and we are walking back to our car, and we think to ourselves “Is this all there is? Will I go down in history like everyone else that had the same desire to build something that will last longer than themselves?”
Our existence should not be wasted just so the wheel of society can continue to turn. We deserve to experience something uniquely human. A voice tells me that I must write poetry or perish. This is how I got started.
What do you write about?
I write about moments that are forgotten in time but are the most significant moments of life. I write about love, loss, and healing from a modern male’s perspective. My work is raw and vulnerable.
I believe that transparency combined witha willingness to be vulnerable is the way through this mess we call life. I write order into chaos and help my readers to figure out the timeless wisdom that served the ancients that lived before us – the same wisdom that will continue to help those that live after us.
Do you give back to the poetry community?
Yes. I created private support groups for sensitive writers to connect and support each other's mental health. Within my own loneliness, I came to see how isolated a lot of sensitive writers are. Within these private support groups, members receive mental health kits of positive texts, as well as motivational videos. Members with counseling experiences help and support the growth of the group. We celebrate the wins and losses.
These groups are free to apply to, but members are selected by either me or my assistants to ensure that there are no trolls or people with harmful intentions. Sometimes people with unhealed emotional trauma would seek to harm others as a way to gain some control, and I took compassionate action to reduce that with thorough screening.
Any particular pieces or projects that are especially dear to you that you want to talk more about?
"Her hand accidentally brushed against mine, leather, and skin, and that changed my future and betrayed my past."
I write my poems for me. Sometimes this could confuse the readers, and I had a lot of people reaching out asking me to explain the meaning of this poem. I would answer back what do you think it means?
I believe that everyone gets what they need when they read my poems and the meaning changes with each person that reads it. This is the beauty of art. We all get what we are looking for. As for this poem, I would rather keep this story a secret, existing in the past of time, unmoving, and unchanging.
What inspires you?
The mundane parts of life which, for most of us, constitutes the majority of our lives. I am inspired by people that have been through a certain experience that gifted them a unique perspective on the world. People that have taken the time to truly examine their life and have taken away certain eternal truth from that examination.
What do you feel is important about your particular perspective as it pertains to the world today? In other words, what is your message for the world?
My message to the world is that if you want to understand what is happening to you and everyone around you, you must be willing to sacrifice all that is pleasant so that you may direct your focus on what is true. To seek out the signal within the noise. This is how you will win in our modern-day “attention economy.” This is how you will find what is meaningful to you.
What have been some of the highlights of your career so far?
I am not big on achievements. I think that the majority of the battles are won on the journey before you get your "big break through."
For me, the highlights are just all the lowlights added together, and no one cares to see the lowlights except for those who have produced something of value. Having been through the journey themselves, they know that the lowlights are what makes it worthwhile.
Any particular artists that you admire or that have influenced your work?
Friedrich Nietzsche, The Buddha, Alain de Botton from ‘The School of Life,’ Alan Watts, Marcus Aurelius, and many others.
What advice do you have for those who wish to become successful writers?
People often ask me the secret to how to get more followers and my answer is always the same. Write what is true to yourself. Maybe this is overstated cliché, and people are looking for that magic piece of advice that will grant them instant fame, but from my experience as a creator what has stood out to be true is that all good art starts with authenticity and ends with painfully honest hard work that produces a beam of pride and satisfaction. Poetry, Photography, Art, Meditations are just the mediums that I use to express the essence of this human experience.
Where do you see yourself going next? What’s ahead for you?
I am planning to travel in a van and meditate in the national forests across the US and Canada. I plan to spend some time to comfort the living with philosophy through book donations and recommendations while attending personal development workshops and conferences around the country before I settle down to establish my home and my community. I think it is essential first to know why you are living before you start living.
Learn More About Atticus
Atticus’s voice connects with those who seek to find the profound truths of the Universe and who wish to explore more of their own infinite vastness while on their journey through life. His reverence for the power of language and his growing mastery of his craft points to a bright future for Atticus in the world of poetry.
To connect with Atticus, or to enjoy more of his work, find him on his website or on Instagram. Atticus Li is currently on track to complete a degree in Economics in addition to his artistic pursuits. This well-rounded witness to life’s magnificent dance has only just begun.
Media Contact
Atticus Li contact@atticuspoet.com https://www.atticusjamesli.com/
