Meditations on Repetition

by An Li Liu of An Li Liu

It's starting to be print mania at my place as I'm stocking up for my first fall/winter shows and fairs. People seem to be of the opinion that as you make multiples of one thing, it becomes boring or arduous. Though I do love spontaneity, I've been enjoying the repetitive nature of my printing process.

I find that if I can be really present in every action -- from scooping ink to pressing the squeegee to laying out the shirts -- making multiples becomes really meditative. In this state of mind, I'm in no rush to finish, and I find that this awareness makes for better results and fewer mistakes.

So the next time you're engaged in a repetitive task, like painting a thousand tiny circles, or washing a bag of potatoes, see how your experience changes when you become more attentive in your actions.