Photo Cafe Lounge
~ Chat Transcript ~
"20 Questions to.. CelestialDemon"
26th of June, 2022
H.12:00 PM SLT
[ The following Episode #21 will be on:
Sat, the 9th of July H.11.00 AM SLT! ]
[12:14] Duraya: Hello everyone to our bi-weekly photo cafe!
[12:15] Duraya: I am happy to especially welcome today’s guest Celestial Demon. Kika managed to win him for our first artist’s interview at the photo cafe 🙂
[12:16] Duraya: We prepared 10 questions we will hand over to all the artist we invite in advance and of course Celestial got them too.
[12:16] Duraya: After that first part of the interview, we strongly encourage you to ask your own questions. This is a great opportunity to get to know someone whose work we admire, so seize your chance!
[12:17] Duraya: I do ask you to please be patient with your questions and give Celestial the space to share the thoughts and information he’d prepared – before I open the discussion for everyone.
[12:17] Duraya: now to start – Kika, would you please take the mic to say a few words about our guest?
[12:18] Kika Yongho: Thank you Duraya and hello again everyone! It is my pleasure and honour to introduce you a beautiful soul and photography artist that most of you will already know! For those who don’t – or would like to get a deeper insight – I will share his bio (from the artist himself) and recommend you to click on the Flickr link to see his work online:
“Born in SL 11/01/2012
CelestialDemon
I will let myself go in a few lines.
I don’t quite remember the cause or the reason that brought me into this illusory endless universe, but I know well why my presence is anchored here.
Free creation, unparalleled exploration and the few splendid people worthy of the name continue to give me the energy necessary to swim deep into this immense ocean, to grasp every shade of color and different points of view.
I thank them, for better or for worse, for everything I have received.
Joy made me strong.
Pain made me phoenix.
I admire the idea of this universe in itself, particularly offering my flame and my interiority to strangers with mere photographs.
I’m here at the bottom, to improve myself, knowing you.”
Flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/celestialdemon/
[12:21] Duraya: So, Celestial we already got a glimpse into your being, let me start presenting you the prepared questions.
[12:22] Duraya: let me just say that I love your way with words, really poetic
[12:22] Duraya: now the questions:
[12:22] Duraya: 1. Who are you? Define yourself in 3 words or a motto.
[12:23] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): I often wonder who I am with no answer except with other questions.
I think I’m different from yesterday and tomorrow, I don’t have a particular motto, but I believe that in life, at least in mine, thinking, forgiving and hitting myself has helped me to understand the joy and pain we can cause to others.
[12:24] Duraya: 2. How does your background affect your work?
[12:24] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): I often let myself be overwhelmed by music, mythology and the history of various religions, trying to make them my own, using my life as a metaphor through them.
[12:25] Duraya: 3. What motivates you to create?
[12:26] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): I can’t express myself with tears or using various attitudes that can make me feel better.
It makes me feel better by swimming through writing and words, as well as expressing myself in “photographs”, also venting with music and completely giving that part of me that I want to insert into the images, be it pain or joy.
[12:28] Duraya: what you say touches me as your work does and I think it is the same for the others too :
[12:28] Duraya: but let’s go on with the questions
[12:29] Duraya: 4. When did you feel you could define yourself as an artist?
[12:29] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): I have never considered myself an artist. I was catapulted into this part of the virtual universe without even realizing it.I have never thought of taking pictures, I have never taken any in my life. It all started by chance, just as by chance I am here with you.
[12:29] Duraya: 5. Who are your biggest artistic influences?
[12:30] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): I have always been attracted by the elegance of the creations by Michelangelo’s desire to communicate through the cold stone and the different shades of colors.
[12:31] Duraya: 6. Does art help you in other areas of your life?
[12:31] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): As I said before, what I do is exclusively to get better with myself, trying to find peace.
Everything I do, I do it exclusively for myself, trying to help me.
[12:32] Duraya nods – self-expression is a natural need for us and can help us understand ourselves better
[12:32] Duraya: 7. What skills do you need for your work and how do you develop them?
[12:33] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): In life and in the mind, there is no lack of sensations to show, there is no lack of marble to sculpt.
Everything is already inside, everything is already inside a pencil, you can choose what it will show on the white sheet.
[12:34] Duraya: 8. Show us your favorite photo of someone else, and tell us why is it so.
[12:34] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): I don’t have a single favorite, I’ve created a gallery where to enclose them. Each of them arouses something different and unique in me, I hope they can also arouse something within each of you.
[12:36] Duraya: thank you so much for having taken the effort to do this for us – the images are wonderful and I will take my time to connect with them deeply later
[12:37] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): you’re welcome 🙂
[12:38] Duraya: I hope everyone is still present – it took me some effort to return from that gallery
[12:39] Duraya: 9. How do you create a photo? Tell us about your creative process.
[12:40] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): I have in mind what I want to see on the screen first of all. Then I look for in reality what comes closest to what I have imprinted on my mind. Letting myself be carried away by what I feel inside, along with the music with a particular pose. And then finish everything with a simple click.
[12:40] Duraya: ah yes – a simple click 😉
[12:41] Duraya: 10. Show us your favorite photo you took, and tell us why is it so.
[12:41] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): This is the only part of me that lifted me from the ground and allowed me to move forward, coming out of a dark period in my life. I owe a lot to that day and to this photo:
[12:42] Duraya: awww – this is beautiful
[12:43] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): thank you
[12:44] Duraya: this is the first time we did an interview and I know we were lucky to get you to do it
[12:44] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): Honored and thank you all for the invite 🙂
[12:45] Duraya: you gave us a lot – at least speaking for me – you made me feel calm and content and full of love and excited and happy
[12:47] Duraya: Discussion is open for everyone now – please remember the c, q, r and done routine.
[12:47] Morganna Ravenheart: C
[12:47] ϮƗ Vɪᴏʟᴇᴛᴛᴇ Mᴏʀɴɪɴɢꜱᴛᴀʀ ƗϮ (violette.rembrandt): q
[12:47] Duraya: yes Morganna please speak
[12:48] Morganna Ravenheart: thanks. Celestial, the questions in your photos, make we want to question and seek those visions too
[12:49] Morganna Ravenheart: that’s all 😀
[12:50] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): my visions arise in the mind during the day, it depends on what I want to express.
[12:50] Duraya: thank you Morganna
[12:50] Duraya: Violette is next on my list
[12:50] ϮƗ Vɪᴏʟᴇᴛᴛᴇ Mᴏʀɴɪɴɢꜱᴛᴀʀ ƗϮ (violette.rembrandt): First of all thank you for being here and sharing what photography is to you ^^ I’m looking up to you and hope i will achieve as much as you in the future.
[12:51] ϮƗ Vɪᴏʟᴇᴛᴛᴇ Mᴏʀɴɪɴɢꜱᴛᴀʀ ƗϮ (violette.rembrandt): Then the question… You said earlier, “I have never considered myself an artist.”
Is it to say you don’t recognize yourself as legitimate as an artist ? And if so…. WHY ? Sorry that was 2 questions. Done
[12:51] Kapaan: c
[12:52] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): I have never considered myself an artist. I’m just someone who writes their diary trying to get better, stopping thinking all the time. I never imagined doing performances or anything similar to today. Thank you for that.
[12:52] ϮƗ Vɪᴏʟᴇᴛᴛᴇ Mᴏʀɴɪɴɢꜱᴛᴀʀ ƗϮ (violette.rembrandt): c
[12:53] Sina Souza (sinalein): Q
[12:54] Duraya: Kapaan is next
[12:55] Kapaan: I love your work and have been quite interested in your perspective on this but the question on my mind is: I am curious if your avatar is an expression of you or your art?
[12:55] Kapaan: Done
[12:56] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): I created this form long ago, just as life changes us in joys and sufferings, I created this, as my scar and reminder of my past.
[12:56] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): you don’t need to have an avatar in particular to express something, I think 🙂
[12:57] Duraya: Violette, your comment now please
[12:58] ϮƗ Vɪᴏʟᴇᴛᴛᴇ Mᴏʀɴɪɴɢꜱᴛᴀʀ ƗϮ (violette.rembrandt): For me you’re a great artist 🙂 I hope you will keep on expressing yourself with this stunning photography. Done 🙂
[12:58] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): Thank you Violette, honored by your kindness 🙂
[12:59] Duraya: and Sina has a question – it’s your turn now please Sina
[12:59] Sina Souza (sinalein): You said: “stopping thinking all the time”. I guess, you have sometimes problems with your sleep right? cause of thinking all the time. When you create an Image and you see the Result of it, is it a liberating feeling for you? I have the same, when i have finished an Image with a Topic, that kept me busy. Done
[13:01] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): For me to take a picture, especially after I have a particular feeling, it helps me, as it can be going to the gym to let off steam or cry, or how to write a diary.
[13:01] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): and yes,i have problems,to sleep but i feel so much better afterwards, when i see here what i had inside.
[13:02] Sina Souza (sinalein): same for me 🙂 congrats, great work
[13:04] Kitten (joaannna): C
[13:04] Duraya: Kitten has a comment
[13:05] Kitten (joaannna): It is a great feeling when you visualise something and then manage to create it here in Second Life, it doesn’t always happen for me but when it does its great.
[13:05] Kitten (joaannna): and as you know Celestial I do think your pictures are fantastic so keep making them. done
[13:06] Duraya: thanks for your comment Kitten
[13:06] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): Even if it is not how you have it in mind, there is always another way to express that something, it does not matter if it is not how you wanted it, important is that you can feel in the image what you have inside.
[13:08] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): you may not always like them, we do not always like us. it is difficult to see what we have inside, often others see themselves in your photos, but only you know what you really meant
[13:09] Kika Yongho: q
[13:09] Duraya: there is a stunning similarity to the healing process in therapy – if you reveal what is inside you you relax – it doesn’t bother you any more
[13:09] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): yes,you accept it
[13:10] Duraya: and yourself as you are 🙂
[13:10] Duraya: Kika you have a question
[13:10] Kika Yongho: Can you sometimes see parts of yourself through others’ comments? Things you didn’t think about yourself? Or viewing your own image in your mind first does the trick already? Done 🙂
[13:11] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): Rarely, but often seeing other works leads me to feel certain emotions. Visions come as I wish to throw out what is inside, like talking to someone, like the drop that never has to blow up the vase
[13:13] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): a bit like screaming in the desert, not necessarily others have to hear you, important that you can listen to yourself
[13:14] Duraya: I am aware we used up the hour we agreed upon and there are no more questions or comments on my list, a huge and deeply felt THANK YOU to you Celestial
[13:15] Morganna Ravenheart: thank you,Celestial
[13:15] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): As a thank you,i wish to give as a gift,the picture here near to me,for said thanks from the deep of my heart and for being honored to be the first of this magnificent idea.
[13:16] Kika Yongho: Thank you Celestial 🙂
[13:16] DaneAlbion: Yes, thank you so much Celestial, this has been fascinating and inspiring hour
[13:16] Violet Boa: you are such emotional, wonderful human, dear Demon:), thank you
[13:16] Morganna Ravenheart: thank you again,Celestial 😀
[13:16] Duraya: thank you
[13:17] ϮƗ Vɪᴏʟᴇᴛᴛᴇ Mᴏʀɴɪɴɢꜱᴛᴀʀ ƗϮ (violette.rembrandt): thank you so much Celestial ^^
[13:17] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): you’re welcome 🙂
[13:17] Duraya smiles – I will close the official part now – please feel free to stay if you feel like
[13:18] Duraya: thanks a lot for being here
[13:18] Duraya: help me Kika – when will the next cafe take place?
[13:19] Kika Yongho: The following Episode #21 will be on Saturday, the 9th of July, 2022
[13:19] Kika Yongho: H. 11:00 AM SLT!
[13:19] Duraya: thank you!!!
Postscript (As often happens at the Cafe’, a discussion about the nature of Art broke out)
[13:24] Duraya: ah – interesting – what exactly is better than art?
[13:25] Kika Yongho: We already discussed “What is art” and we didn’t come to a definition, so it is an open topic
[13:25] Duraya: right – maybe it’s not necessary
[13:25] Kika Yongho: Indeed, maybe even the bad questions are art 😀
[13:25] Kika Yongho: Because of the good answers 🙂
[13:26] Duraya: ha – that helps a lot for the moderation, I can’t be wrong anymore
[13:26] Kitten (joaannna): there has been an advert running in the UK for a series of programs but there was a quote in it which was, ‘art is an improvement on life’, or something like that
[13:26] Kika Yongho: OMG .. what did they sell?
[13:27] Kitten (joaannna): oh it was a for a tv program about the theatre
[13:27] Kika Yongho: Ah okay 🙂
[13:32] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): art is expression, but it is not the only one. Just as music can arouse conflicting thoughts within you, or talk to the person you love or have someone next to you who can understand you, this is also art. It depends on how things look.
[13:32] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): You don’t just need eyes to see things, I think
[13:33] Kika Yongho: very true, so he+art is the key? Pardon the pun.
[13:34] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): I don’t know what the key is, but for sure you won’t find it anywhere but inside your reflection and behind the walls of your fears
[13:34] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): I do not know anything
[13:35] Duraya: I am impressed by the way you share yourself, that’s the knowledge you have
[13:36] ϮƗ Vɪᴏʟᴇᴛᴛᴇ Mᴏʀɴɪɴɢꜱᴛᴀʀ ƗϮ (violette.rembrandt): yes a lot of generosity.
[13:37] Violet Boa: Art “in its broadest sense means any developed activity of human beings based on knowledge, practice, perception, imagination and intuition”…for me what’s better than art, it´s the feeling of unconditional love for my children…but without music and art, how would we express our wildest, saddest and any other feeling……art is life & life is art….for me
[13:37] Violet Boa: always honored to meet creative souls.
[13:37] Kika Yongho: Aw… Beautiful words too Violet
[13:38] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): I don’t think it makes much sense to hide further here. We must not complain if others do not understand us if we are not ourselves. I prefer not to have filters here, just as it doesn’t matter to like.
[13:39] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): I love to express myself through photographs or words. Everyone has the way of him. Find yours and maybe you will be happy, I think
[13:39] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): Be your art and everything will help you without do nothing
[13:40] Kika Yongho: “Be your art” could have been a good motto 🙂
[13:40] Kika Yongho: For the question 1
[13:41] Ͼєʅєƨƭɪʌℓ Ðєɱῼɲ (celestialdemon): ahah maybe
[13:42] Kika Yongho: Your interview raises more questions than the answers you gave 😛
