Everything
The days are slowly but surely rolling on as we work and create from our homes. Whether it be on the lounge, dining table, bed or for the lucky ones, a home office, the will to stay inspired day-to-day is a guessing game. Though it is okay to have days when it all seems too hard, we hope to fill the void, even just for a few fleeting minutes of this article. In a fresh series, ICON speaks with industry creatives – be it music, style, dance, writing, or even social media – on how to stay inspired during self-isolation. And hopefully a handful of tips for you, the reader, on the way.
At least Down Under, a version of normality is slowly becoming a reality. Nevertheless, what continues to occur overseas is saddening but if there was a moment to have a laugh – a moment’s escapism – we found the perfect man for the job. In ICON’s next instalment of ‘How To Stay Inspired’, we tap Australian comedian, Aaron Chen. For more from the funny man, he has documented his fourteen-day mandatory lockdown in a new web series. Entitled Inside Aaron, the show takes a look at his everyday life now confined to his house and housemates.
ICON: Can you explain what your work entails, day-to-day?
Aaron Chen: I try to go on Zoom, check out the latest people. Listen to some crazy music. Find out some new things. Walk along the Cooks River and ogle at the river-side mansion. Try discover some secret and then send an invoice to some guy somewhere hope for the best. I go home watch Tony Soprano, try to imitate his mannerisms and so on. Go to sleep. Wake up in the middle of the night. Write down some thought about the global elite and so on.
How has your daily routine changed since lockdown?
AC: I discovered Yoga with Adriene. Recently realised you’re meant to copy her moves. I thought you were just supposed to watch it. YouTube has changed A LOT since I was a little fella.
How are you staying creative during this time? Where do you look for inspiration?
AC: Experiments on the self. Trying different modes of fasting. Different shower temperatures. Different types of cuisines from around the world and [I’ve] been squatting atop the toilet to make my bowel movements clearer and cleaner. I look into the self as there is less to look at outside.
Do you have any advice for people struggling with the transition of working from home?
AC: Work has totally invaded our homes, there is no distinction between work and home. It’s toxic. We can never be fully away from work or fully at home. One day they industrialise our kids, and your son will be your CEO and your daughter will have shares in the company. Then what will you get them for their 9th birthday? Completely natural to struggle. I would suggest you do what I do, I am trying to get onto JobKeeper and once that happens, I will just make videos and burn them onto CDs and start dropping them into local letterboxes? I dunno.
You can read Part 2 with Sonny, a Copenhagen-based artist and DJ, here.
