An Inspired Chat with ciaran short of lower east side

ciaran short shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi ciaran, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
typically i spend the first 90 minutes of my day trying to lie completely still, emptying the bowels of my mind to make way for the purity of the void. some might call it meditation but i prefer to call it living. in order to truly live life to the fullest we must first confront death, as the antithesis of life. thus i practice this mimicked form of dying through embracing the void in order to be more grateful for the life I’ve yet to live.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
everyday i ask myself who i am and everyday the answer changes. my artistic practice is the perpetual pursuit of defining my own identity. the boundaries of my work, my body, and my mind are amorphous and ever bleeding into one another. i could try to describe what i do and who i am but the feeble container of the English language cannot contend with the profundity of who i am.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
there was a spider that lived in the corner of my childhood bedroom for what felt like years. every morning i woke i looked to them. every night as i fell asleep i looked to them. and no matter the time of day they just sat, waiting, suspended in air. their dedication to their craft as a calm yet unrelenting hunter spinning their web waiting for their prey. this spider taught me the value of small, intentional, and incremental work.

Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
i miss my imaginary friend. they were the embodiment of my imagination which served as a conduit to materialize my deepest dreams. yet no matter how hard i try i can’t get them back. while my imagination is exceptionally vivid, it is rather lonely in there.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
racoons are the greatest animal on earth. it has been scientifically proven on various occasions and is an objective fact.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What pain do you resist facing directly?
there is a nail that went through the bottom of my shoe. i don’t remember when but it’s been there a long time. most the time i can’t feel it but i always know it’s there. however, when i run or walk upstairs or do anything with a little bit effort the tip of the nail emerges and digs a bit into my skin, providing a subtle jolt of pain. i could try and remove the nail but i don’t and i don’t know if i ever will.