Don Ricardo Ceramics

Algorithmic irrelevancy. I finally found the term for when you stop playing the Instagram games and post once a month.

I spent years posting every day, making videos, seeking acknowledgment. I wanted to be relevant, my work seen and liked. Oh bring on the likes! Look how many followers I have! I must be successful, maybe even good!

External validation!

But, it all means nothing.

I have stepped back from Instagram, with a five minute limit each day. (Except when I post) And you know what? The world keeps turning, and I am free to hike to remote camping grounds, play music for myself, carve some wood if I like, climb boulders. Enjoy life. Look at sunsets. Daydream.

I do all this without trying to monetise, seek acknowledgment, search for praise, followers and likes.

And I have found freedom.

The flip side? You are no longer important to the algorithm.

Like I said, freedom.

Small kurinuki container. Blue and green Oribe glaze.

I’m not making much at the moment. The lure of remote hiking, swimming and camping along with creating woodwork for myself keeps me busy nowadays.

The slog of trying to promote and sell my ceramics has lost appeal.

Moving forward, I may not make much at all, and focus on a few pieces for myself.

In light of this, here is a piece I did last year, that sits along with some other favourites on my mantle piece.

The reward of creating is internal.