Who doesn’t love an even number? We’re calling in 2020, and any new decade seems like a fitting time to transform our lives. Optimism can come in many forms, but in this case it seems more of a crutch. Everyone has all these grand plans for the upcoming year; embarking on a new decade after spending the last ten years in an existential crisis. Why discredit their motivation to become a better person? Or are they simply relying on the universe to provide some undeserved karmic reward for surviving into this “new” year. What clean slate is waiting on the other side of midnight?

Andy Warhol became famous for exploiting the idea of celebrity in society. By cultivating an image that appealed to American’s desire for social connection and personal branding, one could say he is a pioneer for what is now social media. During his time, Warhol used his art to create a persona for himself by portraying his unique look in abstract headshots and exaggerated self-portraits. He created icons out of every day objects and celebrity figures in bright, contrasting colors to capture the public’s need for whimsy from the ordinary. Warhol amplified the mundane and used the repetition of his images as a commentary on advertisements and America’s fixation on all things bright and flashy. His interest in time and the progression of self-identity makes Warhol’s work as a whole something to behold. Subtleties in his artwork shows his control over what is portrayed, as he consciously created commercial artwork in order to draw people in to the art he felt better represented his identity. We innately hide who we really are in fear others may not like it. We draw people in with our perfectly poised pictures and catchy captions. Never reveal too much, just enough. Become the image you are creating and you might forget who you wanted to be.

When I was studying contemporary art and Warhol in college, this quote always stayed with me. “They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” We can become so content with a routine, the idea of temporary discomfort for a better outcome seems impossible. It can be so easy to become the very idea of the persona we created for ourselves, we forget who we really are behind it. Time controls so much of how we decide to live. We live in monotonous weeks, in milestone ages, in the hope of new years. Rather than investing time in ourselves, we let the weight of time we spend with other people define us. We allow ourselves to become selfies and inspirational quotes rather than artwork and poetry. We pull away from the visceral in fear of the uncertainty.

If you are relying on January 1st to start some magical self-realization that will transform your life, I wish you luck. I have certainly learned in the past year you have to make the changes happen that you want to see in your life. You should never base your self-worth on how many likes you get, or what someone tells you you are. Create your outlook on what inspires you and how things make you feel. Rather than relying on other people for happiness, seek art and beauty in the world around you. I think there’s a lot to say about the energy you put out into the world being reciprocated but only if you are actively guiding yourself towards your goals. Be open and honest and you will find people who see your true light. Embrace the uncertainty. Make changes for yourself.