I’m developing a workshop at the moment about creating online platforms for art and arts promotion.

ColourMeFiji

Artist Ema

Ema of Twitter

I don’t consider myself an expert in this field, but I’ve been blogging, tagging and engineering an online presence for my work and interests consistently since 2006. These self-published online efforts have created opportunities and enabled exposure for issues and artists; they have been my soapbox and at times a therapeutic outlet. I’ve run into trouble on almost every platform – offending people and exposing issues. It’s at these times that I am forced to reflect on my character, perceptions, responsibilities and the purpose of my communication. It has been these instances that have also galvanized my position and ideas.

I deactivated my personal Facebook account in 2010. At that time, I began using Twitter and it slowly became central in my online endeavours. I love the consideration of word craft and the power and speed of a tweet.

Through Twitter, I connected with a new community. My tweets, ideas, links and messages were/are considered at face value. I liked the disconnect with my wider life story. I love the opportunity to engage meaningfully with people with shared interests, or opposing interests, directly.

Whilst I manage a Facebook page for PimpiKnows.com, perform administrative duties for a number of blogs and maintain a LinkedIn profile, my internet downtime is normally spent on Tumblr. I love Tumblr. It is my visual diary, a curated composition of beautiful, interesting, bizarre and inspiring images… a log of visual thought. Whilst I have had numerous online identities from Bandit-Queen-Ema-Bean, The Emazonian and ColourMeFiji, it was on Tumblr that I started to speak my truth and where PIMPI first took form.

I encourage artists to explore different platforms to express different shades of their personality and practice. In theory, it’s a way to ensure professional platforms stay professional, enabling the alternative slash uncensored slash unspoken thoughts to inhabit their own space. But in reality, there are overlaps and it’s these multidimensional ‘shades’ that create richness and texture and broaden the spectrum for influence and engagement.