Bowie rocking a lizard-style outfit at Top Of The Pops.
Taking a closer look at Bowie, it is evident that his career and life are like a map that traces a number of personal traits that I wish to develop myself, characteristics that he shares with other people I deeply admire. For example:
Self-design and self-creation. I really admire those people who manage to develop their own essence into an unmistakable trademark. They build up a clear identity, transforming themselves into amazing characters starring their own unique and exceptional story. Bowie shines with his own, unmistakable light.
Oustanding shot from the Diamond Dogs photoshoot.
Fearless Attitude. When it comes to experimenting and expressing himself, be it through music or fashion, Bowie never holds back. Nothing has ever being too flashy, too daring or absurd for him to wear—the only requirement was that it fitted his idea for the concept of his show or songs. Surprisingly, even though many of his costumes fall into rather questionable territory, he never looked ridiculous. He pulls it off by confidently playing one of his characters, immersing himself completely into one of the peculiar worlds he created.
Authenticity. It might sound puzzling to talk about being oneself when it comes to a man of many faces like Bowie, swiftly gliding from one fantastic identity to the next over the years. However, rather than being the unfortunate product of of a feeble, over-influenced or pretentious mind, in his case it is just the manifestation of such a rich imagination that it cannot be limited to one character. Aladdin Sane, Ziggy Stardust, The Thin White Duke, are all unmistakably Bowie, all facets of his essence.
Perseverance and Passion. Even though in retrospective it seems like his career was a swift and constant string of successes, a more detailed inspection reveals that actually it was a constant struggle. This is not to say he wasn't popular, however Bowie went through really hard times in order to maintain his authenticity . Many times he chose to compromise the economical and commercial aspect of his career in order to fulfill his creative goals. He took risks to bring his dreamed artworks into reality, not caring if they would sell or not. The guiding light and motivation that kept him going all those years was the unrelinquished passion that he feels for his art and work.
Confident Humility. Bowie is one of those rare individuals who seem to be completely comfortable in their own skin, embracing and accepting himself fully. You can tell he is a special one. However, even though he effortlessly exudes start quality, his personality remained free of arrogance and vanity throughout the years. In a book presentation I attended this year, Rory McLean, a travel writer who worked with David Bowie in Berlin, said that the thing that impressed him the most about Bowie was that "he was such a gentleman; he would be respectful and attentive with everyone, without any sense of superiority whatsoever. He acted like a normal, nice guy who just happened to be incredibly talented and creative."
Multiple interests and an open mind. The one thing that made Bowie so cutting edge, always ahead of anyone else, was his excellent eye for "curating" things. He avidly takes elements from his multiple interests at a time, and then re-arranges them and displays them in a new light. His immense curiosity and desire to explore and constantly try new things is what keeps his creations fresh.
What inspires Bowie?
- Jazz records that he admitted to force himself to "listen to until he liked them".
- Tibetan Buddhism and Eastern philosophy. It provided both spiritual guidance and a rich imagery to use in his art.
- Mysticism and the Occult. For Bowie, it is another source of inspiration for personal freedom and a search for the what lies beyond the realm of money and fame.
Bowie dressed in a Pharaoh-style outfit, seemingly paying homage to the mage Aleister Crowley, one of his influences.
- Japanese fashion and theatrical style. Several of his ideas for shows, costumes and performances were inspired by Kabuki theater.
- Films, Music, Science Fiction. Space travel, the cosmos, the future and urbane life are recurrent themes in his music and shows. He is also an insatiable consumer of books, music and films. In fact, clicking here you can find a list of David Bowie's Top 100 Must Read Books.
- Berlin. A city that saved him and inspired him to reinvent himself again, Berlin's gritty and eccentric charm was the perfect playground for his artistic creation and wonderful memories, which in turn inspired a whole generation through his experience of the city.
+ + + + + + + +
How about you? Do you share some of Bowie's sources of inspiration? What is your favorite aspect about him? You can share with us in the comment section!
Thanks for reading,
