Survival Notes : Life Lessons from Contemporary Artists

Weaving artists' reflections and anecdotes with their invaluable words of advice to aspiring creatives, this inspiring book explores the practical realities of the art world and demystifies the route to professional success. 'Talent alone isn’t enough. Education is important' Tracey Emin

'Don’t make art for the purpose of a career or success: make art because it is an unstoppable obsession' Shirin Neshat

'You’re not meant to know what you’re doing when you’re young and making art. It’s meant to fill you with dread' Ryan Gander

Weaving artists’ reflections and anecdotes with their invaluable words of advice to aspiring creatives, this inspiring book explores the practical realities of the art world and demystifies the route to professional success.

Survival Notes is an inspiring narrative weaving artists’ reflections on success with advice to aspiring creatives. Featuring direct quotes and exclusive interviews with internationally acclaimed artists such as Anish Kapoor, Shirin Neshat, Tracey Emin, Jesse Darling and Shahzia Sikander, this book offers authoritative counsel on how to thrive in a highly competitive art world as well as thoughtful insights on what it means to be an artist in the twenty-first century.

Nine thematic chapters offer essential guidance on how to negotiate the practical realities of artmaking, with discussions relating to education, self-discipline, gallery representation, mental wellbeing, mentorship and more. In a climate where emerging creatives feel less empowered than ever, Lydia R. Figes provides a hopeful message about perseverance and perspective, while questioning whether the advice given by established practitioners can still be applied today.

Lydia R. Figes is a writer and editor, and is currently Curator of Digital at Contemporary Art Society. She has interviewed many well-­known artists, and her writing has appeared in Apollo, ArtReview, the Guardian, British Journal of Photography, AnOther, Dazed, i-D, Elle, A Rabbit's Foot and Elephant, amongst others.