Welcome to The Data of Desire.
Desire is more than longing for an object or outcome — it’s an energy that fuels the creative spirit. It’s the ache beneath a melody, the yearning in a brushstroke, the tension that shapes a poem. The Data of Desire explores this vital force, investigating how artists across mediums channel longing into material form, transforming personal emotion into collective resonance.
Over the past two months, this project has unfolded as a study of desire’s many facets: its connection to emotion, ecology, and spiritual practice. Inspired by artists who materialize their inner landscapes through their work, I’ve been delving into how creativity can embody the very essence of longing — not for the object itself, but for the experience of desiring.
This space serves as both a reflection and an invitation. I’ll share insights on the philosophy of desire, beginning with its presence in worship music and contemporary Christian culture. You’ll find questions for contemplation, inspired by biblical texts and mystical traditions, alongside fragments of poetry from my ongoing series on desire.
Whether you’re an artist, seeker, or someone drawn to the mysteries of longing, I hope this project sparks your own creative exploration. Let’s explore the sacred tension of desire together — and discover what it means to create not from possession, but from the endless unfolding of wanting itself.
On the Subtle Art of Channeling Creative Desire
The first installment of this project explores the delicate balance between longing and artistic expression. Desire is often seen as an external force pulling us toward something unattainable, but it can be an inner fire fueling depth, devotion, and transformation in the creative process.
This essay delves into how artists harness desire—not as a distraction or obstacle, but as an essential energy that shapes their work. Examining the tension between inspiration and discipline, longing and fulfillment offers insights into turning raw emotion into meaningful creation.
[Désir et illusion]
There is something about female delusion
The desire to imagine the impossible
To long for it
To hold it dear
Close to the chest in the night
Like a child holding a teddy bear
Naivete
Making men out of monsters
And the world out of a seed.