That's Just Reality with Alai Landa
☆ interview by Abby Strangward ☆
a conversation with Alai Landa
about her platform/project Dated
and recent LA event, ‘That’s Just Reality’.
☆ Can you introduce yourself? Where in the world are you right now?
My name is Alai Landa and I'm a 19-year-old Pisces. I am Venezuelan; I grew up in Southern California, but currently live in Barcelona. I don’t like describing myself, so I asked others to write their first impression of me:
Spiritual, extremely chill, outspoken, very Californian, nice shoes, social, chill, yay spiritual person, nice nose, secondhand clothing, has a hippy vibe in a good way.
☆ What is Dated? What were the original intentions behind it, and how did it evolve into what it is now?
Dated started as an outlet for me while I was exploring myself and growing past patterns and thoughts that were holding me back. I taught myself InDesign and created three mini-mags about how the time of day affects our state of mind and one larger book exploring innocence and the inner child.
As I uncovered my inner infinity, I also discovered it in everyone else. But so many people are never encouraged or inspired to look within and fall in love with themselves. I wanted to help and be an “oasis amidst the internet overload.” So it has now taken on a new purpose as a vessel of love and a light to shine on our insides. Dated is expressed through print, immersive art installations, events, as well as digitally (our site + IG).
☆ ‘That’s Just Reality’ was an event put on by Dated in late December. What inspired it?
I wanted to create the idea of “you create your own reality” incarnated. There was lots of live painting and creating, an interactive art piece for everyone to join in on, music, a tea lounge made to relax and nap if you’d like, some pages of introspective questions to fill out, face painting, and whatever was brought along.
“As I uncovered my inner infinity, I also discovered it in everyone else.”
☆ A line you wrote about the event, “…create their own realities and explore the power of perception…” really stuck with me. Can you go a bit deeper into that - particularly creating your own reality? How did you attempt to give people that power to create and hold space for that?
Behind the intention is the fact that everything we experience only exists due to the experiencer; reality is relative, yet there is something underlying all existence that is eternal and unmoving. The unmoving mover. In our unique position as human beings incarnated in this space + time plane, we almost exist as a point of view and from this point we truly create our experience based on how we react to it — our state of mind.
On Dec. 20, Jacob Barri, the artists, other wonderful helpers, and I put together a space where people could determine what kind of experience they’d have. You could spend time dancing by the stage or — on the other side of the dividing walls — you could watch people paint or add to the interactive piece. Downstairs I created a space where people could go if they wanted to be still, relax, drink tea, share in some meaningful conversations, or respond to an introspective questionnaire. I also tried to speak to everyone there and dissolve any anxiety or discomfort limiting people from going deeper.
“Everything we experience only exists due to the experiencer; reality is relative, yet there is something underlying all existence that is eternal and unmoving.”
☆ The event was a physical manifestation of a book coming out in 2020 - can you share anything about that?
Yes; the book — also titled “That’s Just Reality” — is another medium in which I am trying to share some insight, information, and tools on self-awareness and stepping into our own personal power. Unlocking our higher potentials because I truly believe that this inner work is the most powerful way to change the world.
It got the title because, growing up, I noticed I would get that response repeatedly when questioning the way things are done or proposing new possibilities. People want to believe that reality as we know it is clear and we’ve got it all figured out. But this attitude discourages the ideas that have potential to shake it all up! “You can do nothing for me, but work on yourself and I can do nothing for you, but work on myself” — Ram Dass.
☆ What challenges did you face in putting the night together? Externally and internally?
Hmm. Internally, I worried about people’s ego (including my own) getting in the way of the beauty of everyone gathering together to enjoy a night of love and joy. I didn’t want people to think I was trying to achieve something superficial, like making a name for myself or to compete with others. But I just had to let it go, trust my intentions, and allow others to have their own thoughts without it affecting me.
Externally, I had to accept that so many aspects were just out of my control. Drinks spilled, gum was spit on the floor, and my wonderful friends and I cleaned it all by hand the next morning dancing to techno music — it wasn’t too bad.
☆ Describe the event and its elements, as well as what took place. What were some of the most magical moments?
Seeing how different people interacted with the space filled me with so much joy and gratitude. Some people brought light up hula-hoops to dance with and Sofia Hefter-Smith painted everyone’s faces. It was so beautiful. Downstairs, people connected to some of the stuffed animals and ended up adopting them. The whole night, I was drifting around in my little fairy wings, tuning in to everything, and honestly, it’s the people who bring the space to life and create so much meaning with all the interactions they have. Just observing all the connections made was magical.
☆ What are your plans for 2020? I believe you’re going back to school or are already back at school?
I started this year by moving to Barcelona for art school. This year has a powerful transformative energy pulling all of us beyond our limitations. I plan on expanding within myself as well as outwardly — reaching a larger audience with my work and connecting to all these beautiful people <333
☆ Any thanks to give, or final thoughts to leave our readers with?
We already exist within a (biological) simulation; go outside and connect to it while you can. Feel the vital energy within you — become an invisible eyeball for a bit.
