Today’s Studio Talk opened with a simple but powerful exercise: introductions, followed by the question, “What do you want to be remembered for?”
The answers came in a colourful mix: “that Acholi girl,” “the one who broke rules, ” “the unapologetic writer, ” “the mysterious guy” and for some, the honest admission: “I’m not sure I want to be remembered.”
From there, the discussion unfolded into a layered conversation on legacy : what it is, how it’s formed, and whether it is something artists should actively think about.
Tikia’s perspective set the tone: “Legacy is impact… it’s the first thing people think about when your name is said in a room. Even in your absence, there should still be impact. ” But is legacy the same for everyone? Can it exist in levels? And is it always intentional? The room agreed: legacy is, at its core, a choice. It begins with deciding how you want your work and yourself to be experienced by the world. Yet, some of the greatest figures in history never set out to be “great”; their impact emerged naturally, sometimes without them realising it.
One pressing question emerged: How do you strike the balance between “let them see my face” and “let them see my work”? Some argued that an artist’s personality can exist completely separate from their work’s influence. Legacy, they said, can be felt without a face. Others reminded us that to ensure your work carries forward, you must share it, document it, pass it on, and let it travel beyond you.
In unpacking the difference between being famous and being successful, we explored whether popularity equates to legacy. The consensus was clear: popularity is about how many people know you now, while legacy is about lasting influence. It is the mark you leave behind, often far beyond your own lifetime. Legacy, several voices noted, flows from personal values. You can’t control what people think about you, but you can control the integrity of your work and the principles you stand on. We’ve started bargaining away basic values, some observed, and this shift inevitably changes how we define legacy. The call was made to work on ourselves as individuals so that, when both the work and the person are weighed, they stand or even try to stand in balance.
Should creatives think about legacy? There was recognition that documenting and passing on your vision, whether through teaching or mentorship is vital if you want your work to live on. As one participant put it, “Purpose fulfilled is what success is. Once your purpose is fulfilled, the legacy is created. ”
Karama Emmanuel, our moderator, brought the room to a pause when he asked, “How do we create work that lasts forever?” The answer: sometimes you don’t. Sometimes the work’s impact is for then, not forever. Allow yourself grace to grow as an artist, to be inspired in the moment, and to accept that art is subjective .It will move some and not others but keep creating.
The discussion closed with a collective reminder: to create legacies amongst ourselves, we must not lose ourselves. Share your vision. Pass it on. Teach someone.
After all, as we learned today, everyone leaves a legacy. The question is : what will yours be?
