Will von Bolton shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Will, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I have been developing Becoming Conscious, an operating system for the mind, since 2008. In 2017, I published my first book, Loophole to Happiness. It is 150 pages of “lines of code” that form the foundation for this philosophy.
People see the book, but few see the vision behind it. I’m developing a user manual for the brain through a phrasing system I created called Philosophical Markup Phrasing. It uses advertising techniques (murals, clothing, art, etc) to articulate a philosophy with ‘lines of code’.
Through Becoming Conscious, I am developing AI products with this ‘open source’ philosophy, a moral and ethical reference point for both humans and machines. I call it metaphorical singularity… using metaphor as the bridge between human and artificial consciousness.
My fine art photography directly funds Becoming Conscious to launch as a living fine art project. Learn more at becomingconscious.com and willvonbolton.com .
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Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I started my career in music photography, touring 38 countries and working with artists ranging from Leon Bridges to Jesse McCartney. My camera has been a magnet for life experiences, introducing me to extraordinary people, perspectives, and stories that have informed my perspective as an artist and a writer. It is the ultimate observation tool, a way to study humanity, build relationships, and learn from every angle of strength, vulnerability, and expression.
Recently, I transitioned into fine art photography, specializing in tasteful, anonymous nude studies through my ongoing series DONTSHOOTMYFACE. I have also begun featuring flowers, which led to a live flower photoshoot at TF Gallery in Dallas earlier this year.
Right now, I am excited about my collaboration with longtime friend Cameron McCloud of Cure for Paranoia. It is a photographic reimagining of Leonardo da Vinci’s VITRUVIAN MAN, a concept I have had in mind for a couple years. When we finally captured it, the shoot took less than ten minutes and felt channeled. The timing was cosmic too, perfectly aligning with the release of Cameron’s new single ARTSHOW. Together, we are releasing a limited edition fine art series, and the image will appear as the cover of their vinyl.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
While I was touring in my early years. I was having a conversation with my good friend Peter Katz, and he told me something his father told him… “Every time you walk into a room, be positive, comfortable, and aware.”
This simple phrase completely changed my life. I had never been fully comfortable socially, and as a documentarian, I realized that people reflect your energy. From this moment, whenever I entered a room, I reminded myself to be positive, comfortable, and aware, and it worked.
That is was when I realized those words were like a line of code. Then I realized, if one line of code could change my life, then a collection of them could reprogram my entire way of thinking. This became the foundation of Becoming Conscious, a philosophy built through phrasing systems where each “line of code” enhances the operating system of the mind. Using the metaphor of a computer as a framework to build a philosophy became the beginning of my life’s work.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Success encourages you to continue, but suffering teaches you. A few Becoming Conscious lines are “FAILURE IS AN INGREDIENT OF PROGRESS,” Another is “NO REGRETS, ONLY LESSONS,” and “EITHER WAY IT HAPPENED,” The sooner you can integrate new information and move forward, the sooner you can reduce suffering.
Challenges are the rocks that shape your river…. they develop your character, educate your empathy, and sometimes become the turning points you would never have chosen, but that lead you in a beneficial direction.
The story you tell yourself during suffering and success determines whether pain converts to wisdom or stays a wound.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
The project I am committed to, no matter how long it takes, is Becoming Conscious. I have seen this vision for almost half of my life and it feels like a cosmic assignment. Once you see something like this, you cannot ignore it.
Much of my life has felt almost biblical (respectfully), as my science-based mind works to reconcile what I have seen, experienced, and felt. I feel the responsibility to pursue the potential of these ideas. The challenge is to understand this assignment fully and share it with others.
I am a theorist through Becoming Conscious, and I hold a superstition that when I live in full alignment with my own theories, I become magnetic ideas, people, and experiences. I play a game with myself to strengthen that magnetism and live as an example of Becoming Conscious.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
I want my work to remain as evidence of my existence… a map of concepts, lessons, art, and experiments that continue to help others for as long as possible. My hope is that it inspires others to reference, learn from long after I am gone.
Contact Info:
- Website: willvonbolton.com and becomingconscious.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willvonbolton/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/willbolton/
Image Credits
All photos by me / Will von Bolton
except
Group photo by Chase Hall
Speaking photo by Josue Garcia
