Philip Lique
Philip Lique’s journey through the Wikipedia workshop unfolded like a sculptor shaping a block of wood—slow and deliberate, but ultimately revealing something meaningful. His reflections give insight into how he overcame initial anxieties and embraced the unique process of editing on Wikipedia.
"I'm nervous that my page will be rejected by the WIKI community because it does not follow standards of citations and notations," he confessed at the outset. This anxiety about precision in citations was a common thread among beginners, but it was something Phil quickly came to grips with. "Once I started, I began to understand the syntax and details to pay attention to," he reflected. Like learning the techniques of a new medium, the unfamiliar soon became second nature.
For Phil, neutrality and verifiability stood at the core of Wikipedia’s ethos. "These are the narratives that must be established to keep articles from being opinion-based or biased," he wrote. As an artist, used to expressing personal perspectives, this focus on objective facts was a departure from his usual approach. It wasn’t about infusing personal flair or emotion into an article; it was about ensuring that what he contributed could be backed up by reliable sources. This shift in mindset was, as Phil described it, a slow process, but one that became "more natural" with time.
He likened the process of editing Wikipedia to something familiar from his own professional life. "I feel like this is an extension of grant writing or building a pitch deck," he wrote. The act of building a case, citing sources, and constructing a compelling, factual narrative was not far removed from other projects he had undertaken before.
One of the highlights of his workshop experience was creating an article about Garden owls. "I felt like this was a ubiquitous totem that should have a page on wiki," Phil explained. The challenge of weaving a narrative about these garden decorations through research resonated with him. It wasn’t just about documenting an object, but about finding a way to connect these symbols of whimsy and decoration with a deeper context. His investigative process felt like sculpting—carefully building something, layer by layer.
“I thought I would need to understand programming languages… thank god that’s not true.”
"I thought I would need to understand programming languages… thank god that's not true," he shared with a hint of relief. The interface turned out to be more intuitive than expected. "This is a lot like editing a Squarespace," he added, comparing it to the digital platforms he was already familiar with. The process might have been slow, but it wasn’t difficult, and Phil found that it mirrored his own creative approach. "Editing and expanding on a WIKI article feel like working on a sculpture—I can take either an additive or reductive approach toward building."
This parallel between sculpting and editing grounded Phil’s experience. Just as he might remove material from a sculpture to refine its form or add more to give it new dimensions, he could now see Wikipedia articles in the same light—carefully crafted, evolving pieces of work. The most important thing he learned was "observing the changes in the articles that are my 'Favorites' (Watchlist)." Watching these articles evolve gave him insight into Wikipedia’s dynamic, ever-changing nature. It also opened up more avenues for research and exploration, showing him resources he hadn’t considered before.
Reflecting on his initial expectations, Phil wrote, "I thought Wiki was like programming… but it’s more about editing, like working on a website." Wikipedia was an "open source, open-ended, ever-evolving encyclopedia," and it was this fluidity that excited him. It allowed him to take his time, to revise and refine in the same way he would approach a creative project.
“We can translate, communicate, and revise the cultural impact of the arts on the world at large.”
Phil also saw the potential for Wikipedia to have a larger cultural impact. "We can translate, communicate, and revise the cultural impact of the arts on the world at large," he noted. By participating in this global, collaborative platform, Phil understood that he wasn’t just documenting; he was actively shaping how art and culture were understood and communicated.
When asked what advice he would give to the next group of editors, Phil’s response was practical and insightful: "Don't get hung up on writing about yourself or your peers. Definitely have a topic that you want to write about." His recommendation to "embrace this as a process, not a project" was a reminder that Wikipedia is not about quick wins or single contributions, but rather an ongoing engagement with knowledge and research.
Looking ahead, Phil was particularly excited about integrating Wikipedia into his own artistic practice. "I like the idea of integrating Wiki research and editing into the narrative of my practice," he wrote. To him, Wikipedia was no longer just a tool for sharing facts; it had become part of his creative and intellectual journey. "I’m excited to publish an article, and share it as a 'research' portion of my practice."
Phil’s journey through the Wikipedia workshop was one of discovery, not just of how to edit, but of how this process could align with his broader artistic vision. From his initial nerves to his newfound excitement, Wikipedia became not just an encyclopedia, but a platform for shaping and communicating culture, one edit at a time.
