by Erich
Status: 11.28.2023
Most people think that you’re either creative or you’re not, that creativity is something not everyone is blessed with – a fallacy, because everyone is creative. Many have simply forgotten how to connect with their own creativity. So how do you manage to bring colour back to those grey synapses?
When you look at the works of our Kunstmarkt students and artists, you often find yourself thinking, ‘I’d love to be that creative’, or ‘how do others come up with such brilliant ideas?’. Apart from the fact that studying art requires a great deal of passion and skill, creativity is something that lies dormant within each of us… ‘Thinking outside the box’ is a phrase that’s probably most commonly associated with creativity, but it usually sounds easier than it is and leads to the question:
Who or what is this box?! Creativity isn’t magic, ... … it’s more like a magical place in the brain that can quickly slip into a deep sleep. The way we grow up has a major influence on how our creativity unfolds. Can we give free rein to our dreams and fantasies, or are they nipped in the bud? There are many definitions of creativity, most of which describe it as the basis for new ideas and innovations. Many factors play a role here and are closely linked to the concept: originality, inventiveness, a change of perspective, intuition and the ability to reconcile opposites are just a few of the associations.
“Thinking outside the box”
“Thinking outside the box” is a phrase that is probably most frequently associated with creativity, yet it usually sounds easier than it is and leads to the question: Who or what is this box?! If we regard the box as ourselves, it becomes our own little universe, based on our thoughts, experiences, emotions and knowledge. This makes every box unique, and so thinking within our box can also lead to new paths and ‘outside the box’ moments. Creativity works a bit like a muscle that needs to be exercised. On the other hand, the box can also represent our own comfort zone.
The things we enjoy and are good at come easily to us and tempt us to keep focusing on similar topics and methods. If we are aware of what our own comfort zone looks like, it can be helpful to look beyond our own horizons. Often, the things that seem absurd to us or even cause us anxiety can lead to entirely new perspectives if we take a closer look at them.
Different ways of thinking
Traditional & Lateral Thinking In principle, a distinction is made between lateral thinking and traditional thinking. As a result of upbringing, school, work and other external influences, traditional thinking – which is based on analytical approaches and tends to focus on the current state of affairs – is more pronounced in most people. Lateral thinking, on the other hand, goes one step further and asks the question “What can be done?”
A little thought experiment:
A man lives on the 10th floor of a block of flats. Every day, he takes the lift to the ground floor to go to work. When he comes home, he takes the lift to the 7th floor and then takes the stairs for the remaining 3 floors to reach his flat on the 10th floor. He hates taking the stairs, so why does he do it? A little clue: on rainy days, he takes the lift straight up to the 10th floor. (You’ll find the answer at the end.) Our box, our little universe, is getting bigger and more colourful all the time. Creativity works a bit like a muscle that needs to be exercised and grows stronger as a result. We can also strengthen this muscle indirectly through inspiration. Sometimes, simply visiting a great exhibition, listening to music or going for a walk is enough to feel a surge of inspiration. Having new ideas also means being open to new things, engaging with them and broadening one’s horizons. As a result, our box – our little universe – is becoming ever bigger and more colourful.
Time to get creative (again)!
By using various creative techniques, you can actively explore your own creativity. I’m looking forward to introducing you to a few of them from time to time. To start with, you can browse through all the wonderful artworks at the Student Art Market and choose the one that inspires you the most. Perhaps it’s the colours, the composition or the material that inspires you to create something of your own.
Solution to the brainteaser: The man is veeery, veeery small and, in the lift, can only reach the button for the 7th floor. On rainy days, he uses his umbrella to press the ‘10’ button.