The Core of Creativity

If somebody cuts an apple in the wrong way – gastronomically – in a golden section, the core will be shaped like a star. If somebody de-tunes the guitar it may well be correctly tuned for new chords. If somebody shuffles the words so that, in their new constellation, they express something which is not actually written – and which surprises by saying something which was never meant to be said. If somebody, at some point, actually manages to let their hands shape the clay without being steered by their mind – voilà: examples of creativity.

If one persists in trying to understand and simplify matters, one may end up with a description of innovation as a new combination of two things which have never been combined before; that art, in other words, is not seeing the same thing as everyone else but turning things around to view them from another perspective – voilà: descriptions of creativity.

Is it possible to describe creativity simply as a list of examples or as straightforward summations? Yes, perhaps: given that creativity is one of those concepts which is most suited to be owned by, interpreted and understood by the users – the creators – whatever they are doing, saying and thinking?

Or would that approach dilute the concept? Is everything creativity? For those who create, or for those who are dependent on a creative delivery, it may be useful to add that creativity is – for the most part – not a linear process. Having reached simplicity one may easily erase it by causing a new complexity or vice versa. This means that one can never know exactly what to expect, and that the result of the creative process almost certainly will not be as anticipated. Hopefully something better will come out of it but, in the worst-case scenario, it may be something inferior.

In order for cultural and creative expressions to flourish one needs space in time, in one’s mind and in one’s environment. Moreover one needs cooperation based on curiosity, openness and trust. Once all this has been established one needs to add patience and perseverance and a willingness to take risks (a moral comment; yes, seriously, not just saying it). Quite simply, one has to be prepared for a lot of mess and chaos in order to hold on to that creative core which offers a more enjoyable, rich and better life.

At Generator 2011 we will present examples of how creators work with the actual heart of their profession; the creative core. How they meddle with notes, words, or light. We are doing this in order to inspire, but also in order to increase the understanding of creativity and the creative process, so that we can then move on and explore how it may be used and how it can be supported.

The Ark made a big deal out of responding to digitalisation with a paper magazine and then an even bigger deal out of the fact that they are splitting up as a band. They played their last (!) gig a couple of weeks ago at Gröna Lund. Now that The Ark has left the stage they can open up and tell us the full story. Kai Piippo can be reached on his mobile and every time one calls him he is in a new country; a lighting architect who has advanced the area of lighting design whilst collecting international accolades.

Find out more about the Generator conference and register here.