Art direction by Jessica Walsh (Sagmeister & Walsh) for Aizone FW14 / SS15
Pablo Picasso famously said, ‘Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.’
For a growing number of those who work in the arts rediscovering the capacity to play is the key to tapping into the child’s natural creativity and applying it to the adult world.
Artistic Director of Polygot Sue Giles emphasised the value of the child’s perspective in her recent keynote address at the ArtsHUb 2016 Melbourne Conference. She said in terms of risk and creativity, we can learn a lot from children: ‘Divergent thinking, imagination, belief and commitment to an idea, positive response to offers, trying something without considering if it is possible or not, physical energy, emotional energy, being in the present moment, being able to be alone, ability to have fun wherever they are and whatever they are doing, ability to transform the everyday for the physical approach to it, ability to make friends quickly with strangers, to share, to be open, to make noise, eagerness to participate, openness to suggestion, delight in attention, joy, fun, curiosity, authenticity and chaos.’
Instead in adulthood, ‘What can go wrong seems to be more important than what can go right, complaints are heard louder than praise, bad reviews stay in our minds forever. Dystopia is sexier than utopia, [but] if we don’t take risks what can we lose?’ said Giles.
How can we introduce child-like play and become more comfortable with risk-taking in our working lives?
