Introduction & Aim

Much like in life, the creative process often leads us into moments of uncertainty or “lack of inspiration.”

Makers, artisans, and artists whose well-being depends on their creations know about it very well.

These moments, however, are not to be feared. Instead, they offer an opportunity to shift perspectives, pushing us to embrace constraints as stepping stones to innovation.

In this study, you will have a chance to step into a Contemporary artist’s shoes and test your knowledge of Contemporary Art. Solving an unexpected conundrum will expand your creative thinking. This process will not only stimulate your emotions and commitment but also encourage you to rethink your approach to creativity. You’ll discover how limiting your options can open vast new landscapes for experimentation and artistic expression, and take you to places you wouldn’t otherwise reach.

By the end of the session, you’ll leave with a sense of satisfaction from creating something unique and, more importantly, a deeper understanding of how limitations can drive freedom and creativity.

“The more constraints one imposes, the more one frees oneself.”

~ Igor Stravinsky

As the artist Olga Jackowska said, “More discipline means more freedom.” This workshop will serve as a foundation for further creative development, showing that no matter the challenge, creativity can always thrive when approached with the right mindset.

Let’s dive into the process and see what surprises await.

Materials needed to run the workshop:

– paper (paper sheets or posted notes)
– writing, drawing materials – pens, pencils, etc.
– scizours 

Additional (but not necessary) materials
– laptop/tablet
– camera
–  A1, A2 or A3 piece of paper

Step 1: Watch the video  (3.5 min)

https://media.ed.ac.uk/media/Dont%20Hug%20me%20Im%20Scared/1_69q7t0e3

Step 2: Contemporary Art Examples (1 min)

Think about ideas or examples of quality topics that could become subjects of Contemporary Artwork. Have you visited an exhibition recently? Do you have a favorite artist? You can reflect on existing ideas or come up with entirely new ones. You can explore Contemporary Art Gallery websites for inspiration.

Step 3: Write the Ideas Down (4 min)

Using one sheet of paper for each idea, write down four topics/ideas/examples you came up with. You may write or draw them.

Important: Leave at least half of the paper empty.

Step 4: Divide the Ideas (1min)

Could you compare the ideas you wrote or drew? If you had to choose two projects you would like to develop further, which would you choose? Choose the two you like the most and the two you like the least. Think in terms of:

• The ones you feel you could easily engage with, the ones you find most valuable conceptually, the ones most impactful

• Ideas that have already been mentioned in the field of Contemporary Art look less attractive, or you simply wouldn’t know how to develop them further.

Step 5: Share your opinion (3 min)

Share your thoughts with your peer, explaining what determined your decisions – your statement does not have to be long.
Exchange thoughts and arguments.

Step 5: Develop the idea after the discussion (4 min)

Now you can go ahead and develop a project or prototype from the one or two ideas you liked the least. You can:

Use the second part of the paper to:

• Write down how you would expand the idea

• Draw a prototype, sketch, or outline of the work.

Step 6: Share the Idea With Your Peer (4 min)

Explain your idea to a partner:

• What did you write or draw?

• Did your perspective regarding your ideas change after the discussion?

Reflect on the experience:

• How did the workshop make you feel?

• Did you feel uncomfortable, intrigued, or challenged?

• Do you think artists often experience creative burnout and need to experiment to refresh their creativity?

Carry on the discussion freely.

Usefull links:

Background music-  https://media.ed.ac.uk/media/Elevator%20Music%20(Kevin%20MacLeod)%20-%20Background%20Music%20(HD)/1_q1jia5st