On April 5th, during the third collective activity, we carried out a symbolic creative exercise: each person brought a bunch of flowers, and we fused and recreated these flowers to form a brand-new floral art piece. This is not only an exploration of floral art, but also a profound reflection on intimate relationships, collective cooperation and individuality. From a personal perspective, this activity resonated strongly with the themes I explored in the curatorial project, especially in terms of the relationship between the individual and the collective.
In this event, each participant brought their own unique bouquet, symbolizing our personal experiences, creative expressions and emotional investments. The colors, shapes and scents of these flowers all carry personal meanings. However, when we combine these independent elements in collective cooperation, they do not lose their respective characteristics. Instead, through interaction and cooperation, they form a new and vibrant whole. This reminds me of the key concept in my curatorial project – the tension between the individual and the collective, especially the fluidity and change in intimate relationships and emotional exchanges.
In my curatorial project, what I focus on is the dialogue between the individual and the collective, and how to retain the individual’s voice within the framework of the collective. Through the works in the exhibition, I explore power, emotions in intimate relationships, as well as the transience and disappearance of the digital age. In my project, although each piece is independently created by the artist, they interweave with each other in the exhibition to form a larger whole, just like we recombine flowers into new artworks in the event. Each work has its unique expression, but through the framework of the exhibition, they jointly tell a complex story about intimacy and alienation, independence and collectivism.
This activity made me deeply realize the influence of collective cooperation on individual creation. In this floral creation, although each person’s bouquet represented their unique emotions and creativity, in the process of cooperation, we communicated and influenced each other, and eventually reached a consensus, creating a larger work of art. If each of us insists on keeping our bouquets still, perhaps we won’t achieve such a beautiful effect. Similarly, in my curatorial project, although I work independently as a curator, I draw inspiration from the works of each artist, discuss with them, and ultimately condense the individual creative achievements into the overall effect of the exhibition.
Without collective collaboration, my curatorial project might seem more isolated and lack interaction with others’ viewpoints and creativity. During the curatorial process, although I independently conceived and made decisions, through communication with artists and colleagues, I was able to gain more perspectives and thereby expand the boundaries of my creation. In collective cooperation, we can not only share our own viewpoints, but also draw inspiration from the creative collisions of others. This kind of interaction brings new ideas and creative impetus.
The significance of this event lies not only in artistic creation, but also in strengthening the relationship and mutual trust between us. Everyone contributed their own “flowers”, and through mutual communication and cooperation, we formed deeper connections. The deepening of this relationship enables us to find a common language in collective creation. It is precisely in this mutual support and inspiration that artistic creation becomes richer and more meaningful. In my curatorial project, I also strive to establish connections between the audience and the works, as well as among the works themselves, through the interaction and dialogue among the artworks, making the entire exhibition a multi-dimensional communication space.
I believe that the power of collectivism is not only reflected in physical cooperation, but also can stimulate cognitive integration and innovation. Batelmann (2019) mentioned that the essence of collective creation lies in how to integrate individual differences and independence within the framework of a common goal, and through the collision and interaction of cognition, give rise to new creativity and thinking. Just as I formed a larger and more complex exhibition through the independent creations of artists in the curatorial project, this collective power not only promotes the creativity of each individual, but also drives the improvement of the overall artistic expression.
Through this activity, I realized that whether in artistic creation or life, the relationship between the collective and the individual is always complex and full of tension. Only when we find this balance can we truly achieve the elevation of personal creation and open up new possibilities within the collective framework. This combination of intimacy and cooperation has deepened my thinking on strategy exhibitions. I have realized that through collective collaboration, we can not only push the limits of individual creation but also discover potential that we have never noticed before through interaction with others.
References
Batelmann, T. (2019). “The Role of Collective Creativity in Modern Art Practices.” Journal of Artistic Collaboration, 12(3), 45-61.
