Creativity Stream: Keep Being Inspired

Written by: Liz Kaplow

These days, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to fuel creativity. In a time when our minds are so deeply occupied (and entertained) by whatever is on the screen, I believe we need to spark creativity through real life experiences. This notion was reinforced as I recently walked through the Gustav Klimt exhibit at the Neue Museum in NYC. Klimt (1862 – 1918), produced a body of work that spanned decades: From deeply emotional portraits, to dreamy landscapes, to the iconic masterpiece “The Lady in Gold” that he is so known for.

Walking through the exhibit gave me pause. With no photos allowed, no social media and no videos to post, the only thing a visitor can do is pay attention. Be absorbed. A respite from the outside, I heard people talking quietly to each other about what they saw in the paintings, and those on their own were actively experiencing the art.

One woman in particular struck me as she viewed “The Lady in Gold”, her way. She walked forward, and then she walked back, fully taking the painting in, moving her head from side to side. I even watched her walk away and then come back as if she wanted to be sure she had caught every detail. Picking up how absorbed this woman was formed a kind of energy among everyone there, passing from one person to the other and creating a collaborative focus. We all were caught up in the experience.
 
The truth is, all of the art we looked at could easily be viewed digitally. But it really wouldn’t be the same. I believe as humans we need to keep being inspired by the real world, and by creators, old and new whose wild dreams and creative vision is best admired in a tangible environment. I believe that only by leaving the screen and going out into the world, we will find our own originality. And that originality will turn into a creative stream that will keep flowing.