Creativity

Creativity


We are used to associating the creative expression with art. Of course, all the great artworks are the fruit of the creative endeavor;however, we must keep in mind that the creativity and the creative process are not exclusive to the activities exercised by the artists. In fact, in many areas beyond the realm of the arts, the creativity is used.


I remember reading an unique art history book when I was in the middle school, where the author had praised the ancient man who had created (invented) the 'first' bowl, for it required the tremendous creativity.
I was enlightened.


Let us imagine the two primitive men. One is holding a burning stick (branch) to ward off the beast, and the other is using the primitive bowl he had made. In both cases, the creativity is used, and in both cases, they have had the realization of some sort. The former has realized that the beasts are afraid of the fire, so he can use the burning stick to scare the beasts although he did not ignite the fire nor made the stick. The latter also had the realization, but it is more complex, for he not only has figured out that the concave object in the shape similar to the hand(s) can scoop the water and retain and even transport the objects, he also has made/invented the bowl through the discovery of the raw materials that can be mixed and used. After awhile, he may discover that the uncured (non-fired) earth/clay would melt, so that he need to fire the earthen ware. This also is the major jump, for he has to associate the firing process (heat) with the permanence of the object (bowl). 


We can see in the above examples that the creativity is playing the major role (whether it was through the accidental discovery or the careful, playful, and thoughtful planning and the execution). 


Also, in both cases, the keen observation of the surrounding environment is crucial. The observation of the environment enables us to collect and store the visual data, and we can sort them out into the ones with the cyclical/rhythmical pattern and the unusual ones.


Although we cannot compare the artworks of Leonardo da Vinci to Michelangelo and determine which artist has used more creativity or not, but we also cannot compare these great artists to the primitive men who have exercised their creativity. While the master artists had the examples of their predecessor as the precedent, the primitive men had either little or no examples to follow (or to be inspired).