EscapeArt Magazine - Issue 2 - "Where does creativity come from?"

The Noise of Silence, Enzo Crispino, p. 40

Issue 02, September 2019

Contents

Editors Letter p.3 Magazine Essay p.4, 5, 18, 19, 51, 52, 53 Featured Artists

Norbert Somosi p.6-11

Alex Jaime p.12-17

Bruce Rolff p.19-25

Ornela Gjoci p.26-31

Enzo Crispino p.40-45

Mario Loprete p.46-50

Jorge Perez p.54-57

Film Creativity - Fantasy and Morality p.32-39

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No matter what, the important thing was

Where does creativity come from?

Editor’s Letter

I

t’s an amazing feeling to be able to release the second issue of EscapeArt Magazine. Most spontaneous ideas don’t seem to catch form due to the implied effort that is required to produce something that looks “professional”. On the other hand, the feedback we received from our first issue was truly inspiring and probably is the reason why you are able to read these lines today. Most of the submissions that are featured in this issue have come through my inbox without me having to actively look for content as I did months ago. This gives me hope for the future of the project and I’m truly looking forward to see where this journey takes me.

Even though issue number 2 was created against a storm of obstacles I can’t express how happy I am to finally sit down and write the final piece of text required to release the magazine. I’m happy to say that our team is expanding and new ideas are being implemented on a weekly basis. Let’s go!

Issue number 2 of EscapeArt Magazine attempts to treat the concept of creativity; where do ideas come from and how does the artist choose the medium of their work? Does our creative stimulation come from dreams? Perhaps we get inspired by experiences we lived and the environment we grew up in? Is creativity in the art world building on an existing foundation that has been established by the greats?

I invite you to read on and discover the answers to the question “Where does creativity come from?”

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that Dan’s parents loved him dearly.

Issue 02, September 2019

So... Where does come from?

creativity

I

The Three Christs of Ypsilanti by Milton Rokeach

Carmona, Spain

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When Dan reached school

n 1959 Dr. Milton Rokeach brought together three paranoid schizophrenics who each believed they were Jesus Christ. He started an experiment inspired by an article in Harper’s magazine where two female schizophrenic patients, who each believed they were Virgin Mary, were assigned as hospital roommates.

One of the women escaped from her delusion and was discharged from the mental hospital as a result of the conversations she had with the other patient. Dr. Rokeach believed that by forcing the patients to confront the impossibility of there being more than one Christ the patients will be forced out of their delusions similar to the case mentioned in Harper’s magazine. The experiment was published as a medical case study in hope to inspire future researchers in the field. Little did Dr. Rokeach know that his research notes will end up being used as a means of discussion on the matter of creativity in an online art magazine.

The case study shed light to a multitude of theories and behavioral systems and I personally recommend the book to anyone interested in the human brain. One of the relevant concepts to us which is discussed in the case study is the belief system. Dr. Rokeach divided the belief system in multiple categories: the self, the authorial and the peripheral belief systems. The primary belief system contains the beliefs we have about our own being: these include things such as our name, gender and generally characteristics which we take as granted.

Dr. Miton Rokeach explains this belief system with a very interesting mental exercise: imagine if someone constantly called you by the wrong

Where does creativity come from?

name. His thesis is that your response would be a negative one since your core belief system would feel endangered.

The second belief system has to do with your trust in authority. He explains that we each develop a sense of authority as children since we are brought up according to moral guidelines by our parents or parental figures.

The third system consists of the beliefs we develop as part of experiences and life itself. They are less prone to excite a negative response when they are endangered by outer sources since they are not as important as the core beliefs previously discussed.

Dr. Rokeach’s hypothesis was that by making the three Jesus Christs face each other it would endanger their core belief of being the son of God to a point where they would have to accept the reality that they are simple men. The result of the experiment validated the doctor’s faith that the belief system would have to change in order for the three Christs to be able to cohabitate the same hospital rooms.

However, none of the three patients gave up on their delusions; quite the opposite. They further developed their belief system to a point where they would be able to explain why there are three of them.

The new delusions the three patients developed prove a high level of creativity; the youngest of the three called the other two instrumental Gods while the other two turned to delusions about reincarnation among other abstract credences.

The question that concerns the issue of our magazine is “Where does creativity come from?”, Dr. Rokeage concluded his experiment with the concept that while each human being may wish to become “infinitely moral and competent, the three Christs found it difficult to admit such an impossibility.”

In the case of the three schizophrenics creativity came from the need to assert themselves as the most powerful and pure form of life; truly god-like.

(Continued on p.18)

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all the teachers would congratulate him for his good behavior

The Painter, 2018

Issue 02, September 2019

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“Everyone is a self-taught artist�

Dan was used as the example student and normally

Where does creativity come from?

Norbert Somosi

Miracles, ,2019

Follow Norbert on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoSoartist

M

y name is Norbert Somosi (or shortly NoSo). I’m a Romanian self-taught artist. To get the elephant out of the room right away: Everyone is a self-taught artist.

I believe that everyone is born with the same faculties of the mind, like imagination, creativity, visualization and it really only depends on us if we choose to Accept (capital “A”) and cultivate these faculties. We all get the choice to cultivate these

faculties and as an artist I conciously make the decision to do so.

The reasons stopping us from cultivating art are manifold. In my case, I was never the lucky kid whose parents encouraged me to draw or express myself artistically in any way. I remember that I could draw well when I was in school but I have no

Inner Worlds, 2017

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that would mean everyone else would grow jealous

Issue 02, September 2019

Reflection, 2017

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but somehow Dan managed to become friends with most

Where does creativity come from?

physical evidence left from that period.

To make a long story short I studied Math and Computer Science and was hired in a job as a software developer. I worked in an IT company for 14 years. During this time something happened.

One of my grandmas died.

I could not deal with this very easily. Our language is a very limited form of expression and feelings are hard to put into words and sometimes there is simply no one to talk to. So I got the choice again (after being way over 30 years old) to cultivate the above mentioned faculties to try to process the life experiences which I couldn’t process otherwise. I made a conscious choice to start drawing again.

I chose to process things that I couldn’t process otherwise throught art. In my artwork there is

always a story, a message, a meaning, a metaphor or symbolism based on a real experience captured in my works. I rarely draw “just” a flower, an animal, an object of any kind without a message or an interaction between the subject. On the other hand I think art is also good choice in general to transmute bad energy to good energy.

So if you are angry, disappointed, frustrated or any of that negative stuff you can use that vibration as fuel to create something beautiful out of it. These two things are basically what inspire and motivate me on my artistic journey. I like to process experiences and to put something meaningful and sometimes beautiful out in the world that maybe others can relate to. (and why not maybe help and inspire them).

Where does creativity come from?

From my point of view creativity has two main aspects to it: On one hand lies the ability to connect to a higher stream of consciousness. On the other hand exists the possibitiliy to manifest what is received trough this stream into our reality.

Working as a software developer for so long I’ve always thought that the ability to connect to a higher stream of consciousness is what separates us from animals and artificial intelligence. As the human species evolves, the more conscious we become. This is inevitable, because our brains are able to connect to higher frequencies.

This is not enough: Our body will always be a limited tool of expression, thus we need to learn (basically trough “pain and suffering”) how to manifest and materialize the thoughts and ideas that we receive. The original creative ideas are not our own. We receive them. The other creative ideas are just rearrangements and combinations of ideas that our brains create from the original ones.

You mentioned that the human species can be differentiated from AI and animals due to the fact that they can connect to a higher stream of concioussness. Would you say that artificial intelligence can imitate human conciousness but finds it impossible to recreate in code what humans feel when they create art?

The limitations of AI lie in the fact that it can “create” only from acquired information/data. This data consists of current human knowledge which is limited. So it will be able to create (=mimic) what people have already created before or assemble something “new” only from existing data. It will never be able to create something brand new. It lacks the ability to connect to a higher intelligence; to receive brand new data. This ability of a human being to connect to a higher intelligence (=stream of consciousness) is impossible to code.

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and be the best kid there is to be.

Issue 02, September 2019

The dream thief, 2019

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Back in Dan’s country, the custom is that

Where does creativity come from?

Could you give us an example of the symbolism you use in your paintings?

For example in my illustration “The Dream Thief” (on the left) the flowers represent dreams. The cat has an identical flower growing out of it as the sleeping boy. This refers to the fact that life is life; animal life (and dreams:) are not less important than our own.

The other thing is that we should be very careful who we share our dreams with. Even if the person

presents themselves as a gardener, promising to cut “weeds from our garden”...if we are not careful they can cut and take our dreams and leave us empty.

Back from the Dream, 2019

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at the end of the first year of school

Issue 02, September 2019

Boca Surma, Africa

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all the pupils would wear crowns made of flowers

Where does creativity come from?

Alex Jaime Follow Alex on instagram @ajaime www.alexjaime.com

O

n a recent vacation trip to Spain with my family I stopped to see the city of Mijas. Our host recommended to go see this city due to its interesting white buildings and beautiful view of the sea as the city is placed on a high cliffy terrain. It was an absurdly hot day where I was trying to hide away from the sun with every opportunity I got. While walking around the city I noticed a modern looking shop. From inside a cold breeze came bringing out what sounded like down tempo music.

Inside I found canvases of photographs taken predominantly somewhere in Africa. The photos started talking to me about a world where people struggle to get water and where education happens while standing naked in classrooms I never imagined could look like that. The man behind the counter, Alex Jaime is a photographer born in Mijas. He started his journey with photography when he was 12. I introduced myself and he shook my hand with a big smile on his face while telling me about his photography shop which he shared with his greatest inspiration: his father. This is his story: “My father, Jesús Jaime Mota, lent me one of his cameras during a travel to Gambia back in 2006.

Since then I never stopped taking photos nor traveling. Since 2011 I run my own photo gallery: Fotoart, where I sell my work. Starting in 2013 I’ve been doing a lot of professional travelling around the wold documenting through my photographic portfolio the places I’ve visited. Even though artistic creation was alwaysin the back of my mind I can say I’ve learnt a lot about being organized and planning whilst doing these professional

excursions.

I studied Audiovisual Communication in UMA (Málaga University) and I also finished a masters in Contemporary photography in CAC (Center of Contemporary Art in Málaga).

I always work based on influences. I think watching and taking photos are the best ways to learn. I almost always start my creative process with an idea in mind and along my creative journey I find some beautiful ideas and inspirations. Sometimes I have an idea that I “draw” or “sketch” (I’m not good at drawing, but I use it as a guide to express what I want even if it’s as simple as making a silhouette).

This process often takes me in better directions than my initial plan. I learn a lot about photography (I have a lot of books of photographers that I admire like Sebastiao Salgado, Steve McCurry, Alec Soth, Bryan Schutmaat, Pieter Hugo among others). Reading, music, watching all kinds of arts: paintings, illustrations, movies, documentaries... all of those inspires me.

Of course the photography of my father has a lot of

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and fill the school’s grounds where

Issue 02, September 2019

influence on me, I have seen his photos since I was born and I have attended all his exhibitions. He was the one that taught me photography. In my early works I tried to run away from his influence, not wanting to be in my father’s shadow. Later I just let it embrace me.

Right now I am preparing myself to be a teacher and give some workshops around the world. If everything goes well next year I will be doing a masterclass in Wales. I am also planning my next travel to Myanmar where I want to capture the beauty of living amongst Buddhist monks. I will be visiting the Intha fishermen, which is a camp of Rohingyas (that are being expulsed of Myanmar because of their beliefs) while also visiting some natural reserves like Chitwan in order to try to

14 the proud parents could watch them and celebrate.

capture photos of tigers.

It is something natural for me to create. I am quite an active person so I just can’t sit doing nothing.

There’s an impulse inside me that always takes me to do something; to create.

Besides photography I have always loved music.

When I was 14 years old you could find me creating music. I learnt how to play the guitar a few years ago because sometimes you need to have a break from work, even when your work is your passion.

As I have mentioned before, the first time I went to Africa I was 12 years old. One of the things that really shocked me was seeing all the children going to school walking barefoot for kilometers.

Where does creativity come from?

Amanecer Samburu, Africa

Where does creativity come from? how to frame it. They are in control of the focal lenght, aperture, the shutter speed, etc. All these can influence the way a viewer perceives something.

Creativity is the capacity to express what you have inside and to create something with it. Everybody contains some sort of information that can be told but for some people it is easier to put it out whilst for others it can be more difficult. I must agree with Picasso on this topic: “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.”

This can definetly sound like a cliche but it really shocked me: I have never complained again about going to school. I had a bus picking me up at home so how could I complain when I just saw children of my age (at that time) walking 3 kilometers barefeet?! Since then one of the things I have been trying to do is to share these experiences with the world. I feel obliged to let the people see what I saw and what I felt. Of course I’m not only talking about the hard things but what I mean includes also the beauty that I have found in those places. It is not about showing the reality but also showing the way I see things.

As for the matter of creativity’s source I think it comes from experiences. Creativity comes from everything you have seen, watched, read, listened, felt and done... Everything can affect your creativity. In photography it is important to research and get inspired from outside sources. I try to find inspiration in order to nurture my creativity every day; be it by looking at other people’s works or reading about something that I already have in mind. For example, currently I am reading a lot about Myanmar, about other people’s experiences and thoughts. I’m researching through a lot of foreign work in order to not repeat what has already been done.

Go to my website to buy my work or contact me for some info about my workshops, if you want to do a workshop in your local or school email me at: info@jaimemota.com

I believe photography is not an objective reality but it is the reality of the photographer. Every photographer chooses what to photograph and

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Where does creativity come from?

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Issue 02, September 2019 Tartini’s Dream, Louis-Leopold Boilly, 1824

(Continued from p.5)

L

ast night I had a dream that woke me up with its intensity. I found myself in a circular paved area which had a gray fountain in the middle. Surrounding the paved area there was a low height brick wall which offered view to the surroundings. The day was misty and wet so not much could be made out besides the circular paved area I found myself on. I was having a very vivid conversation with a pious character in my dream world. He pointed out that the words I am speaking out actually exist as objects in the environment that my mind created. Unfortunately, I don’t remember all the details but I do recall that one of the coincidences the religious figure mentioned was my white Beatles T-shirt I often wear in waking life. The dream became more intense as these absurd coincidences started piling up until I got overwhelmed and woke up.

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In 1947, Sigmund Freud released a book about a discipline he called psychoanalysis. His teachings pertained that the human being has multiple levels of the subconscious famously known as: unconscious and conscious. They are also known as id, ego and superego. The human being takes instincts that we cultivate unconsciously and registers them in the reality of our conscious. He argues that this phenomenon explains most of human behavior and interestingly enough what we dream about. He pushes forward the idea that dreams are a portrayal of our desires which we have cultivated due to the environment or the innate psychology of the man. Many artists take their inspiration from dreams. Sigmund Freud amongst others argues that dreams are a product of the emotion that builds up during our daily life which then gets processed during sleep. Where does that leave the concept of creativity and inspiration?

Where does creativity come from?

In the early 1800 Louis Leopold Boilly paints a representation of Giuseppe Tartini’s inspiration for his Violin Sonata in G minor. (see left) Tartini explains that the devil came in his dream to ask for a music lesson. After the lesson Tartini gave his quill to the devil in order to test the devil’s musical aptitude. The devil played such a perfect sonata that when he woke up Tartini tried to recreate it. “I felt enraptured, transported, enchanted: my breath failed me, and I awoke. I immediatly grasped my violin in order to retain, in part at least, the impression of my dream. In vain! The music which I at this time composed is indeed the best that I ever wrote, and I still call it the “Devil’s Trill”, but the difference between it and that which so moved me is so great that I would have destroyed my instrument and have said farewell to music forever if it had been possible for me to live without the enjoyment it affords me.” (Tartini) If we were to indulge in Sigmund Freud’s theory that dreams are just a means of the brain to process the daily emotions and happenings of the waking life then we would have to accept that the devil in Tartini’s dream is still part of his creativity and musical talent. Or are dreams perhaps a connections we have to a network of conciousness far away from the possibilities of the world we live in?

(Continued on p.43)

Issue 02, September 2019

Bruce Rolff Follow Bruce @rolffimages www.rolffimages.squarespace.com

I

currently live in southern New Jersey, USA. I have been creating art since I was young. I grew up surrounded by artists; my brother and sister were both artists. My brother was the neighborhood guru and I remember there were always many artistic types around. It was an interesting time and an interesting group of people to be around as a child growing up.

As a teen I had a teacher who encouraged my artistic pursuits. I created metal sculptures and worked with clay. After high school I worked in clay and did mostly abstract paintings on paper with spray paint and pastels but I also worked with acrylics. I later moved to photography. I began using the computer to edit and manipulate my photos digitally. Eventually I moved to creating my images from photos, 3D renders and using digital painting software. I’ve even done some computer coding to create elements for images.

I produce art because I am obsessed with creating art and have been since I was young. I work from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep..

Sometimes I will work till I can no longer keep my

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Dan finished the top of his class and got transferred to a better school

eyes open, falling asleep while in the middle of a project. I love what I do and hope to be able to do it till my last days on earth.

As far as my process goes: I have an idea, I work to flesh it out and along the way new ideas come to me and I work in order to render those new ideas. It is like a snowball effect: the original ideas accumulate new perceptions while my project grows and nurtures. Ironically, the moments where I am the most exhausted are the moments I find I am the most creative: I may be tired but I find myself fully primed with creative juices flowing freely and excitment.

I work with several people that help me in order to sell my work. Our goal is to spread the art I create and reach for the stars in the process of doing so.

There is no limit in the excitement I carry when I think about the possibilities.

As a child I was mostly a loner. The same for much of my adult life. I always felt different, like I just did not belong. At a youthful age due to feeling out of place in the world I thought being an artist might be the life for me. As I have matured I realized

Where does creativity come from?

Crystal Ball, digital, 2019

Issue 02, September 2019

Void, digital

that I had a spiritual longing. I sometimes feel as if someone is guiding me when I am creating. I have learned to listen and to follow it.

I often feel that I am describing places I have been before in my work. Perhaps they are places I’ve been before I was born in this particular world. The recurring emotion I am trying to communicate

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and again came the day where his father would try to reward his son

in some of my works is a place of longing, a purgatory of almost comfortable solidarity. A cool, empty world of eternal sunset not without beauty or calmness but a lonely place.

I am inspired by dreams. I have a lot of dreams that are repetitive but only in the sense that they have similar themes. Many of them take place in a post-

Where does creativity come from?

Space Soul, digital

apocalyptic world. I find myself usually traveling to the western USA looking for some sanctuary from the danger present in my dormant concious.

In another dream alien visitors are arriving and revealing themselves with great powerful ships.

Imagine a huge monstrous vessel measuring hundreds of feet long maneuvering with

tremendous power and speed but also with delicate control swinging one end of itself before you’re just feet from you and the ground. It’s a feeling of fear and presence of great power. Always it is imbued with a tremendous feeling of impending great importance, wonder and awe. I take things from my dreams to use as inspiration for my work.

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“Dan, my dear child, I am so happy to have you as a son.”

Issue 02, September 2019

Balance, digital, 2019

“I sometimes feel as if someone is guiding me when I am creating.�

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said the father, with tears of happiness in his eyes

Balance, digital, 2019

Where does creativity come from?

Where does creativity come from?

For me creativity is a spiritual thing especially. It is a gift, both received and to give. It is a connection to a higher power. It is an expression of oneself but again also of a great creator. It is a communication.

It’s an intellectual pursuit. It is an expression of

feeling. It is resolution of a puzzle. It is the creation of a puzzle. It can be an answer or a question. Art is everything ...

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“Since you bring me so much happiness in my life, I’d like to

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get you anything that you wish for.�

Where does creativity come from?

Ornela Gjoci Follow Ornela @ornelagjoci

C

oming from Albania young artist Ornela Gjoci studied at the Academy of Graphic Arts and has been painting for only two and a half years. Despite this she is already preparing for her first solo exhibition. She also appeared in a few publications, she was ranked as one of the eight artists “who are the next great icon of art” and from our conversations with her she seems to have

connections everywhere: Milan in Italy, Tirana in Albania, London in the UK, Nicosia in Cyprus, New York in the US and so on.

Besides talking to Ornela about her art and drive we asked her a few questions about how she managed to make so many connections at such a young age (24) in such a short time (under 3 years) in hope that it may help and inspire fellow emerging artists.

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“I would like two elastic bands, father” said Dan.

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“Is it still for you project?” inquired the father.

Where does creativity come from?

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“Yes.”

Issue 02, September 2019

“To create art you must live inside art”

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Where does creativity come from?

Ornela’s style of choice is contemporary expressionism which can be defined as a highly subjective representation of the real world. The subject is extremely distorted in order to provoke strong emotional responses from the viewer. The theme of her first exhibition focuses solely on women: “My theme in the paintings is so simple and complex at the same time; simple for those who see the female as a silhouette and tricky for those who try to mimic the habits and facial expressions on her face. This topic has come to me in a very natural way. I’m no one to raise or lower the female figure, so today that I talk about it seems very difficult as I suffer from inferiority complex and I’m thinking that actually I’m just being selfish in choosing to paint naturally beautiful things. In the composition of my paintings there are also the animals who own it more than anyone else. They are the protectors of the women I paint.”

Her biggest inspiration and perhaps door into the world of art is her husband Klajdi Arapi. When comparing their styles we can immediately see a

similarity in the blend between complex abstraction and real elements. However, the biggest factor that has contributed to her success so far is Ornela’s drive to network and connect to art critics, dealers, galleries, artists, etc. She felt that the galleries in Albania are making most of the decisions for the artists they represent instead of respecting cultural qualification and dynamics. This further pushed her to go on art retreats in countries such a Cyprus and Italy. “I think artists should try all the types of artistic experiences: art colonies, workshops, competitions… to create art you must live inside art. A person dedicated to a passion or profession (especially art) will never be unfit. If they are not the best then they are simply different.”

It seems imperative for artists pursuing success to push themselves out of their comfort zones and into the art world. Travelling, networking, learning and competing is not only important for making connections within the art world but also important in nurturing talents and expanding the knowledge you have of the world.

Where does creativity come from?

“My main inspiration comes from the suffering of naive women who feel weak and helpless. These women are part of discussions on television panels talking with psychologists or powerful figures.

They raise voice for change - I would say that they are the greatest truth of the society we live in.

Those who demand change do not want to accept

reality and society doesn’t seem to accept the reality that women are suffering. There is no choice but for women to become strong and speak their truth.

Creativity for me is the everyday with its best and its worst. It is an activity from which new things arise and develop according to the logic of my work.”

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Issue 02, September 2019

What about movies?

In the first issue of our magazine we have established that good art is art that manages to strike up a conversation with its audience. One of the mediums that probably does this the best is cinema.

Filmmakers apply artistic devices and principles that can be found in fine art, sculpture, music and literature. The 32

world of cinema can combine all these devices in order to construct a narrative or study a character. If art is the process of arranging elements in an attempt to appeal to emotion and reaction, then we can say with assurance that cinema is art.

Where does creativity come from?

FILM CREATIVITY - FANTASY AND MORALITY

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An essay by Shirko Abid

One of the most popular narrative frameworks in film has been the genre of crime. This specific setting explores two subdued mysteries of the audiences’ mind - an existence free from the constraining boundaries of modern society and shattering our ubiquitous moral conduct.

Film has the power to showcase a frontier of not only the physical world but of the soulwhere the protagonist is endowed with abilities which supersedes them from the rest of us, their justification for their actions can be for material gain in the spirit of a highwayman fantasy that has captivated cinema-goers since the early 20th century with The Old Man and the Gun (2018) being a devout swan song to this genre. However, the value within film-making is its’ resources to experiment with the genres’ tropes, to let go of the conventional narratives’ we frequent and find a new way to retell a tried and true narrative. Many independent films recently have taken this approach to heart with the 2016 crime-thriller Good Time being one

The Old Man & The Gun, 2018, David Lowery

atching films has become more ingrained into our culture than ever before. They carry an ineffable sway on its viewers not only for its’ captivating images; but the worlds, stories, characters and lives that appear before them.

A unique art form that shows moments we yearn for, people we wish we could be, yet also communicate important truths and messages of life and the human spirit that slip away from our consciousness. In film we observe a story’s arc from the beginning to end, we witness all the developments, twists and turns which almost seems like a reflection of life’s journey.

Film has become one of the most innovative and visually compelling art mediums of today that bears an infinite creative canvas, utilising an assortment of tools to communicate an important message to the audience.

of the paramount examples.

Good Times’ artistic vision and tone differentiate highly with The Old Man and The Gun, yet both films share a common motive that their respective protagonists strive for: freedom. Both films are set in a world where each protagonist is hunted by the law while they themselves attempt to resist capture.

The suppression of ones’ freedom is a threat that all humans regard as an act of violation of our status as sentient beings. A film can present this concept through the intrigue of criminal lifestyles. The audience wants to see a story of a person free from the shackles that society has placed on us. A character who defies authority and bears the courage to do what they want without hesitation in the face of that higher power. For this reason, the lead character in crime films have held a historic appeal

Issue 02, September 2019

stretching back to the genre’s glory days in the early 20th century all the way back to the genesis of Wild West films. In everyday life we all yearn for an escape from a mind-numbing job that robs our energy, a lack of passion in life, a sense of apathy and misdirection in this fast and confusing world.

Outlaw films help fill a void in day to day life by showing a strong, tenacious individual pitted against a harsh world that wishes to deter them. With Good Time and The Old Man with The Gun we are presented with two distinct protagonists that fit this ideal. However, it is in this the manner that each films’ perspective shows a distinct barrier between each respective vision.

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The Old Man and the Gun is based on a distinct, 2003 New York Times Article that reported an elderly bank-robber whose entire life is adorned with a vast array of bank heists and prison breaks spanning decades from his youth. In the film, Robert Redford portrays the thief who is characterised by his wit, cheerfulness and laidback attitude about life which permeates throughout the entire film (more so every time he commits each heist). The director David Lowry sought to adapt a larger-than-life story of an old man found himself running away from the law all his life, by crafting a crimedrama that holds a heartfelt message beneath the extravagant heist scenes and comical moments.

Lowry manages to transcend the historic trope of a mythological cinematic conflict between the brave, lone criminal against the law by presenting Tucker as a man who has already achieved what he’s been searching for.

Despite its’ premise, the film is more than

just a run-of the mill heist film starring the old guard of Hollywood. It radiates a human warmth through its nostalgic style of filming and its well-written characters that each help to convey the films’ message of celebrating ones’ life, whilst also proving to be more than stereotypical crime-film roles who are defined by a shallow concept of good against evil.

Casey Affleck plays Tuckers’ foil, John Hunt, who is depicted as a world weary yet honest police detective. This is an example of how Lowry fully realises his characters as he exposes Hunts’ vulnerabilities through certain scenes with his family, who play a key role in the film as the source of his hope and encouragement when he finds himself demoralised during the hunt for Forrest, something we as the audience relate to everyday with our families. We are able to see him receive loving support from his wife when he finds himself in despair which is presented in a wholesome scene of them dancing together in their kitchen. It’s this down-to-earth feeling that makes this film unique as a crime-drama. Lowry manages to replicate the beauty of human connection on screen adding to the films’ life-affirming message.

Furthermore as we start to learn more about Jewel, Forrests’ love interest (played by Sissy Spacek). We are treated to a frank discussion

The Old Man & The Gun, 2018, David Lowery

Where does creativity come from?

Tucker is characterised as a man who doesn’t commit constant robbery to achieve something concrete as he is already fulfilled. He embraces his life as peculiar and dangerous as it is because it’s simply part of his nature and it is this acceptance of this fact that results in is his true liberation. The meaning of the film is very simple: life is a gift and while it’s easy to get swept up in the harder times, there will always be something to remind you of how great it is to simply be here and enjoy the things we have from life. In the same scene with Jewel, Forrest explains his philosophy that summarises the films’ message: “ If I ever wonder what I’m doing or where I’m going I just think of myself as that kid I was…and I say; ‘Would he be proud of me?’. If the answers’ no, then I keep walking through but if the answer is yes then I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be”.

While The Old Man and The Gun stands as a wholesome and gentle tribute to life as well as the life of a Hollywood icon it’s also wholesome nostalgia-filled throwback. The highly unpredictable nature of the crime film The Old Man & The Gun, 2018, David Lowery

between them both concerning the journey of life, where Jewel delves into her previous marriage. She explains how she felt as she was losing herself when raising her family and how she feelt once she had no one to turn to: “Now I think now it’s ok to be selfish, because you think ten years from now where you’ll be, what you’ll be doing. Now, whenever I close the door I think ‘Oh well at least this is the last time I’ll ever have a chance to do whatever that thing was’.” This is one example of where the film emerges beyond its entertainment aspect and it starts to provoke larger questions to the forefront of the viewer. Questions that we all ask ourselves from time to time of what it means to be happy; how do we know what contentment feels like? If our life is really what we want or if we’re only doing it because it feels “normal”? The film establishes a link by relating with the audience the absurdity that we all thrive in during an interesting scene filled with existential optimism.

narrative beckons much experimentation from other visionary directors who intend to take pre-existing traditions of this historic genre and attempt to distort the links between the absurd, fantastical aspects of characters onscreen and the dark truth of human nature.

Good Time stands polar against the peaceful tones of the Old Man and The Gun. It is a downward spiral into the evil depths of humanity. Rather than a gradual sink into forbidden territory akin to Joseph Conrads’ Heart of Darkness, directors Bennie and Josh Safdie take the audience on a neon-lit odyssey through the murky shadows of New York City where the only guide in this nightmarish world is Connie Nickas (Robert Pattinson), a sociopathic, small-time crook who tasked with finding a large sum of money to secure his mentally challenged brother’s release from prison after he is arrested following their failed bank heist. Much like The Old Man and the Gun, the film’s simple yet engaging premise masks a profound message. Good Time is a

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Issue 02, September 2019

Good Time, 2017, Josh & Benny Safdie

close examination of a desperate and brutal world that comes with fighting for survival.

As the previous film manages to subvert the conventional traits of the old films while simultaneously paying tribute to them, Good Time separates completely from this tradition. As discussed before, the yearning for freedom has always been a fundamental aspect for many crime films of old and this concept has never been more clear than with Good Time’s unique escalating tension as our protagonist engages in a struggle against hiding from the police while also traversing across the abyssal darkness of New York trying desperately to accumulate a huge sum of money. This mission moves the characters’ circumstances into wildly different tangents, which adds to the film’s chaotic nature.

How far Connie goes to find the money is put to many extremes in this film and it is through this analysis of his personality and his reactions to the world around him that the film takes on a character-study approach.

Films have the power to showcase the dynamic tendencies of the human soul. Connie is portrayed as a man who has been moulded by his environment- he is an embodiment of the most undesirable traits that one could exhibithe is violent, highly manipulative and he’s willing to do anything to achieve his goals even, risking other people’s lives.

The Old Man The Gun presented an antihero that played tribute to a famous image of cowboys and bank robbers that were dangerous. However these characters possessed romantic qualities in their arcs, which made them loveable and fun to watch. Good Time destroys this image in favour of an anti-thesis; Connies’ personality

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isn’t draped over by an idyllic, fantasy-version of a criminal that is so well-known on screen.

He is instead a highly realistic portrayal of a criminal that is being hunted. Pattinson delivers a cunningly raw performance. He executes the character’s paranoia perfectly; In each scene his face is carved with an ever-changing colour of exhaustion where frustration and unbridled malice are always present.

As mentioned before the character proves to be adept in being flexible, even going as far as to dyeing his hair to change his identity, lying to strangers to trick them into allowing him to use their house as a sanctuary to evade the police or even manipulating his mentally-ill girlfriend into stealing her mother’s credit card early on in the film. His character is uncompromising and his ability to think on his feet propels the story into even stranger diversions involving a bottle of liquid LSD and breaking into an

Where does creativity come from?

abandoned funhouse at night.

His willingness to lie, cheat and steal all stem from an almost instinctual motivation to survive which again illustrates darkness . The character himself even remarks “I think I used to be a dog in a past life…”. It’s an interesting moment because much of his actions throughout resemble the feral nature of a wild animal; he regards everyone as nothing more than a tool that he can use to stay ahead of the police, (the only person he is close with is his brother which one could argue is synonymous with the pack mentality of dogs). His cruelty is brought forth more when he interacts with other characters in the film. At one point, he meets Ray (played by Richard Burress), who is also a small time crook that gets haplessly embroiled in his schemes. When comparing both characters there is an interesting similarity; Ray is also on the run from the law

Connie responds aggressively “…Losers like you are incapable of taking care of themselves.

You’re either leeching off mommy or leeching off welfare or living off the government in jail, that’s you!” “You don’t know the first thing about me bro.” “What’s to know? You serve absolutely no purpose.” In this telling scene, we are able to peak into Connie’s perception of the world and are able to catch a glimpse of the inner intentions that drives his cruelty.

The main character is integral, he is a person moulded by desolate surroundings who has been ingrained with a hardboiled survivalist mindset and is therefore more prone to act upon his instinctual impulses. In this case the film helps to serve an artistic purpose in the character study of a man who is willing to do anything beyond his moral conduct to achieve his goal. A far cry from the romantic depictions of outlaw criminals that The Old Man and The

Gun displays, the films’ true artistry lies in its’

Good Time, 2017, Josh & Benny Safdie

because of his criminal history. However unlike Connie he is shown to have a circle of friends that is close to,which adds to the isolation that surrounds our protagonist.

This contrast between both characters reaches an interesting point where Ray attempts to make a connection with Connie by trying to relate to troubles with the law, by which

brutal realism of crime; how real people in this situation would react when they are placed in dire circumstances. Good Time operates with a old predilection of survival of the fittest, which makes it all the more enthralling to see play out.

As mentioned at the start, Film is a multifaceted art form that encompasses a chimera

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Issue 02, September 2019

Good Time, 2017, Josh & Benny Safdie

of different techniques that range from cinematography, or choice of music that matches the film’s tone and more importantly how the story and performances are arranged by their directors. Each of the films’ discussed possess a distinctive vision that are composed in a respective, care fashion. Good Time pursues a gritty, nocturnal atmosphere with almost the entire film taking place in darkness. It is a natural decision for the film to take place under cover of darkness, however the Safdie brothers’ extensive use of the neon-tinged portrayal of New York, almost transforms the city into a strange and parallel world; which in turn symbolises Connies’ actions reflection of our capabilities that we are all perfectly capable of committing, yet we supress that darkness while he thrives in it.

The film feels like it is always in motion and this is conveyed perfectly with Pattinsons’ performance as well as the cinematography.

There is a transitional scene where we have a birds eye view of Connie speeding through the motorway. The camera holds the vehicle into the centre which then zooms out to reveal the massive silhouetted figure of New York.

The car is still the focal point of the shot but is dwarfed with the view of the city. This serves as

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a metaphor for the story : Connie alone against the vast darkness. Whilst he manages his best to not be exposed, the situation is getting worse and more problematic as time goes on and his goal of freeing his brother starts to reach impossible heights.

The Safdie Brothers’ have crafted a visual spectacle with this film, however what truly propels the film’s unique atmosphere is in large part indebted to its original soundtrack composed by electronic music artist Daniel Lopatin aka Oneohtrix Point Never. Lopatin is known for his eccentric, adventurous style of electronica in which he pushes and bends the genre’s boundaries to create jagged, haunting and emotional compositions that sound both alien and human. His score for Good Time is merged superbly with the visual aesthetics, sweeping synthesizers and buzzy claustrophobic melodies that enforce the sense of chaos and anxiety that takes place. The music gives a blaring voice to the mayhem of Good Time and this crucial contribution is paramount to the overall artistic message.

When used in tandem with Pattinsons’ hypnotic performance and the striking visuals, the film transforms into a beautiful, distorted symphony of chaos.

Where does creativity come from?

In opposition to Good Times’ mayhem, The Old Man and the Gun devotes itself fully to its’ faithfulness to the outlaw films of old but to also capture the sense of adventure and tenderness that the film proudly displays.

The cinematography is very kinetic during the actions scenes; when Forrest commits a robbery there are scenes where the camera quickly swings from him to a point of interest and focuses on that (e.g. security transporting cash to a safe) and then quickly returning to Tucker who is seen observing them closely. This technique creates a sense of playfulness, as if we are looking at the world through Tuckers’ eyes and this also creates a feeling of involvement with the audience as if they are with Tucker in the heist and as a result, imparts a feeling of the childlike excitement that he feels.

The low lighting in scenes create a more intimate feeling to the film. As opposed to the saturated aesthetics of Good Time, The Old Man and The Gun successfully cultivates its relaxed personality by making the film colour graded, where all the colours appear dim lit.

This achieves a unique, nostalgic look while bringing the audience closer to the films’ escapist theme.

Like with Good Time there are transitional scenes that denote important plot developments: News articles are used in the film during the aftermath of a robbery where we see close up shots of headlines printed followed by fast cutaways to different newspapers’ and this transition gives the audience a wave of nostalgia to similar scenes originating from films during the 50’s and 60s’ in order to pay tribute to the

golden age, where these particular close ups were used to communicate the passage of time or the consequences taking place after a pivotal event.

Both films impart a message or inspire a feeling to its viewers. We have been able to witness two entirely different worlds that showcase the dark depths of the human soul as well as a wholesome celebration of the old age of film-making. The genre of crime is a liberation for the audience from the mundane. In Good Time we are able to explore a dark world that houses the cruelty that is so often buried only to be released in a chaotic odyssey that begins to untangle. The Old Man and The Gun presents its viewers with a beautiful message that acts as food for the soul. These two films act as two paragons of their own era but they both exemplify the boundless and infinite creative realm that cinema holds. There are a myriad of devices that flow together to create an experience for the viewer and like with any art the quality of film highly fluctuates depending on reasons such as production tiers. There are companies who churn out mediocrity, only seeing film as mere commercial ventures, making them husks devoid of any artistic intention or message. The films that have been examined show works of art by people that impart strong reminders of the sacred fragility of life and the capabilities of the human soul.

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Issue 02, September 2019

Enzo Crispino www.enzocrispino.com

I

was born in Italy in Frattamaggiore, in the province of Naples and I currently live in the province of Reggio Emilia,

I am a self-taught artist and photographer. I am represented by the InArte / Werkkunst Gallery in Bergamo (Italy) I was not aware that what I was producing was art; it was a completely random path. While taking photos I felt the need of growth: an evolution that would further give meaning and depth to what I wanted to produce. The research and the study led me to see in the photos I take verses of poems relating them to social issues which ended up intensifying my research for my future work.

Where does creativity come from?

Personally I think that we all have the creativity but we are not aware that we have it. You do not seek it for it comes from itself. In my case I’ve discovered it from the need of creating something that was absolutely mine. It was where my personality, my character and my perception of the world around me come through.

In my view, creativity can be represented by three verbs: observe, question and then interpret what attracted your curiosity and attention.

I elaborate an idea into a concept through photography; creating projects which talk about social themes.

One of the photographic projects you see on these

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“Ok, I won’t ask what it is but please know that

pages is entitled “The noise of silence”. This project was born from the desire to question the whirling life that nowadays we are all inevitably absorbed into. The everyday life has been like a shield to our personality which in turn makes us sterile in perceiving emotions through the beauty of the simple. The simple in this case could be an empty beach during the winter with a tumultuous sky exiling us from everything, erasing every thought that oppresses us and looking only for silence; the beauty of the noise found in the silence of reading a poem.

Inspiration is creativity. On the other hand it becomes so only when we try not to destroy our originality by emulating others’ work.

Where does creativity come from?

The Noise of Silence series

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your mother and I would love to see the progress of your project.�

Issue 02, September 2019

42

The next day, his father bought his son a set of another 50 elastic bands.

Where does creativity come from?

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Issue 02, September 2019

In my opinion you can get ideas from others but then you have to be able to customize what you want to create, instilling in each work a trace of your own sensitivity that will characterize your

44

style; making it recognizable. When you can create personal poetics that is when you have created something that feeds more creativity.

Where does creativity come from?

The Noise of Silence series

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Issue 02, September 2019

“ It is not the man that chooses to be an artist but it’s the art that possesess the person ” 46

“Father, I didn’t mention it before, but I only need 2 bands.”

Where does creativity come from?

Mario Loprete Follow Mario @marioloprete

M

y name is Mario Loprete. I live in Catanzaro, a small calabrian city in the south of Italy. There are many great artists in Cantanzaro. While some of them received the right aknowledgment and some will have it in the future almost all of them plod while they inevitably suffer from the total absence of sales.

The collectors from Catanzaro buy a lot of contemporary art. They attend art shows and national galleries but the the artists that get supported by their shopping are not from Calabria.

The collectors from Catanzaro have an awful conception about the local artists and prefer to invest elsewhere. This is unfortunatly the tragic story in which I have always lived. It immediatly urged me to show my work somewhere else where it would get judged for merit or demerit and not because it’s made by a “local artist�.

I travel a lot. The proximity to the international airport makes traveling way easier. I usually rent a house for a period of time in the european cities that would inspire my work and consolidate relationships with galleries and collectors that I started on the internet. The italian art system is doped of false auctions that make prices of unworthy arstists rise up and which break the wings and dreams those who attempt to become artists from economic discomfort. When faced with this reality artists have only two possibilities: they can adjust to what the market and the artistic operators ask for, perverting their soul to make art, or they commit to find work that will make them economically emancipated but continue to be free in taking foward their personal art project.

inspired by the real with the main objective of speeding up my hand and acquiring technique. I felt as I fighting against time which changes lights and colors. Focusing so much on technique I realized I felt a growing emptiness; a void-like sensation.

Therefore at the age of 34 I decided to attend the Academy of Fine Arts of Catanzaro aware that if I wanted to give more thickness to my work I needed to confront myself with other artists.

Artistically I formed myself as self-taught. Until 2002 I strayed into Calabria in order to paint

The will of doing is incredible. I get up in the morning and I want to paint. At night I go to sleep

When people study to become surgeons they finish their studies closer to achieving greatness. I think art is different; not only do you need to have knowledge in what you know but you have to study the skills and talents you lack. An artist needs to be unique and in order to be so he has to learn the history of art and of those who preceded him.

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said Dan while he took two elastic bands from the set of 50 and

Issue 02, September 2019

Amir, oil on concrete, 18 cm x 25 cm

and I feel satisfied because I think that another day has passed - a day dedicated to the research of the strength in my work.

My art is always dedicated to whom can recognize it. To whom can see a message. To whom sees my message. I like to think that whoever buys my work also buys a temporal door to my world and to my way of creating. It is not the man that chooses to be an artist but it’s the art that possesses the person.

Painting for me is my first love. Creating a painting and starting from the spasmodic research of a concept with which I want to send a message is the base of my painting. The sculpture is my lover; my artistic betrayal to the painting. That voluptous and sensual lover that gives me different emotions, that touches prohibited chords…

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returned the other 48 back to his father.

Alternating picture and sculpture, always searching to transmit my message, makes me a complete artist. At some point in my career I felt the need to utilize a theme that could be comprehended by everyone.

It was in Hip-Hop I found the solution. It’s a phylosophy of life without geographical borders.

Rap music always kept me company in my study.

It was the soundtrack of my work. I exceedingly like to paint everything that symbolizes the urban style. I believe that the task of the artist is to tell the world that surrounds him.

The new series of works on concrete is the one that gives me more personal and professional satisfaction.

It was the result of an important investigation of my work: the research of the “quid” I felt was missing. Looking at my work in the past ten years

Where does creativity come from?

B-boy, oil on concrete, 30 cm x 40 cm, 2017

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The father took the 48 bands confused:

Issue 02, September 2019

I understood there were semantics and semiotics in my visual speech, but the right support to add value to the message was not yet there.

The reinforced cement, the concrete was created two thousand years ago by the Romans. It has a millenary story made of amphitheatres, bridges and roads that have conquered the ancient and modern world. Now it’s a synonym of modernity.

Everywhere you go you find a concrete wall.

The successive passage was obvious for me. If man brought art on the streets in order to make it accessible to everyone why not bring the urban in galleries and museums? It was the winning step to the continuous evolutionary process of my work in that “quid” that I was talking about before. I believe this is what is getting me exposed in prestigious places and what makes collectors interested in my work.

There’s the modern man in there.

Fabri Fibra, oil on concrete, diameter 25 cm

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“I don’t understand, doesn’t your project require elastic bands?”

Where does creativity come from?

(Continued from p.19)

W

e are not the first to discuss what creativity truly is. Some people would argue that the true test of a creative mind is the ability to problem solve; not only coming up with a solution but the best possible solution in a specific situation. In the society we live today almost all job positions in the world would benefit from employing a highly creative individual. A creative person will be able to solve problems against the clock, they would be able to optimize certain monotonous jobs and at the same time come up with unique perspectives.1 How does this concept translate into the artist’s world? It could be argued that the problem artists need to solve is the medium of communication.

The previous artist featured, Mario Loprete, found an unique way of representing the environment he grew up in and the difficulty he had reaching influential people within the art world.

a great emphasis on examinations as they greatly impact their reputation and perceived effectiveness.

As a result, teachers are often forced to “teach to the test” to secure higher test scores for their students.

The majority of teachers indicate that they find it difficult to complete the required curriculum to prepare their students for examinations. In many cases, teachers utilize classroom time for examination preparation and the content or knowledge that will be tested, leaving little time to work on subjects, skills or competencies that are not found in exams.” (Klokker)

Additional to the education system creativity seems to be squashed by the raise of technology amongst younger generations. We live in a world that is guided by a consumerist behavior where we seek out instant gratification either from material goods or by consuming online content.

The only creative people that remain are actually the people creating the content. The content in question is by no means the works of authors or paintings filled with symbolism and meaningful themes. The content we refer to in this example is the content we devour whilst scrolling through Instagram and videos that fry our attention spans. In

In her essay “The Decline of Creativity” Erin Klokker puts forward the idea that the concept discussed is actually in regression: “Imagine how much happier, more authentic and thoughtful people could be if more time was spent creating rather than comparing to one another on social media. Imagine how much more flexibility and genuine knowledge students could glean from school if creativity was fostered in the system.” The education system is focusing on short term memory and nurturing the skills required to take exams.

Students seem to have adapted to the demanding workloads and tests by creating methods where they would retain information just long enough to graduate. “High-stakes exams can shape the curriculum, teaching and learning materials, and also the perceptions of teachers, parents, learners and the general public. Teachers and schools place

1

https://www.churchproduction.com/education/lightingdesign-and-the-art-of-problem-solving/

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Issue 02, September 2019

the first issue of our magazine we have established that art that is good is art that manages to start a dialogue with its audience. Unfortunately we don’t give art enough time to start the conversation because we are already looking for the next shot of dopamine.

Erin Klokker argues that there are benefits to be obtained from patience, solitude and silence. If we relate back to the idea of creativity being the

means of solving problems we can understand how boredom is related to cultivating creativity.

Let’s consider the problem of boredom; it is definitely not a nice feeling. A bored child might feel compelled to use their imagination to invent a game that involves going on adventures onboard of a space shuttle. They visit different planets and converse with a multitude of characters from their imagination. Unfortunately a more realistic way of tackling the feeling of boredom nowadays is to take out your phone and see how many fruit you

can slice using your finger in a minute.

The world is becoming more and more saturated with information and content. It is becoming progressively difficult for unique ideas to surface because everything seems to be a remake or a homage to something that has already been created. Even if the intention of the creator is to produce something new the influences and inspirations take over the piece of work that was initially meant to be original. Furthermore, especially in the film industry there seems to be the prominent pattern of sequels and remakes. Film studios invest money into guaranteed viewership.

Therefore new releases of movies are targeted to already established audiences; comic book readers and lovers of a specific character. This is another further lapse in the creativity of the world where fear of failure surrounds original ideas.

Creativity is defined as the means used in order to create something new. This can include things such as imagination or inspiration. Creativity can also mean utilizing previous works and influences in order to further progress a theme, idea or movement.

On the other hand inspiration is used to refer to the spark or stimulant for a creative process. Both concepts are fundamental in the creation of fine arts, music, media, business, and technology but they take hold of different areas of the same spectrum.

Whilst creativity deals with the mastery and manipulation of certain patterns and processes in the domains of the world inspiration deals with influences and stimulants that aid a creator in their work.

When we first started discussing the topic of creativity we were hoping to find out more about

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“Yes, it does.” replied Dan.

Where does creativity come from?

the devices that artists use in order to get in their creative space. We were looking for answers to questions dealing with the stimulants of creativity and the processes that get a creative in the right mindset to be able to produce art. As we’ve seen so far these can include a number of things ranging from dreams and psychological desires to being in a setting that stimulates inventiveness. It can be argued that artists sometimes draw inspiration from the material world; environment, art history, human behavior and experience. On the other end of the spectrum we could say that some artists find their creative means in the ethereal part of our minds. As we’ve mentioned previously, psychology seems to suggest that this unreality does in fact stem from psychological processes and on a mathematical level; everything makes logical sense in the end.

However, some art seems to be out of this world; somewhere distant where not even our unconscious can reach. Similar to most debates in the art world it seems impossible to reach a clear definite conclusion. Perhaps that’s what attracts us to the wonders of a meaningful song or the abstract expressiveness of a painting. Art is the closest we’ve come to defining things that cannot be explained using words. It is a constant reaction to the collective progression of the behavior of the world and the means of escape from a somewhat repetitive world.

(A special thanks to Erin Klokker for letting us read and use her essay: The Decline in Creativity: Rediscovering Creative Action)

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“So why would you not take all 50?”

Issue 02, September 2019

Jorge Perez https://vimeo.com/jorgeaguirreperez

When I start a new piece and after doing the design, the process begins with a clay sculpture. I use both wed clay and pro plastiline, that depends on the Alien Cyclops

S

ince I can remember I have always been fascinated by fantasy and sci-fi. As an 80s child I was also influenced by action figures of that era, like Masters of the Universe, which had plenty of imaginative and colourful designs. I loved teratological creatures of all kinds, and enjoyed comics, books, t.v. and films containing this sort of characters. I soon started expressing my creativity with drawings and modeling clay.

I admire just to name a few vary from the classical works of DaVinci or Caravaggio, the surrealism of Dalí and Maruja Mallo to the futuristic depictions of H.R. Giger and Hajime Sorayama. Comicbook, action figure packaging, and record album cover painters like Frank Frazzetta, Earl Norem and Ed Repka are among my favourites too.

During my school years one of my primary interests was film; not movie-making itself, but the trickery and art behind them. Shortly I purchased a Super-8 camera and equipment and started experimenting a lot with clay animation. After high school I studied film-making and started working as a freelance in short-films creating make-up and special effects.

For improving my creation process I contacted Dick Smith, known for having created very innovative techniques in three-dimensional make-up artistry. He liked the pictures I sent and accepted me in his Advanced Course. This is how I ended up enrolling as one of his students. Dick´s advice helped me a lot, not only technically in such things as improving my sculpture, but also personal aspects in my life. This is the main reason he forged a well deserved reputation as a comprehensive and encouraging person; he helped emerging artists in both ways, as master and friend.

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More recently I started focusing my work in a more purely artistic way. I presented my first exhibition with approximately 20 of my creations and started selling pieces to collectors for different European countries. I keep sculpting, but nowadays also have a great interest in drawing, illustration and especially oil painting. I like to practice with all kinds of media; pencil, inks and airbrush. Artists

“I’m sorry father, but I would prefer not to answer this question.”

figure´s size. I then proceed to produce a mold from that sculpture, which could be generally made of plaster, but sometimes of silicone, depending if the resulting piece will be in a rigid of flexible material.

When this mold is finished I do the final cast. I used in many cases pre-vulcanized or foamed latex, filled with some kind of poly-foam urethane, but also silicone or fiberglass. Finally the piece is painted via airbrushing and I add the details, hair, eyeballs, which I made out of resins, et al. This, of course, is an overall method just generally speaking.

Where does creativity come from?

How would you define creativity?

How come some people seem to be more creative than others?

“I think creativity is an expressive form that emerges as a result of pursuing something new, original and - if possible - never seen before. But it is also the artist´s capacity of creation from scratch or sometimes with very little, out of nothing. For artists this particular emotional quest must be a rule.

Many artists are more creative by nature, but others have to explore more to find it. Creativity is affected by many factors, for example a more experienced person could be more creative naturally. In my opinion every person could practice his/her art, although there are more gifted individuals.

The Angry Sub-Humanoid mask

“ Nowadays it is very difficult to create something truly original.”

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To be continued

Issue 02, September 2019

Would you say that being inspired is the same as being creative?

I believe being creative is not the same as being inspired because creativity is something that resides in the skills of the artist, while inspiration is a state that comes from an impulse, or in some cases could be motivated by some external influences or feelings. Also it’s true that this impulse could be a creative one… I mean that both terms are related sometimes.

What could kill creativity?

One of the reasons creativity is killed is because we all have influences, artists we like, or particular artistic movements we want to explore. I don´t

56

Andra Mari Basque Godess

mean that this is negative at all!, but in some cases this implies to move around certain parameters and this prevents to elaborate something different.

What about something that trains someone to be more creative?

Nowadays it is very difficult to create something truly original. The trick resides in being oneself and taking the time to work on the designs. It´s also important to observe and learn, trying to combine ideas to avoid creating something that has already been seen.

Do we just create copy of other work?

The influences I mentioned before make so that the artist´s work seems like a mere copy but this is

Where does creativity come from?

Misfit Madman

an unconscious act in many cases. Sometimes it is something that is created deliberately as a tribute or homage or simply the experimentation within a specific style or form.

So then how can we be original in such saturated world?

It is really difficult to find a way to present a creation as new, original, not to mention groundbreaking!

But if an artist remains true to themselves, honest and works hard, being respectful to other´s work

and sharing ideas and techniques then they could could present their artform in its own personality and high level of quality. In my case I don´t worry too much about how the final piece looks to others.

I know that it is my concept and that I worked hard on the design and presented the final creation the best way that I can.

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