Being creative is a lifelong journey. When you are at cross-roads of your life it helps to learn about the life of other creatives, whether it be a great or terrible life. A Netflix documentary on Stanislav Szukalski, a Polish sculptor help me reflect on creativity throughout history and how beliefs are flexible throughout life. Here is what I learned:
1. Collect what you like
2. Signatures are important
3. Not all great artists are dead in your lifetime
4. Use unusual analogies
5. There are different ways to see
6. Create your own alphabet
7. Bigotness can come from lack maturity
8. You don’t need a model to be inventive
9. Art must exaggerate
10. Trauma can teach you
11. Art can come from within
12. Different nationalities can be scrutinized by critics
13. Wisdom is given by nature
14. Document anyone who changes history for better or worse
15. Say something through art
16. Escape War – Go to where you consider home
17. Take inspiration from the ancient worlds
18. Be provocative at the right time
19. Passionate beliefs can fuel your art
20. Your art has different identities in in different places
21. Commissions can get you to your goals, but be careful with your message
22. Having talent and a unique view of the world doesn’t means you will escape bigoted ideology or prejudices
23. Your heroes can betray you
24. People show you different faces that suite themselves
25. Your own beliefs can destroy you
26. Fame is fleeting
27. Your beliefs must change to survive
28. Racism doesn’t have to be permanent
29. Look at symbols
30. Racism can come back
31. Your mistakes can last & effect other people’s beliefs
32. Document your thoughts & process
33. Leave works to people you care about
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