Article on Man Ray

Transcending the limits of thought

Creativity is not restricted to its artistic interpretation. Basically it is the mental activity of problem solving. When problems become challenges new effective solutions can result from an experimentally thinking creative mind. Creative behaviour requires a certain amount of intelligence. Knowledge broadens the creative mind's views, extends the possibilities to connect ideas and concepts in one's mind. 
Divergent thinking tests( as opposed to IQ tests) measure creativity. Divergent thinking is the ability to think along many paths to generate solutions to a problem.( Guilford & Hoepfner 1971)


Creativity surpasses that one great thought or view as thinking up new ideas is insufficient, ideas need to be reviewed, altered, tested, adapted. Remembering new ideas as soon as they arise and challenging ourselves with though problems to solve, essential skills for creative expression, leads to new behaviour and innovative ideas. 


The creative process is long and complex. With the utmost exertion, patience, hard work and perseverance one might succeed in inventing an exceptional previously unknown solution.


Theresa Amabile( Amabile 1989, Amabile, Hennessey & Grossman 1971) identified 3 components necessary for creativity: expertise in the field of endeavour, creative skills such as persistency at problem solving and the ability to break mental sets, taking risks and the motivation to pursue creative production for intrinsic( internal) rewards such as satisfaction. 
A genuine creator engages in the creative process without expecting tangible pay off for the undertaken actions, external rewards deter creativity! 


Creative people share traits of self-confidence, ambition and perseverance(inner concentration). Inquisitiveness( being susceptible to external stimuli) distinguishes creative people from others.
In addition they are less conforming to societal and other norms and are more likely to take risks( Martindale 1989) .
According to Carl Rogers fully functioning, self realized individuals are highly creative. Characterized by an openness to new experiences these flexible, spontaneous, non conformist personalities never cease to evolve, to grow. Not pending approval of others, they easily face traumatic changes.


Your potential is infinite, be wise, visualize, witness it. Why waste your time...



Article written by Ann Timmermans

A man must be what he can be: reflections on self-actualization

Happiness is in there, only to be found internally as it is a state of mind. Instead of blaming others or trying to change the world around us, we should change our minds to develop a positive mental condition. True happiness and complete independence are results of self-realization, of psychological growth and maturation.


Introspection( from Latin intro spicere: to look within), the technique of self-observing and examining inner activities, of reflecting on your memories, emotions and thoughts is the indispensable chief psychological method of learning about and of recognizing conscious and non- conscious mental processes. Briefly the key to knowing the true self. 


Self-reflection leads to better future actions and motivates to live up to one's own internal standards. 


The humanistic movement believed that humans are unique individuals who should be recognized and treated as such.


American humanistic psychologists Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers developed and emphasized the psychological concept of self-actualization, which is a process of growing and developing as a person to fully use and exploit talents, to maximize individual potential, to become actually what one is potentially.


According to Rogers people evaluate experiences as positive if they enhance self-actualization and tend to seek these positive experiences.


Maslow described self-actualization as: " A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be at peace with his self. What a man CAN be, he MUST be". 


He believed that self-actualization is not just a human capacity but the highest human need in a hierarchy of needs. A hierarchy of five classes of needs( physiological needs, safety, belongingness and love, esteem and self-actualization) influence human behaviour.


As most people are preoccupied with what they do not have( deficiency orientation), Maslow advised to focus on what they do have(growth orientation). This orientation opens the door to personality growth and peak experiences, inspiring moments of intense joy, love, understanding and ecstasy. 


Maslow's The Farther Reaches of Human Nature( 1971) describes the eight ways in which individuals self-actualize.
1. Concentration: to experience fully, vividly, selflessly.
2. Growth choices: each decision is a choice of growth, to open yourself to new
    and challenging experiences
3. self-awareness: self-consciousness: know yourself. Take responsibility for
    your own negative mood, recognize feelings. Give a direction to your own
    development
4. Honesty: essential elements in self-actualizing are honesty and taking
    responsibilities for your actions
5. Judgment: follow your instincts
6. self-development: use your abilities and intelligence
7. peak experiences: think, act, feel clearly and accurately, more loving and
    accepting of others
8. lack of ego defences: drop them when appropriate


Self-actualized people have accurate realistic perceptions of themselves and the world around them, are motivated to help others. They tend to be open, unconventional and spontaneous, have a philosophical sense of humour and form very deep ties with only a few people. They need their independence and privacy. Self-fulfilled individuals have a childlike and fresh creativity and inventiveness.


Bear in mind that self-actualization is a never-ending process of making potential real. Try to see life clearly, utilize your capacities joyfully. Even simple experiences will be sources of inspiration and pleasure.




Article written by Ann Timmermans
Published in Beat Streets magazine
www.beatstreetsmagazine.blogspot.com

Series on Asia

These series on Asia depict Asian people, their lives, happiness and struggle.
All oil paintings are grayscale thick texture pieces.

Landscape art Parkartistica 2010

The making of

This landscape art project featuring the 36 meter long Making Sense, chalk on grass, was made by Ann Timmermans.

Beat Streets, series on hip hop subculture

Ann Timmermans focusses on subcultures, street art, reflections and works in a variety of media.( photography, video art, landscape art, sound art)

Beat Streets depicts hip hop subculture. Some samples:

www.beatstreetsmagazine.blogspot.com

Beat Streets magazine: Streets ahead of the ordinary

Beat Streets magazine: Streets ahead of the ordinary:

Article on FAILE, the street art artist collective

Less is a bore, Yareah art magazine June 2010

Fascinating forgotten female ones facing fate

Life's worth