Breaking Myths Around Creativity

A peek into the mind of the creative prodigy Samar Jodha.

My Dear Friends

For our January community event, we had Samar Jodha as our guest to discuss ‘What we don’t understand about Creativity?’ last Sunday. He is a man who challenges the status quo through his art, who has created a unique place for himself in the contemporary global art scene and it was an absolute honour to be able to peek into his mind and thoughts and understand creativity. If you are new to this newsletter, consider subscribing to it so that you get such emails every week.

What is the purpose of Creativity in this world according to you?

Creativity exists in each of us but unfortunately, we get so labeled, branded, put in a box- that creativity means you have to be a painter or a musician or something. Even the clothes we wear, the food we eat, is an expression of our creativity. And then at the end of the day, people put logic behind it and use their left brain to create a bridge. 

What is the purpose of creativity in peace-building and community, etc?

No matter who you, are what you subscribe to politically, ideologically, in religion or culture, there are certain things where we merge together. We merge in empathy and compassion. Creativity is the common ground that binds us. It is not even about good art or bad art it connects all of us at a much deeper level.

How to differentiate between what is an art and what is not?

It is not about art particularly, it is about creativity and imagination. It is not about labelling things. It can be found in how we interact with our family members or our dogs, how we love someone, care for them, it comes from within and it is all creativity.

How will AI change creativity?

When desktops were introduced and software like photoshop was newly available, everyone thought that was the end of creativity. But it wasn’t, it never will be. Human experience can not be mechanised, no matter the level of technology.

Do you regret not completing school?

No. It is a simple answer because I recall once someone said to me that I managed to do whatever I do in my small ways because I don't have any baggage of art, design, photo, or film school. That has managed to keep my outlook untainted from the whole ‘assembly lie’ thought process. And I don’t mean that everyone that goes through creative education goes into that space, but I know about myself.

How to be self aware and conscious about the choices we make?

I was very miserable at everything else so when I found something I was good at I stuck to I kept falling and falling but I didn’t step back. Human beings tend to get comfortable in whatever they have figured out, even at the school level and throughout. But if people try to explore and learn and put themselves in places where they can’t figure things out exactly then they will grow. If people go into spaces that make them uncomfortable it will make them think differently and give them a newer outlook. This will also drive their hunger level make them face their fear of failure. Experiences make you who you are and it is an ongoing process 

Has the world become multi-disciplinary?

Circumstances have made us multidimensional. Technology dictates us to be more flexible. We don’t know what people who are 16 years old today going to do when they turn 30, we don’t know what jobs will exist then. So we must be less mechanical and not aspire towards those materialistic dreams and run on a treadmill. We must focus on self-growth and keep our goals simple.

During your exhibition on the installation on Bhopal Gas Tragedy, you had to sell on your apartment to carry on with your work. How did you rationally come to that decision?

You can never make that decision rationally. I was showcasing my work at Venice Biennale, and there were some last-minute complications. I had this great opportunity to present my work and it was work that I believed in a lot and I thought to myself that one day I will be 75 and I will be looking back at this day and think that I did not present my art just because I did not have the money to do so. It is the stupidest thing you can say to yourself. It’s not about other people it is about yourself.

We stand in our own way most of the time. It is about making choices because you don’t wanna be an old person sitting with regrets that you didn’t do anything because you were so caught up in something that actually didn’t matter.

How do you make yourself listen to your own irrationality?

The biggest challenge we face is that we keep looking for approvals. And social media has made it even more critical for the younger generation. Whatever field people might be working in they start looking at people around them and just focus on ticking checklists. In creative space, people pay more attention to the date of publishing or release instead of enjoying the process of creation itself. This dishonesty also often reflects in the work that people do. And this is the same reason that art today dies so fast because it has become all about projection and if people can keep checkmating this instinct, the work will thrive much more.

How can someone have a direction of where they want to reach or what they want to do if they don’t set up goals?

It’s a lot to do with setting those goals for yourself. One must not get lazy about it, it is driven by passion, everything else is secondary. 

How to manage your creative energy?

It is never about where you start and where you finish. Creativity is present within us in layers. Creativity is not about segregating and working according to fixed boxes it is a wholesome process. If your heart beats for an issue out there you will surely make way for moulding that into your work. It is about the storm you have within that will help you churn out stuff.

Why do artists struggle with corporatising their work?

You can’t just exist in isolation and keep making art if it’s not gonna go anywhere. The challenges in monetising art were always there but it has become even more difficult now because there is so much noise. You have to be honest to yourself and keep building blocks and it will show up someday.

How has COVID-19 shaped the creative industry? 

It has impacted the economics of every industry. It has heavily impacted the creative space. If people use the logic of marketing that, this product is more important than sponsoring this artist automatically they are gonna cut the latter off.

Young creators have had the worst time possible, they have done their degree, chosen this unconventional platform, convinced their parents with much difficulty and now they landed in the midst of this crisis. But at least they have the passion for it which makes them strive relentlessly. Don’t let the sole purpose of your passion be “to make a living out of it”, if you do so you won’t be able to persist when hardship strikes. Treat your passion like a baby, that needs to be nurtured throughout life. 

Samar also talked about the work he is doing through Red Ballon. He has worked with kids throughout his career, he finds joy in teaching and empowering kids. Creativity is a very egoistic space, it is concerned with “me, I and myself”. But after working for a long period of time, Samar thought of creating a platform where creative people could come together in teaching children. He then also focused on leadership models, people became ambassadors and took charge of various socio-cultural issues. Red Ballon is working towards creating a “normal” for children where there is empathy and kindness and understanding through creative collaboration. To know more about the work they are doing you can visit this website.

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