How does art-making fit into a process of personal as well as global evolution?

This process has emerged from three years of research into the existential aspects of art-making. A deep questioning about the why, the how and the what of “ART”. A mysterious concept so present growing up in Paris and especially in my father’s painting school. But also an obscure field to which I had been dedicating to, both as a sculptor and installation art producer. 

All these experiences allowed me to immerse in the unique processes of many professional artists, both upcoming and established. The research included behavioural observation of primates, exploring permaculture and studying jungian deep psychology before immersing in somatic practices and contemporary dance. The result is a study on “The Artist” archetype as the region of our subconscious that deals with creative undertakings. 

Throughout the workshop, we go through a series of activities that allow us to embody the different aspects of our creative psyche. Together we explore in order to find in ourselves the place where we wish to stand and create from. This allows us to get to work on defining our unique inner processes from a place of deep clarity. The last day is therefore dedicated to individually writing a document describing our personal creative practice. The new-earned clarity creates inner awareness around idea generation and decision making, it builds confidence and a greater conscientiousness in individuals. These changes increase their capacity to engage in meaningful creation and co-creation processes. 

The workshop Practice The Artist was first given at the Unplugged Dance educational program on the Island of Lefkada, Greece. After the success of this first session I was warmly encouraged to develop the framework further and offer it to different institutions that aim to encourage and support creative development.

References:

The content of the workshop was informed by a great variety of sources and inspirations. 

• King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering the Archetypes of the Mature Masculine, Douglas Gillette and Robert L. Moore.

• The Great Mother, Erich Neumann.

• Old Wise Woman: A Study Of Active Imagination, Rix Weaver.

• Psychology Of The Unconscious, C.G.Jung.

• The Archetypes And The Collective Unconscious, C.G.Jung.

• The Psychopathology Of Everyday Life, Sigmund Freud.

• The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron.

• The Creative Act: A Way Of Being, Rick Rubins.

Acknowledgements:

A special thank you to all the places that allowed me to conduct my research, learn and develop the framework.

• Mentors Marina Tsatsara and Vasiliki Tsagkari.

• WAPCA West African Primate Conservation Action.

• Terra Alta Permaculture Farm.

• C.G.Jung Institute Zurich.

• Providenza Multidisciplinary Artist Residency.

• Unplugged Dance Educational Program at Paleohori Art Space.

• Shaolin Temple Europe.

• The many artists i have worked with or got to know throughout the years. Including amongst others: Studio ThinkingHand, Miriam Simun, Ataka 51, Superflex, Thomas Dambo, Tabita Rezaire, Kirsten Ortwed, Rune Bosse, Jonathan Jouan, Kristian Verner Norden Minthe, Benny Brankovic, Emeka Ogboh, Lise Haller Baggesen, Antoine Viviani, Danilo Correale, Julia Borderie, Francesca Miazzi, Irene Mathilda Alaimo, Abdul Dube, Emilie Marie, Franco Turchi, Stone Karim Mohamad, Isabelle Melchiori and many others.

• The museum, galleries, schools and other institutions i have worked with or got to know throughout the years. Including: Roskilde Samtidskunst, Arken, Danish Architecture Center, Nikolai Kunsthall, HEART herning, Kaospilot, Carl Henning Pedersen og Else Alfeldt's Museet, Den Gamle By Aarhus, Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi, Le Château de Chaumont sur Loire, Fabrikken for Kunst og Design, Den Frie Udstillingsbygning and others.