Creating Change
Art: Wassily Kandinsky
Writing: Nura Saleh, Founder
Kandinsky is one of my favorite artists. He once said: “To create a work of art is to create the world.” I believe that creativity is one of the most powerful tools we have as humans. We can imagine a better world and work together to create it. Creativity is how we move from hope into action. Creativity is how we bring about change.
When I was growing up, sci-fi books and shows like Star Trek got me excited about the technology of the future. The creators imagined a world where people could click a button and have a face to face call from anywhere. They dreamed of it. And now it’s been created. As a millennial, I watched this all unfold as I was growing up. It was inspiring. It made me fascinated with technology and our ability to create in new ways. It also makes me wonder: did those creators predict this world, or does this world exist because they created it? They planted these ideas in our minds and when technology became sufficiently advanced, that magic became reality.
I started in awe of technology as a method of creation, but now I worry about how quickly it’s all happening. Technology speeds up the creation process. Things can go from dreams into reality in such a short cycle. However, in our rush we start to skip steps. We’ve gone from thinking about things deeply for years and creating carefully, to having an idea in the morning and a product by nightfall. Exciting? Sure. Of course. BUT what are we missing from those years of thought? What are we giving up when we don’t even stop to think: SHOULD this be built? What will the impact be? If we move fast, and break things, what happens to our world when it’s filled with broken things and mediocre replacements? The act of creation, when rushed, is shallow. And frankly, I’m tired of living in a world where we don’t bother to dive beneath the surface.
We need to think deeply about what we create and what we put out in the world. The act of creation is powerful and should be treated with respect. Sure, being able to create quickly with AI gets it done, but we need to come back to our WHY. Why are we creating? Are we concerned about quality and how are work impacts other people? Are we creating for ourselves or for others? Are we creating a world we want to live in?
Sometimes art is a solo-adventure. I love this. It’s a great way to explore your thoughts and inner world. But when we create something that is going to be shared (like content that will help people learn or a tool that others will use), I also believe we need to work together. Collaboration creates even more depth in the creative output. I see this all the time. I will create something and then someone else comes in with an idea to make it better, and it transforms. Co-creation amplifies the truth and shared experience that’s portrayed in art. It ensures that the world we’re creating is a shared one.
That’s the goal of Bailiú: for us to build a better world, together. When we move together toward goals that we’re passionate about… I really believe that we can do anything.
This is the power of creation. Creating change.