EPPH - Every Painter Paints Himself

Chaos as the Source of Creativity

Chaos is the source of creativity. Chaos – some might say “controlled chaos” – increases the likelihood that two disparate ideas or forms will merge to create something new. That’s at least one theory of orginality. I imagine that when two British artists – Walter Sickert (left) and Francis Bacon (right) – first saved an image in their brand new studio, they each thought: “One day that might come in useful. Better keep that picture.” The next day an ad in the newspaper or a snapshot of Aunt Ida was saved on the table too. And so on and so on until one day, years later, their studio looked so impressively chaotic someone felt compelled to photograph it (above). Perhaps to the artists themselves it all looked organized, as in “Please don’t touch anything, darling. I know exactly where everything is.” I wonder if that happens to artists today and whether digital storage helps keep the studio clean.

Disclaimer: My own desk hovers between chaos and cleanliness, its mess limited only by fear of Leslie the cleaner who comes Thursday afternoons.