What is creativity? We can always define such concept, but for JP Canlis, to be creative means to be vulnerable.
REAL CREATIVITY MEANS TO BE VULNERABLE AND HONEST
JP is a glass artist, and he went through different challenges in life which also affected his creative process in both positive and negative ways. I’m pretty sure all of the things he had been through in life has made him who he is right now, and how he expresses himself with his art works.
He was able to come up with creative inspirations in the most unassuming thing: the wheat fields. I mean, who would actually come up with creating a glass wheat field by just repeatedly staring at it? Creative ideas indeed comes when we least expect them. Eventually, he expanded his creative brand by also creating glass raindrops, which reminded me very much of the installations at Singapore Changi Airport (not glass, but the concept looked the same).
Just like Ethan Hawke, JP Canlis advocates to be vulnerable and be honest to unleash the full potential of your creativity. Just like Taika Waititi, he is also a living proof that we can find creative inspirations in the most unlikely place. I am really blown away with how much I learn from all these creative minds.
CREATIVITY COULD ALSO MEAN RESTARTING OVER AND OVER
During his TEDx talk, JP almost broke down in the middle of his speech, and I think it’s definitely being vulnerable to deliver the message that he wants the audience to perceive. Sharing a bit of his personal challenges, it reminded me so much of the episode in Queer Eye entitled Craw-Zaddy where after the contestant’s wife passed away, he had a hard time starting over and moving on. JP’s talk was short but very powerful.
FIND YOUR WHEATFIELD AND RAINDROP
All the vulnerabilities taught JP to “stretch his mind far enough to be more creative. We all have our versions of glass wheatfields and raindrops, we just need to be vulnerable in order to find them.