Meetings Blog Oct 03, 2019
The quotations that become famous do so for a reason, often providing us with deeper insight, inspiration or another emotional link. In our series we reflect on various famous quotes and how they can be used to feed the demands of meeting and event planners. Today: Henri Matisse.
Creativity takes courage
It was back around the turn of the 20th century when the well-known French artist said these simple yet very telling words. Born on the final day of 1869, Henri Émile Benoît Matisse is most remembered for the color and fluidity that created masterpieces like The Goldfish, Joy of Life and Nu Bleu IV. His impact of the Fauvism movement cannot be understated and we have seen his profound influence on many painters ever since.
The three words above that make up just one of many quotes accredited to Matisse take no time to understand, especially for those in the field of art. Creativity, it has been said, is one of the fundamental hallmarks of humanity, inherent within us all. It is the ability to craft something that is not only original but also useful, often solving a problem to provide something that is applicable in the day-to-day.
Based on this, therefore, we all have the potential to create, so why would Matisse focus on the need to then have courage? This is drawn from the moment when we put our concept on show for the world to see, possibly a glimpse for others into our inner thoughts or passions. By not conforming to general norms we can be free to express ourselves but this requires us to be brave.
Will you be judged? Absolutely. Will everyone like what you have created? Not always. Are those reasons not to continually strive to be ever more creative? Definitely not. In fact, feedback, whether good or bad, is a positive way for us to fine tune our skills.
Knowing where creativity stems from is often difficult to rationalize, and intuition is an explanation commonly given. Event planners cannot escape a number of guidelines in the world of business – including health and safety concerns, food and beverage restrictions, and transport considerations – however how they develop a theme can certainly be based on a gut feel. Experience will instinctively drive your decisions, but following your imagination is how you can truly amaze and enchant your attendees.
From social media campaigns and event venue displays, to tempting treats and perfectly aligned speakers, there is a chance to unleash your creativity at every stage of the project. And never forget that ingenuity can come from building on the ideas of others.
So go, be inspired, be courageous, be creative. Henri would be proud.
