Beauty & Creativity

The day I visited La Sagrada Familia (a popular cathedral in Barcelona), I wept.

There's something about being confronted with extreme beauty. It short-circuits the brain of a creative and he/she comes undone. For me, it wasn't just the aesthetic distinction, it was the extreme detail. I wondered how a human mind could first conceptualise at that scale and then drill down to focus on the minutest items.

By the time I got to the cathedrals of Florence, I realized human talent is really prodigious. But, it needs an environment that nurtures and develops it.

I came away from those visits with the belief that if humans could attain such architectural greatness then I can do the same in my field. No matter what I am dreaming of, it is possible to achieve it. Others have already demonstrated this. And so, I began to think in terms of scale, glory and wonder.

One of the reasons why I think better abroad, is because Nigerian cities are mostly lacking in beauty, order and peace. This is not to denigrate the country. It's simple fact. Once upon a time, I understand Calabar was the cleanest city in the country. I don't know if this is still the case.

I guess we are too busy surviving to prioritize the environment here. Too occupied with stealing manholes to continually keep them covered. And for some reason, even basic street cleaning is not well done. Thus, if you go jogging on the main streets, the likelihood of stepping on shit or sputum is quite high. That's why I now mostly use a treadmill.

I believe there is a direct correlation between environmental beauty, the preservation of nature and the peace or creativity evoked. There's something to be said for spaces of stillness and contemplation.

If you're a creative, as much as it is within your power, create a home that's a haven and inspiration. Fill it with objects of beauty. Clean up the clutter to free up space. And if you can, travel and take walks. Your output will improve by leaps and bounds.