IdeaSpies Edition - What makes an idea artistic? By Gillian Corban, Artistic Editor of IdeaSpies

Welcome to the 7th episode of the IdeaSpies Editor Series in partnership with the A Spanner in the Works Disruption Podcast. I'm Lynn Wood, the Founder and Chief Idea Spy of IdeaSpies.

Gillian Corban, Co-Founder Corban and Blair and Artistic Editor of IdeaSpies, will update you on what's new and exciting in the creative industries.

Corban and Blair search for new opportunities, processes, materials, and techniques to engage customers and design for their needs. The ideas Gillian posts on IdeaSpies are very popular, often appearing in IdeaSpies Weekly.

These are Artistic ideas Gillian has posted.

Transcript

My background is as an art & media teacher, curriculum consultant and communications for EEO in the NSW Premiers Dept.

From there I co- founded Corban & Blair, a product design business now in its 34th year after “many many” ideas, products, iterations and economic challenges. 

What is interesting is the sustainable trend we set when we started is now strongly on trend.

1 LOCATING IDEAS

I am curious, so I am always interested in the new & different – ideas to float by in one way or other, places I go, people I meat, people we attract. 

I see artistic ideas as an expression - a process being explored, a way to communicate. 

Other ideas are often a solution to a problem, an iteration, or an improvement on an idea.

2 ARTISTIC IDEAS

Like all ideas, artistic ideas are located in time, space and culture- they are images, words, sounds & bits.

Basically, their purpose is to communicate something- a message, challenge, emotional response- to shock, persuade, indoctrinate.

3 ARTISTIC IDEAS COVER A BROAD RANGE OF MEDIA- To name a few:

TECHNOLOGY- an algorithm

MATERIALS- ochre, canvas, sand or rocks, celluloid . . . .

POLITICS- truth or not true- what rises to the media surface- what is commented upon

RELIGION- the place of art, architecture and sculpture in the communication- imposed boundaries

ADVOCACY- ways to communicate via channels that are not controlled

MEDIA- issues about what gets said, where how and where. Role of cartoons.

AVAILABLE  FUNDS- patrons in the past- govt and philanthropic grants

GEOGRAPHY- where in the world means the stories are different

These all provide opportunities - and also barriers- which lead to success and disappointment.

4 WHAT AREAS I FOCUS ON ACROSS THE ARTISTIC SPACE

PAINTING – ochre to oil and all new materials, colours, finishes

PERFORMANCE- from one person to a huge rap group

FASHION- the creations of Issey Miyake who invented a new process with technology, The need for slow fashion and the effect 2nd hand reinvented clothing

TECHNOLOGY- NFT, CAD, CANVA, 3D Printing, and all the enhancing artist programs now available

THEATRE- - one actress or actor but a huge media and tech team

POETRY- an indigenous poet like Eric Avery who is also a violinist

MUSIC- the past and the future- Little Big is a Russian political, music, dance group with a difference

TV

FILM

ADVERTISING

SOCIAL MEDIA

ARCHITECTURE

CONSUMABLES

WRITING 

I look for something that stands out, communicates a message, takes a risk, provokes, informs, is shareable, inspires, or makes one stop and see something differently.

I am particularly interested in ideas that support climate action and a circular economy- but also ideas that communicate beauty, meaning and fun and ones that stop us and make us think. 

5 COLLABORATION

In my business this is very important to us. To bring in new voices and ideas from other cultures enriches what we create.

I have just read After Steve- by Tripp Mickle. It is about how Steve Jobs worked in the design process with Jon Ives. The author, who obviously interviewed 100’s of people, maintains that to survive financially Apple lost its soul. It had a very exacting (and expensive & brutal) design process. The glass used in the Apple campus was specially made and has created a whole new development in glass making.

6 BANGARA DANCE COMPANY 

They express an artistic feast of ideas. 

Performances communicate and display a challenging artistic range - sets, lighting, costumes, movement, sound, body’s in space, dance and story.

It includes texture, line, colour, space, sound, form, shape, movement and values with a strong narrative.

I have just scratched the surface of the power of artistic expression.

TO CONCLUDE

Something that worries me is there are so many ideas- really good ideas, but do we have the time to notice, see,  hear, reflect upon, explore, engage, or understand them - this takes time and time becomes part of the investment. I think this is a challenge for all of us.

These are artistic ideas I’ve shared with IdeaSpies, explained simply in 100 words or less, so they get more attention.