As a crusader for creative self-expression, empowerment and ideation inspired by imagination, I deem it to be the ideal medium for cross-cultural, cross-ideological communication propagating mutual respect, appreciation and understanding. It is a potent, sincere, emotional and, most importantly, physically non-violent platform for an evocative, enlightening and empowering dialogue. For an individual, it seeds, cultivates and shapes an artistic and creative voice for self-discovery, self-identity and self-expression. For humanity at large, as an antidote to aggressions, it can cultivate peaceful coexistence, at least amongst those who deem themselves open-minded.

Whatever the medium, creative expression represents a powerful, poetic, emotional and visual language understandable and felt by all. When fueled by a sincere and deeply felt personal expression such a language can turn into a potent herald of ideals, feelings, aspirations and hopes we all have. Each of us has a message—potent, deeply felt and meaningful ideas—and a great need to share them with others, to make a difference during own, much to brief a lifetime.

In my previous reflections I wrote, as poetically and passionately as I could, of the almost infinite powers of imagination. When I speak on such a topic in the various presentations, master classes or creative workshops, the key question that arises is this: “But how do you awake imagination or how do you open your mind to the “gravity free and reality independent” thinking and ideation or storytelling that is liberated of all that we have grown to be gravitated by, or entrapped within?

However, while some of us find, consciously or subconsciously, a path or an ability to preserve vibrancy of their imagination, most do not. In the case of the prior, it may have to do with their “make up”, upbringing, parents or a passionate desire to explore, to challenge the status quo, to break the rules, to question all and everything. Or maybe it has to do with an inner curiosity that does not let us accept what we are told by the elder, or our teachers, or the society at large? To us the “system” is the symbol of oppression, the foe to resist in almost any cause. To us, not understanding something is a challenge that motivates and inspires, it ignites our imagination, makes us restless until, if fortunate, we arrive at an answer, a climax, whether right or not.

 

To join all of the walls of the past, a yet another, vast and enormously tall wall, has recently been constructed by Israel to protect itself against terrorist attacks and suicidal bombers. It separates the West Bank from Israel. Israelis say that it has achieved its objectives by dramatically decreasing the intensive of terrorist attacks. At the same time though, the wall's path has also divided certain neighborhoods, people and families who had lived together till its erection. While there are military check points through which people can cross from one side to another, officially the Israeli citizens, especially the Jewish ones, are not permitted to the West Bank, this is supposedly to protect them, for their own personal safety.

While it separates the people and sides, in the most odd of ways it also acts as a form of a dialogue, a conduit of emotions and wishes expressed by those leaving on one side of the wall, but unfortunately not see by those on the other side. When you think about it, at least to me, this Wall has become an unintended symbol of human lunacy and desires.

We, the so-called “advanced”, “civilized” world, have become empowered by amazing means of instant communication. Such make vital and enlightening information available to most of the world’s population. This power could, if we only chose to, embody a great weapon against tyranny, oppression and malicious censorship infecting and pervading our societies, eroding our basic freedoms without most of us even being aware of it.

Such instant communication can also act as a mighty generator of ideas, health fuel for brainstorming, a limitless platform for collaboration, exchanges and propagation of global connectivity, thus seeding mutual understanding and respect for those whom we would otherwise never connect with, instead left ignorant, unable to understand or appreciate.

And so it seems that humanity is loosing appreciation and benefits of simple and pure nothingness, of silence and calm, which come with not being under pressure to talk, to respond, to converse, react, but instead to think and feel, digest and reflect. Why?

 

 

For some time now I have been promising myself a return to organic art. In my case this means line drawing. I love how line fluctuates, swings, cuts, curls, twists, envelopes, stubs, caresses, how it becomes a natural extension of an artist, how its creator can funnel into it the inner thoughts, passions, desires, frustrations or dreams. How such a simple entity can act a echo of the complex one who brings it to being. What a harmonious synergy and mutual dependency, one might say, till death us apart? It is amazing how it carries and projects such an amazing range of emotions, while maintaining its black and white purity and simplicity, even certain integrity, how it can challenge and drive its creator crazy. And so, I loved it back when it and I had such an emotionally fulfilling bond, and hence have been missing it ever since. Now, years later, my desire to rediscover and explore it once again has grown in intense, became eager to be unleashed.

Over the years, I kept on delaying and postponing. But in Japan, maybe due to the quality of calm and stability, of which I had spoken in all the previous reflections, even if for a limited period of time, I found it and regained it. Did I enjoy it? To the fullest! I felt motivated, vibrant and “spirited away” once again. It was amazing to see that the skill, the passion, desire to will a line, to unleash it to life, is not eternally gone. It is reliant on one’s state of mind, and time to reflect.

I have just returned from a trip to Netherlands, the land of tulips and windmills.  The first one representing an outgrowth of our humanity’s adoration for beauty of nature, and our ingenuity in refining it to the outmost perfection. The second, a product of design projecting humanity’s pragmatic inventiveness when faced with a need for a solution and solving it through design thinking, this at the core of my mission there. 

Should current technologies motivate and dictate new innovative designs or can concept designs inspire novel technologies? Which one is better, wiser, more advantageous in a long run? But is the choice black and white or could students be offered some, or the best of both worlds of occasions? Should educational systems, most of which are motivated by the need to differentiate themselves, this in order to compete with other similar in objectives schools, be also willing and capable of electing the more comprehensive and more globalized, Renaissance like approach and philosophy towards their education?

We have been, and so have the technologies we invent, evolving with an accelerated speed. Currently we are, as it should be, at the stage of development that is the most advanced thus far. Technology is a true “magic wand”. It makes us more powerful then ever. This is likely the most exciting time to be a creative individual or an artist, or a designer, or even an engineer or technologist or inventor. Borders between all disciplines are dissolving before our eyes. Interdisciplinary fusion is lighting up the path to exciting future.

 

Jerusalem, this is a land that has inspired legends, myths and mysticism which have not just impelled the course and evolution of our humanity, its religious beliefs, cultures and politics but also, throughout our history, been the source of endless dreams, desires, conflicts and conquests. The issuing reflections are probably the most complex of all of those I have written until now, difficult and troublesome for me to reflect upon and even more so verbalize. Nonetheless, I feel a deep need to face a challenge of distilling and then sharing my personal thoughts and observations on this perplexing topics. At the same time I am well aware of the displeasure and anger, even wrath of those readers who, for their own personal reasons, will differ, disagree, be infuriated by or dismissive of my ideas, opinions, perspectives and analyses I am about to express. But intellectual discourse is not just healthy and crucial but moreover vital to our evolution as human and social beings designed to coexist with each other.

To ignite, liberate and empower imagination to its fullest and most potent we need to open our minds to, and embrace, "gravity free and reality independent” thinking. Only then imagination transforms into a limitless, infinite state of a creative mind within which everything is attainable and nothing is unthinkable. Within it creativity roams free, unbounded by time, space, reality, logic, rules, dimension, mental or physical gravity or laws. In this inspiring state of mind imagination acts as a fuel for creativity, ideas, ground breaking innovative concepts or visions of what could be, but only if we dare. 

These days, when technology plays such a significant role in all aspects of our lives, and in much of what we do, there is a strong relationship between “IT” and our imagination: when they are not in balance, technology itself can overshadow imagination and seemingly become the ultimate answer to all. But when they are, technology empowers us, acting as our “magic wand”.

 

Maybe because the country’s founders had lost so much during the Holocaust, they chose to fight so hard for their new country, build by them from zilch. Over time and endless conflicts, wars and over numerous generations, they succeeded establishing a nation of a booming economy, impressive technologies, research, innovation, culture, prosperity, military potency, freedom of speech and, some say, a true democracy, most of anything and everything any country could hope for. All this except of course for the precious peace, stability and safe future for its current as well as the future generations.

I have been fortunate to shape academic programs dedicated to exploration of imagination and ideas, these igniting powerful, meaningful and often deep personal stories expressing the inner soul, or inspiring unique original concept designs that probe not just what is but what could be. In all such I strive to shape a system that will challenge the students to take risks, to probe, to test, to experiment, to find themselves, to discover what make them unique, who they truly are deep inside, not on the outside. I challenge them to expose themselves, not physically but spiritually. I call upon them to “take the condom off their head”, have an unsafe idea, for life is too short and precious for following in someone else’s steps, make your own path through an untapped space.