Gabberissue #19: The New (Ab)Normal
It wasn’t so long ago I was in a room with other advertising creatives, with a piece of paper in front of us stuck on yet another wall (there’s always a wall), twirling black pens in our hands and letting them dance across the page in a dramatic demonstration of creative thinking in action. Then after our ink-induced mania the piece of paper would be swiftly stuck to another wall as proof of our efforts.
Much of life before lockdown was marked by doing things that when you stop and think about it, didn't add much to anything. Turning up. Being seen. Giving face-time. Talking about the work. Talking around the work. Drawing on the work.
Somewhere along the way we got distracted.
When COVID19 hit I, like everyone else, was stuck inside. No more distractions and plenty of time to think. In isolation I had time to go all the way back to the basics. Writing 100 lines, drawing in 100 boxes. Doing the stuff that’s easy to not do.
Creative people have a gift of seeing the world from a different angle. Most people are scared of being trapped inside with nothing to do, but during this time and with no distractions, we’ve seen many creative minds find a way to change the terms of that particular blank canvas.
If you’re like Leila Chee, Bianca Guimaraes and Kevin Mulroy you help start a brand new agency in New York City.
If you’re like Chris Thompson you traded your trade, swapping your keyboard for a pipe wrench.
If you're like Helen Pape you find a way to bring Yoga practice to the digital realm.
Perhaps you’re more like Peter Mitchelson and Victoria Thomas you have found new ways to innovate in the space of preserving creativity.
You could be like Seamus Fagan and Josh Parmenter who use their side gigs to save the world of fashion from being boring and from ruining our oceans. Or Kiri Wheaton, who’s bit on the side is a main course this month...
Maybe you’re like Victoria Iles & Lisa Marie Eri, you’re using your creativity to push boundaries far from home.
Or Lauren Moran who makes art that transcends screens & culture when she’s not directing it.
You could be a touch of Leadbeater who is creating work to remind us of the immense power, vulnerability and mystery of being human...
Then there’s artists like Matthew Asling and Charlie Harding who’s IRL art show is now showing at our Gabberish Gallery, featuring work and performances that hit you in the face with inspiration.
Or Eden Fiske who has used this time to think deeply about the difference between “aboriginal art” and art by aboriginal people.
Maybe you’re like none of them and just doing you. That’s cool too.
This issue explores how we’ve all used our unique talents to come together and overcome unprecedented times. Because, when something like a global pandemic hits, we don’t give up. We all knuckle down and get really, really creative.
