What Are You Looking At? - The Window to Creativity

 

Oftentimes, when we ask creatives what inspires them, both currently and throughout their lives, we're presented with a text, video, or some other format where the creative tells us all about their inspirations, from childhood to adulthood. But what if we turned the tables (or perhaps the camera)?

What if we saw what lies before the creative's eyes? The things they see every day that surround their creative process and space. The habits that shift their minds. The chipped mug they always use for tea. The rhythmic rumble of the passing train outside their window becomes a familiar background track to their creative process. The faded graffiti on the building across the street that they find oddly inspiring. These ordinary things, the mundane life that, even for them, goes largely unnoticed, yet keeps them company through the blood, sweat, and tears of creativity and creation. Day in, day out.

Ghost in the shell, Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Pallavi Gupta

 
 

Vincent Van Gogh, La Nuit étoilée, 1888

Margaux Bonopera

12th Century Tower in Toghrul, Iran

Cyrus Mahboubian

 
 

Metal Curtain Kyoto

Marie Obegi

Well, thanks to exhibition curator and artist Marie Obegi, we can now see that exact concept. The “What are you looking at?” exhibition isn't about the artists' work, but the things that spark their creativity. It's like peeking through a window into their studios and seeing the everyday objects that get their minds racing. Obegi's curiosity was piqued during visits to her friends' studios. She found herself consistently captivated by the objects that filled these spaces, particularly those reflecting their current hobbies or obsessions. “What I've always been drawn to is actually what's currently inspiring them. This is true for artists I've just met and perhaps even more so for friends I've known for years. It's because I'm very curious to see how what they're looking at right now is informing their practice, how it will translate.”

Exhibiting over 45 professional artists and curators from 10 different countries, the collection has a global reach out and connectivity. What makes this a unique exhibition is that every artist can invite another creative artist to join the show, making it grow and change organically, just like a tree. So, the possibilities for what you might see are endless! This innovative artist-led curation expands upon the original concept, enriching the collection with surprising discoveries and novel opportunities for audience interaction. “I wanted this exhibition to be dynamic. Temporality is an important aspect. It lasts eight weeks, and the idea is that it keeps growing, and evolves throughout.”

 
 
 
 

Over an eight-week period, the project showcases a diverse array of mediums and artistic styles, all presented through a distinctly contemporary lens. The inaugural week showcased contributions by 15 esteemed artists and curators including Natasha Arselan, Margaux Bonopera, Kristina Chan, Pallavi Gupta, Naira Mushtaq, Cyrus Mahboubian, and Marie Obegi. However, the collection itself remains a living entity, organically expanding throughout the exhibition's duration. Every week, new images are added to this ever-expanding visual landscape, each one a portal into the very essence of what inspires artists today. A visual landscape of images that resonate and delve into the inspirations of modern artists. Obegi is particularly fascinated by the potential for connections and patterns to emerge from this vast collection. She hopes that as visitors explore this sea of inspiration, they'll gain a richer understanding of the collective creative pulse of our time.

 

The exhibition returns for its mid-exhibition viewing on 25th March in the beautiful central London location: Hobhouse Court. The collection on display offers a glimpse into its evolution and a flavour of what's to come in the following weeks. For once, we peek through the windows of the worlds that surround artists' creative souls and notice that despite their individual journeys, a powerful sense of shared humanity and connection emerges, reminding us of the universal fuel of creativity.

Mid Exhibition Viewing: 25th April 2024

Location: Hobhouse Court, Whitcomb St. London WC2H 7HA

Time: 6pm - 8pm

Curated by Marie Obegi

Author: Roxana Hooti