INSPIRATIONAL TALK

By Hella Ganor
December 16, 2020

Inspiration is a subject that preoccupies me a great deal, as it does for all artists. Much has been written on this issue, and it's well known that sources of inspiration are endless and widely varied.

Looking at my "Inspirations" board on Pinterest the other day made me think about this elusive term, and I wanted to share my thoughts about it here: what is the inspiration for me, and where does it come from?

Bench Between Pillars by Ryuji Nakamura Architects

When you look at my Pinterest board "Inspiration" you immediately notice that it consists of pictures only (obviously -- that's how this medium works). I selected all of those images because all of them had an element that has functioned as a source of inspiration for me at a certain time.

Given that "inspiration" is represented in this case by a set of photographed objects, one may think that my own inspiration is located inside of those objects themselves: their shape, color, aesthetics, composition, and so on.
But if that were so, then we could easily identify the common denominators of all those objects, and each person would be able to anticipate what will inspire him/her to be creative.
The good news is that this is not the case. Inspiration is an undefined formula, a code that can't be cracked. Therefore many times we get inspired by directions we did not expect.

The reason for this enigmatic process lies in the fact that inspiration is not only dependent on an external object but also on an internal "secret" component that lies in each of us.
A certain aspect of the inspiring object communicates subconsciously with a thought/emotion/desire inherent inside us, and the integration of the two sparks inspiration in our minds.
That is why my continuous search for inspiration is always an external and internal search simultaneously. It is

a journey with ups and downs. There is no way to anticipate when or what might light that match called creativity.

Anish Kapoor

Here is a small example of how inspiration can come from unexpected directions: last week I watched an interview with Moshik Roth, a successful Israeli chef whose Amsterdam restaurant has two Michelin stars. The interview moved me to tears, and inspired me into a burst of creativity in many ways: designing, cooking, and generally being motivated by a strong urge "to do" and to move forward. I was overwhelmed with admiration for this man whose art runs in his veins and comes to life through his cooking: taste, smell, texture, and presentation.

I did not know this man, and his work field is very different from mine. However many parts of his story related to me - I was overwhelmed with admiration to this man who art, clearly, runs in his veins and manages to bring it to life through his cooking: taste, smell, texture, and presentation.

The ability to express your own thoughts and feelings - by any language or method you may choose - is a tremendous gift. The feeling of having your creation move someone - either to tears or elation - is tremendously satisfying and assures you that you have done something right and made someone else happy at a given moment. For me, this is one of the sheer pleasures of being