Creativity and Sustainability, are they linked?

In the last few weeks through my research on the creative economy, in Shanghai, I have been questioning the origin of two very important terms, creativity and sustainability. You see them everywhere lately, in the press, reports, and international conferences. But are they usually associated? What is in common between them? I think it is respect. Respect of our deep nature. The nature inside of us, and the nature surrounding us. Our inner human nature is creative, and our natural environment as well. But you may agree that both have been harmed, if not destroyed, in the last decades by an increasing control from society over people and natural resources. Creativity is our natural state, we are all born creative, and nature’s creativity is our model. No need to go to school to learn how to become creative. How about sustainability? Nature is sustainable per se and has thrived for millions of years without the help of humans. What happens when both forces join? It may re-empower the real nature that flows in us and in nature, a deep force called QI in China, or KI in Japan. Why does that matter?

The global and growing movement towards a sustainable future, embraced by millions, and the laws followed by most governments, are still seen as a constraint for many companies and shareholders. And artists and creative people are often seen as disturbing, unless they embrace an economic mindset and become designers helping companies’ increase their market share. However, if our creativity serves a broader purpose, and is geared towards finding solutions to sustainable issues, we may actually reverse the current degradation of the planet. In other words, by searching inside of us, and unleashing our ideas and energy, we may find solutions for what is surrounding us, because they are linked. Do you mean that knowing our true nature can resolve environmental problems? Yes, I think so. The more connected we are to our true nature, the more we are connected to people and to the planet. Education that prevents creativity, and an economic system that sees natural resources as infinite are reaching a dead end. People are not a resource to be used by companies, like oil and coal. They are a living force whose creativity can be ignited to make a better future together. Resources are finite. Our creativity is infinite and sustainable, as is the planet’s. Let us respect them.