January 18, Lahore
For the kind of work that I do, setting limitations is an extremely important part. Not only does it set a robust and safe frame for the imaginal chaos that leads to fulfilling creativity, it also serves as a challenge—how can I cut this paper without scissors? Time is obviously one of the most common limitations I face. The class period is 90 minutes and thats when the art-making must stop.
Two kids seem done—one is making another drawing, the second is looking around. The rest are focused and engaged in their process. In the session today, the teachers literally dragged the 5 year olds out of class because the period was over. I didn’t object of course, and yet it was painful to experience. I hate it when I have to disrupt someones creative process. I hate class periods—period.
The uber-dramatised version of the same event:
One of the little people made a drawing for me. He made it quickly in 3 minutes as the class was being lead out of the room.
He waves it at me as teacher shoos him off to wash his hands—time for a snack. It's a house with a blue sky, three people, a car and a motorbike. On the other side of the house is a car in the sky. At the bottom he has scribbled his name and some strange language only he can decipher. “Its my address if you want to visit”, he says. I melt.