Do technology and the arts share any common ground? Can they live in a happy balance? San Francisco based photographer, paper artist and technologist, Insiya Dhatt, believes that the “experiential” nature of the arts, long prevalent in creative disciplines such as advertising, has finally crossed over to applications developed by technology and business. Read the interview here.
Michael Phillips Moskowitz, the founder of the wellness app, Moodrise, is on a mission to make the world a happier, focused, more energising, loving, and calmer place with curated “treatments” of photos, videos, sounds, music, graphics and art that help alleviate different forms of mood disorders. He speaks to Ayesha Kohli, Editor, Creative Sparq, about the using the notion of “content training” to increase digital nutrition for audiences, so that they begin to see, sense and recognise the real chemical differences in the content they consume”. Read the interview here.
“...and it is also possible, that Saadat Hasan dies, but Manto remains alive”, said celebrated Urdu author and unapologetic iconoclast, Saadat Hasan Manto; and who better to keep the flame of Manto alive than Nandita Das, acclaimed actor, director, activist and the unflinching voice of uncomfortable truths. Nandita Das talks to Nandini Sen Mehra, Contributing Editor, Creative Sparq on the film, her creative journey and why hope is still that thing with feathers, that never stops in its quest to inspire. Read the interview here.
”I just want to make people happy and do things they might send to a friend if they know they’re having a bad day”, says artist and animator C L Terry. She speaks to Simone Bhagat, Contributing Editor, Creative Sparq about her creative influences, the role of technology in her work and what inspires her. Read the interview here.
Founder and President of Entertainment for Change (EFC), 23-year old artist, Jade Zaroff is on a mission to empower other young artists to use their talents for positive change in the world. She talks to Simone Bhagat, Contributing Editor, Creative Sparq, about her journey leading up to EFC and the formative life lessons she’s picked up along the way from influencers and the hustle of the artistic world. With her zest for life and ardent belief in the power of theatre, Jade discusses the presence of creativity all around us and the beautiful ways it can inspire other young artists to create change and make a difference. Read the interview here.
Award winning author of bestselling books and columnist for major publications, Manu Joseph talks to Nandini Sen Mehra, Contributing Editor, Creative Sparq, about the interplay of instinct and craft, equanimity in the face of both rejection and success, his creative method and the need to stay true to oneself. Read the interview here.
Professor of Physics and Head of Studies for Physical Science at Yale-NUS College, Singapore, Shaffique Adam talks to Ayesha Kohli, Editor, Creative Sparq about the "messy, nonlinear nature of science". Read the interview here.
Award winning illustrator, cartoonist, artist, animator and increasingly influential social and political columnist, Mumbai-based, Gautam Benegal presents an unvarnished look at the life and times we live in. He talks to Nandini Sen Mehra, Contributing Editor, Creative Sparq about his approach to art, the importance of satire in today's world and his biggest creative influences. Read the interview here.
As a passionate creative thinker, Radhika Mayani, had always wanted to launch a business that was meaningful. Combining her education in visual arts and her professional experience from the worlds of advertising and hospitality design, she launched left-handesign, a stationery and lifestyle brand. She speaks to Ayesha Kohli of Creative Sparq about her mission of getting “nature back into people’s lives” through the art of gifting. Read the interview here.
Creative Director of design agency, Wakimukūdō, Hermione Skye is inspired by "old age, decay and the wisdom of time". She talks about her creative philosophy "Wakimukudō" or the "Finnish Way of the Heart, the need for silence at the start of her creative process and her belief that instead of fighting over military, scientific and technological advancement, nations should be competing with their inherent "creative and cultural richness". Read the interview here.
From spatial to experiential specialisations, Ted Kilian's journey traverses a landscape of multiple influences. He speaks to Creative Sparq about his research in cyberspace, his role in helping companies innovate and what young students in university should be doing with their time. Read the interview here.
Periods of change, whether in a personal or organisational context, are opportunities for creating new solutions, new realities. Adele Lim, Author and Founder and Lead Catalyst at Whole Capacity, speaks to Creative Sparq about the process of change, her role as a change catalyst and her take on creativity as being "the process of creating spaces that inspire innovation, joyful growth and freedom." Read the interview here.
“Creativity is based on our ability to first recognize how we are always viewing people and events through our preconceptions. Creative thinking involves getting away from any judgements”. Singapore-based, homoeopath, I-Ching interpreter and life guide, Charu Ramesh speaks to Creative Sparq about how her work helps her grow as a person, what creativity means to her and how she helps her clients through health and wellness issues. Read more here.
Singapore-based, banker-turned-educator, Amita Menon, is on a mission to make learning fun and creative for children. After spending sixteen years in the world of banking, her love for teaching eventually led her to set up a learning centre in Singapore. She speaks to Creative Sparq about her intent to get “children to love education and get them to think differently, creatively and learn to apply their knowledge in real life.” Read the interview here.
Korean-born, Seattle and New York-based designer, Suk Chai's love for fashion began as a child. She speaks to Creative Sparq about her design process, the cultural influences that shape her work and creative aesthetic and the "need to demand more paths and education for creativity and appreciation of art and design." Read the interview here.
A geek, a history buff, a technologist and an entrepreneur, Siddharth Jain, is on a mission to bring wholesome family fun back to the table. He talks to Creative Sparq about his journey as a gamer, the benefits of playing games as an enabler for learning and the buzz around his latest creation – Avertigos South China Sky. Read the interview here.
Management consultant turned health and executive coach, Swee Lin Lim is on a mission to bring health and happiness into the workplace. She speaks to Ayesha Kohli, Founding Editor of Creative Sparq about her program "Everyday Peak Performance" that focuses on five key elements essential for living a creative life. Read the interview here.
Northumbrian seascape painter, Mick Oxley talks to Ayesha Kohli, Founding Editor of Creative Sparq, about his transition from being a PE teacher to an artist, following the diagnosis of a debilitating illness, the challenges he faced, his creative process and the healing power of art. Read the interview here.
An expert in career transitions, unconscious bias and cross-cultural leadership, Jane Horan, the Founder and CEO of The Horan Group, works with global organisations to build savvy, inclusive and engaged work environments with the sole intent of retaining talent. She speaks to Ayesha Kohli, Founding Editor of Creative Sparq about the importance of diversity within organisations for effective creative thinking and problem solving. Read the interview here.
Danish born, fine art photographer, and installation artist, Mamakan, is on a quest to reconnect with nature. She talks to Creative Sparq about how her need to forge a deeper relationship with nature guides her artistic journey, the essential roles of freedom and constraints within the creative process and the importance of boredom in finding one’s creative core. Read more here.
“Intelligence innovator, internet researcher and adtech whistleblower”, Mikko Kotila shares his perspective on human and artificial intelligence, morality, philosophy and the boundless opportunity for creativity that presents itself when one works on solutions that improve the well-being of others. In his words, “Love is the killer app”. Read more here.
Shefali Manilal operates at the intersection of psychology, education and multicultural management. She speaks to Creative Sparq about the plasticity of the brain, the ability of students to develop smartness through hard work and challenge, the trend towards differentiated instruction in schools and the books that all parents should read to help foster a creative mindset in their children. Read more here.
A psychologist, leadership coach, facilitator and consultant, Agata Mathiasen, believes that creativity begins with a foundation of knowledge; learning a discipline and mastering a way of thinking – specifically, design thinking. Read more here.
From the world of brand campaigns to the richly detailed panorama of historical crime novels, Martin Lee talks to Ayesha Kohli of Creative Sparq about his journey from creative director to author, his passion for history and crime, and the changing nature of publishing today. Read more here.
Based in Singapore, German-born, Sandra Macheroux is a street and cityscape photographer, whose works on canvas, photographic paper and metal, featuring iconic and lesser-known landmarks of Singapore, have garnered many fans. She had actually dreamt of being an animal photographer, having been a vet for twenty years, but as she says, "my new career had a mind of it's own where logic didn't seem to apply". Ayesha Kohli of Creative Sparq spoke to Sandra about how she learnt to let creativity to take charge. Read more here.
Kavita started her creative journey in 1996 after completing a degree in Architecture. After training and working for over a decade, her passion for design started gravitating towards other related fields. In 2013 she took a photography course in Singapore and it sparked a series of creative explorations in terms of branding and visual content projects. Ayesha Kohli of Creative Sparq spoke to her about her creative interests and on taking new directions along the creative path. Read more here.
Born in Dubai to Palestinian parents, Rasha Eleyan is a painter, illustrator, animator and teacher. She talks to me about her childhood passion for art, her influences on her craft and her belief that Creativity is all about Doing. Read more here.
Anuj Jain is the Co-Founder & CEO of a Singapore-based online platform called Startup-O (www.startup-o.com) that curates promising tech startups across Asia. Anuj is on a mission to solve pain-points for both start-ups and investors with a fast, transparent and inclusive process focussed on enabling success. I spoke to him about creative leadership, traits of a creative team and the top trends that will most likely shape life in the future. Read the full interview here.
Rishad Patel runs T.Rex Design, a design consultancy in Singapore. Working across multiple media, cultures, markets and stakeholders, Rishad believes good design and good business strategies come from creating great content and experiences for one's customers. Read more here.
Having grown up in the desert, (Alice Springs, Central Australia), Simon Mariner could have fun with just a stick and some mud and would wonder why kids from the city would get bored so easily. His love for nature, exploration and the endless learning curve of photography and photo-editing, gives him the breather he needs from the "speeding train wreck we call life". He speaks to me about his love for creative learning and Mother Nature. Read more here.
Amreen Rahman wants to feed your wanderlust with colours, patterns and prints. A graphic designer, an explorer, a champion for traditional crafts, she shares her love for culture, design and creating something from scratch. Read more here.
An expert on branding and the award-winning author of "The New Emerging Market Multinationals: Four Strategies for Disrupting Markets and Building Brands," Professor Amitava Chattopadhyay of INSEAD distills the essence of creativity. Read more here.
