July 12, 2011
The Art and Mind Symposia
GV Art gallery
49 Chiltern Street
London W1U 6LY
www.gvart.co.uk
www.artandmind.org
I am addressing a distinguished group of diners at one of a series of private dinners (The Art and Mind Symposia) hosted by Art and Mind and GV Art gallery in London.
Abstract:
Creativity: What is it? How does it happen? How does the mind transform incoming sensations into knowledge? This is the key problem faced by cognitive science.
The kind of knowledge I will discuss is insights in art and science that have led to dramatic breakthroughs such as Einstein’s theory of relativity and Picasso’s development of Cubism. To explore this I use correspondence, manuscripts, drafts and whatever else is available from artists and scientists as data for cognitive scientific theories such as Jean Piaget’s genetic epistemology, gestalt psychology, concepts from cognitive science which include long term and short term memory, metaphors and visual imagery, and the concepts of ‘beauty’ and ‘aesthetics’. I have combined elements of these theories into what I call the ‘Network Model of Thinking’. I will also venture into Carl Jung’s analysis of dreams.
I teach science to 8th grade students. I have found that the more they engage their creative side while learning, the more they remember, and the more they enjoy the experience. Creativity is a great catalyst.