Meaning of Creativity

'Creativity' is a term used quite frequently in various fields of human activity. Rabindranath Tagore in his book entitled Meaning of Art (Pub: Oxford University Press, 1926; Digitized Aug 2010), quotes from the Atharva-Veda, "The meaning of it (creativity) is that, man expresses himself through his super-abundance (surplus of mind) which largely overlaps his absolute need." He adds further, "Brahma is boundless in his superfluity, which inevitably finds its expression in the eternal world process. Of all living creatures in the world, man has his vital and mental energies vastly in excess of his need, which urges him to work in various lines of creation for its own sake.... Art reveals man's wealth of life, which seeks its freedom in forms of perfection, which are an end in themselves."

Two basic questions that need to be addressed in this context are: (a) how does one identify a creative action and (b) how can one assess if the action fulfills its purpose?

Plate 2A Paper Art	2B Origami	2C Paper Umbrella	2D Straw Hat
(Japan)	(Japan)	(Thailand)	(Viet Nam)

Creativity stems from both personal and social drives. The process of design involves interplay of our deeper inner-self with the more tangible design material, with the environment as a catalyst. The inner self tends to emphasise the beautiful or the aesthetically pleasing (plate 2A & 2B), while the physical aspect of the design process tends to address the functional aspect of the creation. The ‘Thai Paper-umbrella’ (plate 2C) and ‘Vietnamese Straw Hat’ (plate 2D) are excellent examples illustrating the synthesis of creativity and functionality.