My lovely sister gave me this book and I really like this section on the value of impermanence. It is a good reminder and can help all of us release any stress and anxiety we have over our work being perfect.
I struggle frequently with perfectionism, but since I began working at the children's museum, this feeling of anxiety has decreased. I attribute part of this improvement to the fact that any art I make there is almost instantly destroyed. Drawings on the drawing horses are ripped down by two year old's, chalk art is erased or tagged by children, block buildings are pushed over, etc.
Knowing that your art will be destroyed relieves the pressure that it "should" be incredible (or perfect). This book encourages people to learn to focus on and enjoy the process rather than the result. It is a great experiment to try and a fun book of ideas!
A Word on the Value of Impermanence
"What is the point of a piece that is meant to be temporary? All of the exercises in this book are meant to be done as temporary installations. Work that is impermanent reminds us that nothing in life is permanent, that every state is temporary and transitory. Contemplating this concept teaches us to embrace change in our life, instead of working against it. When others notice a piece that is there one day and gone the next it creates a certain kind of energy/excitement within the community. It allows viewers to partake in the experience as a kind of detective, wanting to uncover the mystery.
Creating work that is impermanent helps us release our own attachment to the final product and lets us focus more on the process. I challenge you to make pieces with the idea of impermanence in mind (for example, creating a piece that changes in an interesting way when dampened by rain)."
-The Guerilla Art Kit by Keri Smith (page 17)
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