At the Freedom in Community think tank, the journey is the destination.

Background information

Lose time and gain in the process

30.1.2020

Translation: machine translated

A think tank on the topic of "Freedom in Community" is supposed to lure me out of my comfort zone. Sounds suspiciously spiritual and is therefore just the right thing for my project.

In 2020, I want to broaden my horizons by consciously venturing into unfamiliar territory. Whether privately or professionally - the main thing is that it's new and uncomfortable at first. My participation in the "Freedom in Community" think tank is the first step.

Function follows form

The Think Tank is organised by artist Marisa Burn and photographer Raphaela Pichler. They are not only the hosts, but also part of the group. The workshop is part of the creative festival "Room of Change 2020". It is being held to mark the launch of their company and their podcast "Living in Change", which the two sisters created as a collective - Burn Pichler. In future, Burn Pichler will offer projects and services such as think tanks. These are not intended to advocate political lines or pursue a specific outcome. Rather, participants should be able to engage in the experiment without rules: "Commitment without binding" is what Marisa calls it.

The room in which it takes place is a mixture of studio and living room: lit candles, a workbench, pictures on the walls, a small indoor garden by the window and the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg in the air. "You can freely choose your medium for creating and move freely around the room," explains Raphaela. We then let our minds wander for two hours and experiment with prototyping, drawing and modelling.

The motto of the workshop black on white.

From clay to cardboard and wire, various materials are on display. — The motto of the workshop black on white.

Just have a go

The informal nature of the think tank gives me the freedom to try things out. I dare to try out materials such as clay and dough, which I usually avoid. Since studying at the Zurich University of the Arts, I've spent a lot of my creative time on my laptop and in the digital world. When I do work in analogue, I prefer to use my sketchbook. Two-dimensional design is more my thing than modelling or knitting. If a product had to be created at the end of the workshop, my medium of choice would certainly have been drawing. However, as I have enjoyed sketching from an early age, this would have been nothing new. Surprisingly, challenging myself for a change and modelling is good for me. I just enjoy seeing how the different colours come together, how structures emerge and how the material surfaces feel in the process.

Everything is allowed: kneading, painting or folding.

Afterwards, we talk about what we have explored and how we came up with ideas through form. The safe atmosphere created by the openness of everyone involved is what makes the experience so special for me. It's not about evaluating results, but about sharing ideas. I learn a lot from the creative minds - including authors and mediators. Everyone reflects and reports precisely on their work. We explore what we have created, how we got there and also what occupies us outside of this space in our private and professional lives. How we approach tasks, experience a community or define freedom. Also about how it feels to "simply" be able to create something in a performance-orientated society without being judged.

Photographer Raphaela Pichler chooses a three-dimensional material for this experiment and creates wire objects.

Artist Marisa Burn tries out a material that she doesn't actually like in order to give form to her thoughts. — Photographer Raphaela Pichler chooses a three-dimensional material for this experiment and creates wire objects.

Having no goal is inspiring

Unbeknownst to me, the think tank was exactly what I needed that day. In the days before, I had found it difficult to focus on one thing. I had too many different ideas in my head: tasks to do or events to attend. Normally, I don't take time out for anything that isn't on my to-do list at times like this. Let alone for workshops with strangers. But it was good for me to put aside my focus on performance for a moment. Because losing time for "other things" was actually a gain. After the workshop, I was able to think clearly again. Marisa Pichler has a similar experience and describes it aptly: "It's as if Community in Freedom is winter, where you can just be and take in impressions. You only see the buds popping up everywhere in spring."

Header image: At the Freedom in Community think tank, the journey is the destination.

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Pia Seidel

Senior Editor

Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.ch

Like a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.

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