Written By: Mehdi Rezai

The International Art Association (IAA) has designated April 15th as “World Art Day” in honor of Leonardo da Vinci’s birthday, aiming to “promote awareness of creative activities worldwide.”

Creative activities often do not pursue a specific goal and are entirely for pleasure and entertainment. However, if a person pursues a particular creative activity for an extended period, they outline clear goals for their artistic endeavors, which, while purposeful, become an endless source of enjoyment in their lives.

Psychologists and researchers who have observed the impact of art on life say that having an enjoyable life is best achieved by engaging with art and being involved in creative artistic activities, which pave the way for “self-satisfaction” and cultivate a sense of aesthetic appreciation in individuals.

But what is creative activity, and what are its coordinates?

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a Hungarian-American psychologist renowned for his work in positive psychology and the formulation of the “flow experience” theory, has outlined coordinates for creative artistic activities in his book titled “Creativity: The Psychology of Discovery and Invention.”

This psychologist has proposed a theory called the “flow experience,” which shows that there are moments of pure creativity in professional, scientific, artistic, and sports activities. “Flow” in this theory refers to a stage of artistic activity where the individual becomes “so absorbed in the work that nothing else matters, and the experience is so enjoyable that it is done solely for its own sake.”

Activities of this kind that facilitate “immersion” or “unity” and ultimately lead to “innovation” are called creative activities, and Csikszentmihalyi outlines 9 coordinates for it in his book, including “freedom from fear of failure,” “focus on the present moment,” and “integration of awareness and action.”

“Clear goals with stages,” “encounter of challenges and skills,” “pure concentration/detachment from self and surroundings,” “timelessness,” and “integration of work goals into the enjoyment of work” are among the other coordinates of creative activities.