You Have Everything You Need

This piece addresses the ability to assign ourselves the label of “creative”, fitting given its location in the creative and dynamic hub of South Brisbane. Nestled between Queensland Theatre Company, the Gallery of Modern Art, and Cork & Chroma, the piece ‘You Have Everything You Need’ contributes to a cultural conversation which wonders if some of us are more creative than others or if we are all capable of meaningful creative output. Our Energex box features imagery of hands positioned in cues on how to make shadow puppets. The nostalgic, childlike impulse of making creatures out of a shadow is a reminder that creativity is accessible and doesn’t require much beyond what we already possess. The temporary nature of a shadow puppet is that it disappears as immediately as it begins. This impermanence reminds us that art is worth expressing, simply for the enjoyment of experience, and forsaking a tangible, finished result. Self expression can lead to a deeper understanding of each other. So the journey of individual expression is what, in fact, can unite us all. The simple words written on the wall of the box facing the traffic poses the statement, “You have everything you need,” for drivers to meditate upon as they carry on their journey down Merivale Street.