*This game was invented by the Surrealists. If you’re wondering why it’s called Exquisite Corpse, Wikipedia will be happy to tell you!
This game is all about embracing the act of creating with others. Working this way can lead to wildly imaginative results and ideas you wouldn’t have ever come up with on your own. And, it’s fun! There’s something freeing in sharing the responsibility of creating something. It’s easier to enjoy the process and put yourself out there knowing that it’s not all up to you- that your contribution is essential, but also part of a greater whole.
However, successful collaboration doesn’t just happen, and one thing I like noting about this game is that it creates the perfect conditions for productive and positive collaboration. Everyone has a role and an equal opportunity to participate. There are clear constraints (draw a head, draw only in one panel, start your lines where the last person left off) that enable everyone to contribute in a way that fits in with the larger goal. No one has to worry about being judged during the process, and everyone feels a sense of ownership over the final product.
Art Challenge
Time At least 10 minutes
You Need
- Loose leaf sketch paper (1 sheet for each person playing)
- Drawing tools (1 for each person playing)
What to do
- Recruit at least 2 other people to play.
- If you’re like me and asking people to do this makes you nervous, rest assured that using the phrase, “It’s for an art project I’m doing…” will generally get people excited about participating.
- Fold paper into thirds (one sheet for everyone playing).
- In the top panel everyone draws a figure’s head without letting others see.
- Bring the lines of the neck just below the first crease so the next person will know where to start the body.
- Fold the top panel backwards and pass the paper to the right. Only the bottom of the neck lines should be showing.
- In the middle panel, starting from the neck lines, everyone draws a figure’s body.
- Bring the lines of the body just below the second crease so the next person will know where to start the bottom.
- Fold the middle panel backwards and pass the paper to the right.
- In the bottom panel, starting from the body lines, everyone draws the figure’s bottom.
- Unfold the sheets to reveal the final figures!
- Optional (and awesome): Take a photo of your sketch and post it on Instagram with #makeartlifeexquisite so we can enjoy it!
Life Challenge
- Find at least one other opportunity this week to co-create with others. Some ideas:
- Collaborate on dinner. Have different people in charge of different parts of the meal (potluck style) or test your Chopped skills and have people each contribute an ingredient to be combined in a final dish!
- Going on a trip? Give your kids, partner, or friends a role in planning part of it.
- Invite guest writers to help you create your next blog post.
- Set the stage for successful collaboration
- Make sure everyone you’re co-creating with has a role.
- Be clear about any constraints (can’t cost more than X, etc.) to make sure people know what kinds of ideas will work.
- Make sure no one is put down for sharing ideas!
- Try to incorporate at least part of everyone’s ideas in some way.
- Be willing to go with an idea you might not be sure about as long as it fits within the constraints!
- Enjoy the surprise and adventure of your collective creation!