Xi Chen MFA

"This paper explores the dynamic interaction between rationality and sensibility in the process of making art. As an artist, I often take for granted that creating art is central to my identity, yet I frequently ask myself: why am I making art, and how do ideas emerge during the creative process? While art is often described as a form of self-expression, the precise mechanisms behind the flow of ideas remain elusive. Sometimes, creation seems guided by careful planning, structural thinking, and deliberate decision-making; at other times, it unfolds spontaneously, as if the artwork emerges through the artist rather than from the artist.

This study examines moments in which artists enter a “flow” state, where rational control, calculation, and conscious intention are suspended. In this state, intuition, emotion, and bodily engagement with materials take over, producing outcomes that may appear instinctive or even accidental. Such experiences resemble Jung’s concept of “active imagination,” in which imagination and intuition are allowed to guide the creative process, making the artist a medium rather than a full controller.

The paper also considers how these interactions affect interpretation and explanation. If creation is partially intuitive, can the resulting artwork still carry meaning? How should artists communicate the significance of their work without reducing it to purely rational explanation? Drawing on philosophical perspectives, including Hans-Georg Gadamer’s ideas on art and understanding, this paper argues that rationality and sensibility are both essential, yet neither is sufficient on its own.

Ultimately, artistic creation is a continuous negotiation between reason and emotion, logic and intuition, deliberation and spontaneity. By reflecting on this interplay, the paper seeks to illuminate the complexity of the creative process, the role of the artist as both thinker and medium, and the ways in which audiences can engage with and appreciate works that arise from this delicate balance."

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