A Decorator Crab’s View on Creativity

Thanks for having me here.

Decorator crabs are known for taking elements from our environment and sticking them to our velcro-like exoskeleton in order to camouflage ourselves. As I breach through seaweeds, I might pluck a few and paste them over myself and as I crawl over a coral, I might exchange the seaweeds for corals or shells. If I fancy another crab’s choice of camouflage, I might take it for myself. I might even adopt a stinging sea anemone as a form of deterrent defence. Unlike specific octopuses or cuttlefish, arguably the masters in the art of camouflage, decorator crabs do not have the natural ability to effortlessly replicate the colours and/ or textures of our environment. Instead, I must invest in my environment in order to pass off as nearly as masterful in this artform.

My motives for survival are clearly different from yours as students of creativity. But I believe we share common ground in the pursuit of our respective artforms.

Manage your environment

Creativity is not so much taught as it is learnt. This is why your environment matters: it will tend to be the sum of what you mimic. This might be certain drawings or paintings or certain looks or aesthetics by certain artists or designers. My environment is natural; I don’t decide what surrounds me or what I must work with. Still, I find a way: Mind over material. However, your natural environment is not limited to your immediate vicinity: The world of creations/ creatives is openly available in your museums, galleries, exhibitions, libraries as well as on your internet and social media.

Photo from Nature Rules

‘Choice’ is a luxury and a challenge for us: Given everything that’s available, what or whom will we choose to surround ourselves with, to incorporate in our artforms?

Despite our differences, we can both say that the more material we are exposed to, the more we can incorporate into our being.

Pay attention to detail

Observe your environment carefully. I can only become one with my environment if I understand its detail. For example, I determine which seaweed is most appropriate, I trim it to an acceptable length and fray it a little so it sticks better to where I decide it should be placed. Over time, I will need to change this seaweed as I move across different terrain. My environment changes as fast as yours, and we can only notice these changes if we are familiar with its subtleties.

Photo from Save Our Seas

Moreover, what inspires you becomes more precise as you become more accustomed to what inspires you.

As I grow, I moult. But I might not transfer everything from my old shell to my new one. Similarly, you might naturally outgrow your earlier creative preferences in exchange for exciting new ones. Maturity in exploration and practice comes with a greater appreciation for the ‘why’ something exists or is performed a certain way, and translates to the meaning you derive in imitating and intimating these details.

Make it your own

Alas, I am not a seaweed, coral or shell. Nor am I an octopus or cuttlefish. This has not stopped me from purposefully extracting the best I see from my environment and aspiring to be as good as the masters. They say imitation is the best form of flattery. Though, I doubt that’s our only intent. Instead, I have my own form of art, earning me my namesake. Imitating what inspires you is a great way to begin creating, fishing, hunting or farming ideas and exploring your creative abilities. This is not to be mistaken for copying or duplicating, which has its own advantages in terms of practising/ appreciating technique.

Photo from SEA Aquarium

However, the distinct satisfaction in imitation is realising your unique interpretation of an idea that you enjoy.

No matter how simple, you are personally and ultimately responsible for this creation and its evolution.

Thank you for listening.