Failed It
8 photos of failure that prove mistakes can lead to creative genius
By Melia Robinson, Tech Insider From Business Insider
Amid a sea of messages that tell us to shoot for perfection, one book says to embrace mistakes instead. And it is liberating.
“Failed It!” by Dutch artist, designer, and curator Erik Kessels, is an inspiration guide for young creatives and professionals who aim to take the fear out of failure. The part-photo, part-self-help book draws from over 150 visual examples of epic mistakes from Kessels’ personal collection of art and found photographs.
Kessels shared some of his favorite images with Tech Insider:
IMAGES:
“Failed It!” by Erik Kessels / Phaidon
Look at this perfectly good photo of the pyramids, almost ruined by a cockroach that crawled onto the lens. It’s weirdly beautiful, right?
“Failed It!” by Erik Kessels / Phaidon
Kessels encourages artists, architects, and closeted creative-types to abandon their pursuit of perfection.
“Failed It!” by Erik Kessels / Phaidon
“Perfection is not really a good starting point for creatives,” he says. “Mistakes bring you to another perspective and maybe bring you to your next idea.”
“Failed It!” by Erik Kessels / Phaidon
Kessels gathered images for the book from flea markets, artist friends, and amateur photographers. Many are considered outtakes.
“Failed It!” by Erik Kessels / Phaidon.
“I think the previous owners of these photos were pretty embarrassed,” Kessels says of one series he stumbled upon while thrifting.
“Failed It!” by Erik Kessels / Phaidon
This unnecessary balcony is what Kessels would describe as a “classic f— up.”
“Failed It!” by Erik Kessels / Phaidon
“You have to dare to trust yourself,” Kessels says. That’s how art comes to be.
“Failed It!” by Erik Kessels / Phaidon
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