大象传媒

聽From comedian & writer Paul Kerensa:

With so many pie-based guests, let me describe where I keep mine: my fridge, a.k.a. the 鈥榞allery鈥欌�� Covered in infant masterpieces, because yes, my four-year-old has discovered art. I would say they鈥檙e masterpieces 鈥� I made her, she made them, so the artworks are basically my grandchildren. So wide-ranging and prolific is her oeuvre, we can barely see the door handle.

Recently, like a breakfasting critic, I was chewing over my daughter鈥檚 paintings, and some cereal. I commented on her eclectic drawing styles: oval heads, square heads, wild hair, no hair, houses, rainbows, dogs, oceans鈥� 鈥淥h no,鈥� she said, 鈥淭hey鈥檙e not mine. My friend Ellie drew that one, Lydia the house, Stanley that family鈥︹��

It turns out, her and her pals in Tadpole Class, unbeknownst to anyone, shared out their artwork 鈥� a memento of each schoolchum. 鈥淲e wanted to see them connect,鈥� she said. How marvellous, yet confusing for parents gawping at fridges, submitting entries to the Royal College of Art kindergarten.When I thought they were all hers, they were masterpieces. Even knowing the truth, that wide view of class doodlings was quite a sight.

Up close in our lives, we notice imperfections: where we鈥檝e gone over the lines, where our heads are too big, our sun鈥檚 painted blue, or grey. But stand back, spot the connections鈥� maybe our mini-creations are better appreciated part of a bigger canvas. Personally I do have faith in God above (it鈥檚 weird saying that with Don McLean right here). If God鈥檚 behind creativity, His full view of human endeavour must be quite something. There鈥檚 bleakness, but I鈥檓 a comedy writer, a 鈥渏ester on the sidelines鈥� (to quote some musical legend, three feet away)鈥� I dwell on life鈥檚 upbeat, happy endings.

The fact that this week, Millicent Fawcett鈥檚 statue became the first woman immortalised in Parliament Square. That Britain had three coal-free days. That North and South are talking again. That Tadpole Class like sharing. That 鈥榓 little princess鈥� Charlotte made history: the first to hold her place in line to the throne, despite a younger brother. She just carried on at pre-school, creating more artwork for her parents鈥� presumably big fridge.

The universe鈥檚 even bigger fridge surely has a place for our creative achievements, whether by us, or some mystery Tadpole. Our talent may be less 鈥榁incent鈥�, more four-year-old with crayon, but stand back, see it connect, appreciate the world鈥檚 good stuff 鈥� perhaps it was meant for one as beautiful as you.