Do you have rituals in your area or city that you love to do on certain days to boost your creativity?

The creative vibe of East London’s streets and markets is in my eyes one of the best this city offers. When I’m not in the mood to visit a gallery, an art dinner in Soho or preview show, then East London has all the inspirational input I need.

Combining a nice coffee with flowers, herbs and music, I would start with visiting the Columbia Road Flower Market. The market is very popular with locals and tourists and can be super crowded at times. But if you’re an early bird go there as early as possible because it’s already open from 8 am on. I love to sit down on the pavement in one of the cute side streets and take in the atmosphere, enjoying my coffee and listening to the chats around me, unless I’m with a friend. Last time, I enjoyed a drink with my friend Maxi from school during the first very warm and very sunny spring days. We met Diego , a great dane dog who was the attraction of the pub at the corner! It’s a lovely place to sit down and connect with the locals.

After the market, I love to walk, or better said stroll slowly, over to the Shoreditch area. I take my time to watch not only the people in the shops and on the street but to also pay attention to all these art pieces on walls and shop windows. There are graffitis and posters, messages everywhere. There is a lot to discover. And the way it stimulates my own ideas is amazing and fascinating to observe. That’s why I keep coming back there. I feel very home and could sit down right after such a day and start bringing my own creative ideas to paper.

London is the first city, and especially East London, that made me realise what important place creativity actually has in our lives. I grew up where being creative and arty was supported but where it was was also only left to rather practising it then putting it into different perspectives and share it with a community.

When you visit East London you will explore the immense variety of how creativity interacts with us on a daily basis. For someone like me, that’s paradise!

One story you need to read: this book about a homeless with a dog from East London who became a known artist. Absolutely a must read before you explore the streets of East London!

So, what’s your creative place to go to?