The exquisite corpse game is an excellent icebreaker and discussion prompt for unpacking what creativity means in art class.

At the beginning of the semester, when grades 6, 7 and 8 switch to a new art subject, we start with a project exploring the ATL (approaches to learning) of Creative Thinking.

During this project, we have class discussion and go through practical exercises which results in a final small artwork.

Questions

• What does creativity mean?
• How does creative thinking help us solve problems? 
• In which other subjects do you need creative thinking skills?
• How can you make your (creative) thinking visible?
• How do we give meaningful feedback on each other’s creative work?
• How does working together foster creativity?

A brief history

The exquisite corpse game, also known as “Cadavre Exquis” in French, originated in the 1920s as a collaborative artistic and literary experiment among Surrealist artists and writers. The game was born out of a desire to explore the subconscious mind and encourage creative spontaneity. The name “Exquisite Corpse” comes from the phrase that resulted from the first game played, where the phrase “Le cadavre exquis boira le vin nouveau” (The exquisite corpse will drink the new wine) was written. In the game, participants take turns contributing to a collective artwork or piece of writing, with each person only seeing a small portion of what was previously created. This resulted in surprising and often surreal combinations, showcasing the power of collaboration and the unexpected connections that can emerge from the imagination. Over time, the exquisite corpse game has spread beyond the Surrealist movement and continues to be played by artists, writers, and creative thinkers around the world as a way to unlock creativity and foster collaborative expression.

How to create an Exquisite Corpse

1. Sit in a group of three or more people.
2. Get some paper and writing/drawing utensils. Each player will need a sheet of paper and a pen or pencil.
3. Fold the sheets of paper into three equal sections, so that each section is hidden from the others. This will create separate areas for the head, body, and legs of your “corpse.”
4. Each player starts by drawing the head of the creature or object on the top section of their paper. Be as creative as possible!
5. Once everyone has finished drawing their head, fold the paper so that only a small part of the neck is visible, then pass the paper to the next player.
6. The next player will now draw the body of the creature or object, connecting it to the visible part of the neck. Remember, they can only see the tiny bit of the neck from the previous drawing.
7. After everyone completes their body drawing, fold the paper again, hiding the body and leaving only a small part of the waist or hips visible. Pass the paper to the next player.
8. The final player will draw the legs of the creature or object, connecting them to the visible part of the waist or hips.
9. Once all the drawings are complete, unfold the papers and reveal the “exquisite corpses” that you’ve created together. You’ll see how each player contributed a different part to the final creation!
10. Take turns sharing and discussing the different combinations, and celebrate the creativity and surprises that emerged from the game.

Optional: Decide on a theme or category for your game. It could be anything you want, like animals, superheroes, or funny combinations of different things.

Resources

MoMA, Create Your Own Exquisite Corpse: https://www.moma.org/magazine/articles/457

MoMA, Unreal, Mysterious, Strange: https://www.moma.org/magazine/articles/456