Dare to choose your own problems - Kyle Wilkinson

Kyle Wilkinson shares the extraordinary story of creating Haus of Thrills' first major popup exhibition, The Clinic, in just 90 days, building his own creative universe under extreme time and financial pressure with no client brief and no guaranteed outcome.

He reveals the reality of watching his budget double, choosing 24-carat gold over fake materials, and creating an alternative to traditional gallery spaces where dopamine-fueled social commentary meets immersive experience. 

Kyle's insights on the beauty of naivety, the privilege of pressure, and why knowing too much can be creativity's greatest enemy offer a masterclass in building momentum through action rather than perfection.

Key Takeaways

• Create urgency for yourself — The industry is full of ideas that never happen because there's no deadline. Setting constraints forces execution and prevents endless postponement.
• Sit in the unknown to grow — Like a plant in a crowded rainforest, you must be willing to exist in dark, uncomfortable spaces before breaking through to the light above.
• Choose your own problems — When you select your own constraints and challenges, you halve the stress because you're dealing with problems you've chosen rather than ones imposed on you.
• The beauty of naivety protects creation — Like Noel Gallagher writing "Don't Look Back in Anger," not knowing the enormity of what you're creating allows you to just do it without crushing pressure.
• Budget realism hits differently with your own money — Understanding what it's like when clients spend their money creates empathy, especially when materials like 24-carat gold cost significantly more than anticipated.
• Do it right or don't do it at all — The world doesn't need more mediocre work. If you're going to create something, commit to making it the best it can possibly be.
• Play at the level you want to reach — Using framers who work with Julian Opie and Bella Freud from day one means you're already operating at the standard you aspire to achieve.
• Pressure is a privilege — Being in a position where you can create a show in London under your own steam, doing exactly what you want, is an incredible situation despite the stress.
• If you know the answer at the start, you're doing it wrong — True creativity means not knowing the outcome. If you do, you're just replicating rather than creating something new.
• Create for yourself first, then apply strategy — You've got to want to pick up the guitar for yourself and sing the song before thinking about the broader audience or business implications.
• Build emotional resilience through pressure — The growth that comes from surviving extreme creative challenges prepares you for future projects with greater confidence and capability.

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