Applied Imagination for Innovation
Research & Development | B2B Creativity
Access potentiality with the art of imagination
Who Is Not a Fool?"
[Qui non stultus?]
—Horace (65-8 B.C.), Satires, 2.3.158
The Fool demonstrates the vital role of unconventional questioning in service of growth and innovation.
Regarding fools and jesters, we do not refer to the steriotypical red nose, white face, big shoes and squirty flower. We refer to the kind of fool Blake described with, “The Fool who persists in his folly becomes wise". Failure is an art form and a Fool is one who is on the path to master it. Innovation is the fusion of disruptive imagination with real-world problems. Innovating requires us to question status-quo, challenge our pre-conceptions of reality and introduce new ideas.
In medieval courts of Europe the Court Jester sat beside the king. He was the disruptor and idea creator. This Fool and Clown was the only one in a court who could question the king without being beheaded. His role was to introduce new ideas and remind the court of their humanity. As a Buddhist master presents his student a zen koan - a clown presents his king with a jest.
Alchemists in the 1800's were fools & outcasts of their time. They used the term astral plane to describe a world in which knowledge could be downloaded and uploaded from the source. They wrote of a reality where individuals could connect collectively across distance. Bravatsky's Akashic Records crystalised this idea of "memory of nature".
It took centuries to incubate these far-out ideas into manifest reality. And now centuries later we see the fruits of these ideas in Web 3.0 technology. Just as those occultists drew criticism yet paved the way for contemporary tech, we too must be bold dreamers and compassionate philosophers. With courage and care, we will venture wisely into this emerging frontier.
Arcane Fools traces the Fool's legacy to continually re-examine assumptions to shape creative technology guided by human values. Just as the court jester introduced confounding ideas to provoke progress in the king’s court, we must playfully question conventions to push the boundaries of innovation.
Services & Solutions
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David is 'Fool in Residence' and affiliated researcher at the Center Leo Apostel, Vrije Universiteit Brussels. David applies the art of the Fool, clowning and play to further develop processes to catalyse the application of research at CLEA.
David collaborates across fields to develop the experiential application of theory with imagination. He uses artistic perspective to unravel new ways to visualise, experience, and understand scientific hypotheses, bringing fresh dynamism to the process of scientific discovery.
Workshop facilitation to enhance individual soft-skills and team collaboration. Tailored interactive workshops develop teams with fun challenges & experiential learning. Trust, Creativity, Collaboration, Persuasion, and Adaptability.
Our workshops are not presentations or lectures. Teams learn actionable insights on an individual and group level. We consensually engage our workshop attendees as audiences and participants. Events are adaptable for large groups and small teams of 20+.
Goal-oriented workshops honing in on specific needs or objectives depending on client. Practical ideation sessions directed towards creative problem-solving. Utilises inter-disciplinary approaches for customised exploration. Suitable for in-person and online.
Artistic Direction, Performance & Installations (inc. Fire, Audio-Visual & Immersive)
Available for booking for performance & audio-visual experiences at events. Performances can be flexible based on needs, and can be stripped or pimped out depending on budget. Immersive installations and audio-visual 3D performances require specialised equipment and production. All performances include a custom made sound track(s) and routine(s).
Soft-Skills Workshops
Audiovisual Experiences
Arcane
/ɑːˈkeɪn/ adjective
Understood by few; mysterious or secret.
Fool
/fuːl/ noun
1. A person who acts unwisely or imprudently; a silly person.
2. A jester or clown, especially one retained in a royal or noble household.
Arcane Fools:
Creative House
Founder & CEO
David Tann is a Fool, imaginator, and innovator, exploring the intersection of innovation and creativity. He is a trained clown, inter-disciplinary artist, writer and fire dancer. Alumnus of Ecolé Philippe Gaulier.
David founded Arcane Fools with a purpose of enabling access to potentiality with the art of imagination. With his company, David develops soft-skills and provides B2B creativity.
David is a producer, artistic director, writer, performer, facilitator and researcher. His trans-disciplinary practice harnesses clowning, improvisation, circus, music, shamanism, academia and teaching artistry. He designs immersive and audiovisual experiences. His research is interested in innovation and systems thinking, the Fool archetype, AI & Web 3, Esotericism, Cybernetics, Sacred Geometry and Bio-mimicry.
He works with grassroots self-organisation in decentralised communities to explore governance, tech and AI. He has produced workshop retreats for professionals from over 30+ countries. Previously an art-collective co-producer and artistic director of an international theatre company, David has performed over 5 continents at festivals, crisis zones and conferences.
David is 'Fool in Residence' and affiliated researcher at the Center Leo Apostel, Vrije Universiteit Brussels. He uses artistic perspective to unravel new ways to visualise, experience, and understand scientific hypotheses, bringing fresh dynamism to the process of scientific discovery. David applies the art of the Fool, clowning and play to further develop processes to catalyse the application of research at CLEA.
Network of Collaborators
Various Roles
We collaborate with partners to deliver projects and tailored solutions for clients. Arcane Fool's inter-disciplinary approach fosters collaborations across industries including research and grass-roots communities. From innovation, AI, Web 3 to Teaching Artistry and Creative industries. Arcane Fools works with world-class academic institutions, incubators, startups and established organisations in Web 3, AI & Technology. Collaborators include multi award-winning practitioners and organisations at the frontier of innovation.
To contact us, please fill in the form. Alternatively you can also reach out to david at arcane fools dot com.