The artist Augustus John once hit his head on a rock whilst diving into the sea in 1897. The injury caused a noticeable change in his personality, leading John to later claim he had dived into the sea, hit his head, and emerged a genius.

Not every artist has as a dramatic and allegedly life-changing incident as Augustus John, but some do claim there is a “decisive moment” that changed their lives and inspired their work. In this short video from the Louisiana Channel six artists explain that “decisive moment” when everything changed for them.

For German artist Jonathan Meese, it was as simple as being bought paper and pencils on his twenty-second birthday. For Bill Viola it was falling as a child to the bottom of a lake, where he discovered a magical world under the water; while Finnish photographer Elina Brotherus found inspiration in decisive moment of a relationship break-up that led to the photo ”Epilogue.”

As a young woman, Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama fell out with her parents when she chose to paint rather than marry and become a housewife.

”My mother overturned my paint box and threw everything and said that if you want to paint, don’t come back home!”

Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist refocussed her rage to create art, while photographer Leigh Ledare returned home one Christmas to be greeted by her naked mother at the front door—this inspired her eight-year project “Pretend You’re Actually Alive.”

This video contains some nudity.