5 minute read
Art as a form of reaching out
Healing Art - Mix Fix
Author: Eleftheria Kokkinidou
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These are the words of Frida Kahlo, a figure we easily recognize from her famous self-portraits and her strong personality, but also for her turbulent life and emotional difficulties. Paintings such as The Broken Column or the self-portrait with cropped hair depicture moments of her life where she felt broken and in pain. But Kahlo’s paintings are not the only example of mental suffering.
The broken column, 1944, By Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), Museo Dolores Olmedo,Mexico city, Mexico
In Munch’s painting, “The Scream” you can actually see the abnormality of his state of mind and you can barely hear the screaming. It is rumored that the painting was a moment of existential terror for the artist himself. In addition, in that kind of painting, we can allow ourselves to feel the disturbance of the artists and we can empathize or find something directly connected to our emotional state. But what is that special element that makes art the ideal way for creative souls to express their inner struggles?
Konstantinos Kavafis
First of all, people with mood disorders can instinctively use art as a coping mechanism to process their current state of mind and eventually heal. But healing is not the end goal for every artist. Tragic figures, such as Van Gogh and Virginia Woolf, reveal a darker and more difficult part of the process. We can imagine that not every artist uses art consciously to deal with their suffering, or that this is the end goal for every creative soul. Nevertheless, more artistic forms of expression allow even the more reluctant and distant people to find a safe place, a form of expression that’s more indirect and complex, so they can allow themselves to say the things they want to say in a way that feels comfortable. In addition, it’s in that state of mind, that’s free from restrictions, but also unwell and sensitive, that emotions begin to take place as colors or poetic words in the best way possible.
The scream, 1893, Edvard Munch (1863-1944), The Munch museum, Oslo, Norway
In conclusion, for the art to project authentically the complexity of the current mental state of the artist, it must be spontaneous and without boundaries.
Veijola et al (2004), in a research regarding the links between mental disorders and creativity, concluded that, in some cases, there is a connection between these two factors. As Aristotle said, “great artists, philosophers, writers, and politicians are vulnerable to melancholy”. A more realistic approach to the theory of the “mad artist” is that the social environment is built in a way that puts pressure on more creative people.
Self portrait with cropped hair, 1940, By Frida Kahlo (1907- 1954), Museum of modern art, New york city
That’s because a differentiation from the normal rhythms of work puts creative people in the background and forces them to distance themselves from more conventional ways of functioning so they can find an environment that fits their creative processing. As we said earlier, creativity is something that cannot be forced. So these patterns of normality and structure cannot be a one size fits all and they might even make a creative person question their ability to function in a way that feels more socially acceptable.
Another theory from the same research suggests that sensitivity and art are connected. In that sense, a creative gift might be linked to a certain sensitivity and the ability of a neurotic person to experience things on a deeper level and find art as a material for artistic relief. We cannot deny that the purpose of art is to relieve the emotions of the artist. For example, a famous Greek poet, Kavafιs, used his writing ability to express a love that was considered forbidden by society. The pressure he felt is partly the reason we can enjoy his tender words through literature, where his love could breathe and be free of restrictions.
To summit up, why is art so important for the artist? Art is an emotional and intellectual process that’s often published to an audience. In that way, the artist exposes themselves to a variety of people and it says in the clearest way “see me”. That core need to be seen, to be known, and to be understood lays the foundations for reaching out. For a lot of artists, art was the only way to speak their pain and for others was the way to forget it. As for the audience, the importance of an art piece is not necessary to understand the artist but to understand yourself. Can you allow art to reflect your emotions?
Lauronen, E. Veijola, J., Isohanni, I., Jones, P. B., Nieminen, P., & Isohanni, M. (2004). Links Between Creativity and Mental Disorder. Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes, 67(1), 81–98.
Waugh, R. (2020, November 4). The enduring connection between art and mental health. Art UK. Retrieved 13/7/22, from: https://artuk.org/discover/stories/the-enduring-connection-between-art-and-mental-health?fbclid=IwAR2RzhCSXwneVWcG_ mIsi2Wljgal_1WtEzqO0aDc0CG7Ij5EY0eMCsIRZBI
Daniel B. (2021, February 5). The Link Between Depression and Creativity. Verywell Mind. Retrieved 13/7/22 from: https://www. verywellmind.com/the-link-between-depression-and-creativity-5094193
Richetti, A. (2022, May 6). Frida Kahlo: The Suffering Behind Her Paintings. Daily Art Magazine. Retrieved 13/7/22, from: https:// www.dailyartmagazine.com/frida-kahlo-suffering-paintings/?fbclid=IwAR10PhOi37nwsWjsk1Q8XGR-hRUqfC_bz7QN3yPHf5L5A3m5LsavKZ3XX0k
Virginia Woolf ,1912, By Vanessa Bell (1879-1961)
Vincent van Gogh, By Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890), Royal academy of fine arts, Antwerp, Belgium.
