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Can art really heal it all? The healing power of (making) art.

In times of uncertainty, art can be a healing force. Doing, producing, progressing is both calming and incredibly rewarding. Experiencing art as a viewer is also a great help in mental and spiritual balance.

1.Making art is engaging body, mind and soul.

Creating, making art, being absorbed in the process, letting ideas flow as your hands move (body-mind connection) allows you to be fully present in the moment. It is a grounding experience. A moment to connect with yourself without pressure. A moment even less intentional than meditating and much more playful. And the results are more immediate to see: your piece of work can be seen, shared, hung etc…. It is thought-provoking to see how gratifying producing a physical artefact can be.

Louise Bourgeois once said “I know that when I finish a drawing, my anxiety level decreases. When I draw it means that something bothers me, but I don’t know what it is. So it is the treatment of anxiety.”

Looking at the question from a larger angle, after almost two years of pandemic, does producing art help me make sense of the world? In all fairness, not really. My ambitions are humbler. Does it allow me to control the chaos? No. Here as well, the bar is too high, and I doubt anyone is able to do so. But by creating, I am in charge of something, however tiny or trivial. I can abstract myself from reality and create my own world. Is it good for my “mental health”, the new concept and buzzword of the day? Undoubtedly. Producing something you think/find beautiful is a blessing I wish everybody could experiment. Some would call it catharsis, but it is a big word for something both so mysterious and so enjoyable.

In her book Homo Aestheticus: Where Art Comes From and Why (first printed in 1992), American scholar Ellen Dissanayake claims that art was central to the evolution and survival of the human species and that art is a fundamental need similar to food, warmth or shelter. According to her, art is a universal, biologically rooted human behavior. You can choose to express it or leave it dormant but it is there in everybody. And the fact that it feels good to make things with our hands links back to or hunter-gatherer nature, which lives in us still.

This is totally relatable. After using only my brain hunched over a desk for so many years, there are perks to using my hands, my arms and sometimes the energy of my whole body as well. As painting can be quite demanding physically, who would have guessed. The body, the mind and the soul are connecting so that creativity can flow and get expressed. I think this comprehensive engagement is why art is so healing and so positive for our (mental) health.

As mood swings will happen, this got me thinking of moods, artmaking sessions and their possible link. Do I want to paint when I am blissfully happy? Not really. And the results are anyway half-hearted when I try (force myself?). Do I create better work when I am confused or sad or anxious? I think so… Which is still very puzzling. And in any case, the session usually helps me relax and get a new, more positive perspective on things.

2. Looking at art every day keeps the doctor away.

Looking at art is also healing. It is the perfect starting point for open-eyed daydreaming, for meditation especially for those who struggle with the “focus on your breathing, let your thoughts come and go” approach. It lowers anxiety by making you present and in the moment. And it jogs your imagination. It intrigues, it generates a dialogue, if only an internal one.

Studies show that viewing art helps you be healthier, both physically and mentally. It can also contribute to develop your critical thinking and your empathy for other cultures and different times in history. When someone views art they find beautiful, dopamine gets released into the brain– dopamine being the wonderful chemical related to feelings of love, pleasure, and desire. The body is however a bit less involved, as viewing art and experimenting art can be done from the comfort of your couch. Which I have done many, many times during lockdowns. And of course, looking at art live is the best. Even though screens are great for art discovery, to me, nothing beats standing in awe in front of the piece, completely oblivious of time and surroundings.

The recommendation: do both!

Both creating my own art and looking at art daily have been fundamental this year. A powerful and positive discipline/routine that made me grow. I would highly recommend this “therapy” to anyone!

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