Art has an image problem

It is a laughable irony really. Despite being ubiquitous in everyday life and celebrated by the world, art is often seen as pretentious, impractical, and generally unapproachable- for both its creators and advocates. 

It is not rare to hear of talented individuals giving up on dreams of working as a professional artist in lieu of having a roof over their head. And who can blame them? Many artists have suffered at the hands of a poor creative economy to serve as cautionary tales to anyone stupid enough to pursue the profession. And even if you do, can your work really match up to one of the greats like Picasso or Monet? Would someone visit a museum for it 100 years from now?

The same is true when it comes to owning art. There are more than enough people who share the idea that art is a luxury that they cannot afford. Headlines of million euro paintings being sold at auctions are things many cannot relate to. In fact, having a million euros to spare is not something many can relate to. 

No wonder so many people feel alienated by the creative world. Whether it be an artist struggling to find the validation to continue creating or normal people rolling their eyes at the latest ways the rich “waste” their resources. It is important to note, however, that such views are at best misguided, often giving a warped and incomplete picture of the larger picture. And here’s why. 

If I ever had doubts about the “function of art” they disappeared last year. Last year, we came across a deafblind residency in East Slovakia: Maják. They are a wonderful organization that houses partially and fully deafblind individuals and helps them live a full life. However, what caught our eye was their art therapy program. For over a decade, they have been conducting art therapy workshops for their residents. You would be shocked by the results. We were!

 

 

   

Maják Art Therapy

 

 

Maják residents' artworks are brilliant. They were emotional and colorful and absolutely breathtaking. The subject of the paintings was as simple as a Happy Day, or a Night Sky, or even just Wind but when you looked at it, you saw the thought process when it came to their color choices, you felt the emotions when it came to their strokes. You saw “Happy Day” for what it was, the depiction (even a sort of re-imagining) of a Happy Day.  I know as art lovers, we’re inclined to enjoy this, but we were definitely not alone. The exhibition, “Touch” named after the communication technique adopted by its artists, was experienced by numerous visitors both in the headquarters of one of Netherlands largest banks, ABN AMRO, and after it was moved to the busiest streets of Rotterdam during Art Rotterdam Week. Most who visited understood what was communicated to them and were generally in awe of our ability to create even in the trickiest of situations. If you still don’t believe me, you can find studies on how humans are able to distinguish between random scribblings(made by children or animals) and intentional works made by artists here and there. Believe me, when someone pours their heart on canvas, you’ll be able to tell, even if it is an abstract work. 

 

 

You can take a look at our abstract collection to dive deeper into the meaning behind each artwork. 

 

 

     

Victory Art Exhibition

 

 

What’s more important here is, however, what the artwork meant to its creators. It’s safe to say the art therapy program at Majak was a hit. It helped their creators regain a sense of control over their communication. It helped them express happiness, frustration, anger, and love using a brush in place of words. The program resulted in increased happiness, reduced aggression, and a fun time for these individuals. And there was no million dollars insight. 

 

 

Artworks by Maják

 

 

Try out our new AR feature with your phone to see how a painting from Maják is going to look like on your own wall at home and office! 

 

 

Art is not that exclusive as you think.  

This might come as a bit of a shock to some, but only a handful of artists sell for millions of dollars at auctions. There are many artists who sell their work for a few thousand if not a few hundred (if not cheaper). No one is encouraging you to sacrifice food to buy an artwork but if you look closer, access to creativity is not bound to money. 

In fact, you do not even have to be a professional artist to create art. The doodles that you create when you’re bored at work, provide even a tiny bit of relief are creativity worth having in your life. Outsider Art, or Art Brut, is art created outside the commercial world of art. It is a much larger world consisting of everyday people using their creativity to cope and overcome challenges in their personal lives.  

 

 

We have created a guide to walk you through collecting art. You can also check our wide range of art collections to find affordable art for you. 

 

 

Art is incredible for your mental health. 

This is NOT a prank and we have the science to back us up. Art is therapeutic for both its creators and its viewers. While creating can give us an emotional release akin to meditation, viewing artwork can help you relax and unwind after a long day. Visual imagery has always been important to the human race. Our ancestors depended largely on colors, symmetry, and shapes for their survival and while society has changed, our minds have the ability to pick up something as small as a brushstroke and have an emotional reaction to it. 

Art is a business, sure, but art is much more than that. Art can be used to decorate homes and offices to make them look pretty but it can also be used to tell a story that would never be possible with words. Art can be used as a financial investment but art can also be used as a source of relaxation and catharsis. Art can be used to launder money but it can also be used to raise funds for an important cause. It may sound cliche, but there is a truth to the profound impact art has on our lives. 

For more information on how art can be beneficial to your mental health, please check our blog of 10 reasons why art is good for you. 

 

 

If you want to know more about Maják, you can visit their page here. You can discover more of our artists here and their work. And if you want to talk about purchasing the Maják collection or other art collections we have, you can always make an appointment with us. 

 

 

 

 

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