Art as most of us know is creativity and
beauty. But beyond that is an intrinsic and subliminal value that is embedded
in art. Thus art and the practice of art is also seeking to connect mankind
with the essence and meaning of life and existence; it seeks to entrench a
sense of harmony and the attainment of inner peace. Art is able to heal us all
and our entire society.
After all, the whole man-made world is art.
The buildings all around us - architecture of course being a fine art; the
motor cars and the likes; textiles and fashion wears, etc. Take a look at the
landscapes and skylines created by man. And of course – nature, the art of God;
they are all works born out of creative thoughts and imagination. The Oxford
Advanced Learner’s dictionary of current English defines art thus: The creation
or expression of what is beautiful, especially in visual form. Beauty and
creativity have therapeutic essence which gives rise to mind and body equilibrium.
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| Serene Landscape |
It is important to go into these details in
understanding art in its entirety, in order to fully appreciate its usefulness
and relevance in the act and process of attaining wellness. But in the first
place, what is the function of art? Art being as old as man, has always therefore
been functional, be it for its spiritual core value, social or domestic, etc.
But embedded in all of these, is its untapped great and hidden power to heal.
Now, let us take this from the perspective of colour application and colour
psychology. Colour, be it in painting, design or sculpture, etc, is used to enhance
or beautify a work of art apart from
being a medium of expression.
For a better grasp of this artistic essence,
we shall delimit this discourse to the analysis of painting and colour. Thus
before any colour is applied or used at all, the artist as well as most
‘conscious’ persons would understand the fact that there exists warm and cool
colours, as well as neutral colours. There are also combinations that will turn
out to be hot or cold, violent, rioting, noisy, and even harmonious. Colour
usage also can result in balance, heaviness or lightness of mood, as well as
the depiction of temperament and character, etc. Sometimes we react to colours
or certain pieces of art works without knowing it. We know quite alright that
we are feeling something but not knowing what, or why.
We can actually feel heat or cold physically,
or even an alteration in the state of mind, due to colours we see around us.
Most people would for instance reject the idea of having their rooms painted
red or black. If anybody does otherwise, you would want their head examined I
suppose. One would want to ask why this is so? Why do most men refuse an all
bright red outfit, for instance, unless of course they are engaged in professional
entertainment or showbiz? But ladies will gleefully act on the contrary, and it
is normal! In fact a baby was known to have cried out hysterically when placed
in a room painted with a strong RED; while we also know an all black
surrounding can as well evoke a sombre feeling.
The above cited situations are just
diagnostic bits and analyses that could be used in the approach to touching and
affecting the human mind. Leonardo da Vinci once said that “the eye is the window
of the soul”. He was here explaining the basics involved in artistic expression
as well as perception. Thus, I would advance also that since a window is an
open channel, it follows therefore that the mind could also be positively or
negatively affected by what is thrown into that window through artistic
expressions or visual consumption as it were.
The great psychoanalysts, and surrealists spearheaded
by Salvador Dali and others, have been known to carry their experiments far
enough as to compulsively work on the mind of people. But these have not
necessarily been by any conscious efforts or arrangements perhaps. Sometimes it
entails the adaptation of the researches carried out by the fauvists who
emphasise just the juxtaposition of colours, with less regard for composition.
Dali and his colleagues would rather employ
forms and objects of visible reality in a smooth rendition, to relay to the
viewer a Freudian dream picture. Let us also consider the researches into the
possibility of psychosomatic structural changes in animals and human beings, with
a view to ‘altering’ their behavioural pattern. Here, we can look at the works of
Viktor Vasarely for example. I even believe also that sometimes the works of
the artists themselves would also probably affect them too!
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| Interior Mural |
The renaissance great masters also did
utilise this wonderful attribute of art, also again rather unconsciously or loosely;
and in collaboration with their patrons and, or clients which was mostly the
church, they also inculcated this practice. The church I dare say could have
been aware of what they were doing. Examples of these are evident in the
grandiose religious paintings and sculptures of Michelangelo, Leonardo da
Vinci, Raphael, etc. These works depict the life of saints, teachings and doctrines,
injunctions and visions. The solemnity and grandeur of these works alone,
against the backdrop of classical hymns and Christian anthems, I think were
enough to deliver healing.
By Morgan Nwanguma
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