Art & Mental Illness

Art, the sanctuary of aroused emotions, is a very powerful tool that allows anyone to express happiness, sadness, faith, despair, euphoria, depression, love, hate, and even the feelings of being acknowledged or neglected. In art, an individual can do what ever he wants, whatever he desires; there are no boundaries, no barricades to stop him; he is only moved by the inspirational creativity that arises from the force of his pure and genuine feelings. Art is ignited by the person’s past, his experiences, and his intellect. “Complete freedom is to be yourself or not, no police of any kind and no right or wrong, no can or can’t, should or shouldn’t, will or won’t, just as much freedom as one will allow for one’s self to experience. There is no sanity without art, no art without feeling and no freedom without getting the demons out.” (Anonymous, 2010)

Art can manifest itself in a variety of forms, such as drawing, painting, composing music, and poetry and writing of all kinds.  There is a hidden artist in everyone, but some people excel in creativity and talent, while in others it is suppressed because they lack something, like a spark about life. It is said that it is people without art in their lives who are the crazy ones. (Anonymous, 2010)

Art is essential for mentally unstable individuals, such as people suffering from psychosis. Such sensitive people depend on art in their lives because they are somehow scarred. Medication can only adjust them externally, making them normal and symptom-free, but creative arts gets them on the right track and injects peace and serenity into their disturbed souls. It becomes their haven and secure place, and it should be regarded with great consideration, respect, and support. Besides, their art should be appreciated because it is sacrosanct, a pure expression of feeling, genuine art. (Anonymous, 2010)

The most efficient form of therapy for people who are experiencing schizophrenic and bipolar symptoms is art. It can be used by those people to reduce and manage their symptoms. In the history of art, taking van Gogh as an example, psychotic symptoms greatly affect the patient's creativity, reaching eccentric extremes. It is with art therapy that the creativity of the patient is tamed and directed towards production of art, as it plays a role of distraction and meditation to calm the chaos that mental illness causes the patient. ("Synopsis", Anonymous, 2010)

Schizophrenic, Depressive, and Bipolar Art

Many great Artists suffered severe chronic mental illnesses like: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or clinical depression, yet these artists created beautiful images from what lies deep inside them. Mental illnesses were not easily diagnosed. Although doctors claimed that the famous artist "Vincent van Gogh" may have produced bipolar art yet, it was also said that he suffered from schizophrenia. ("Art and Schizophrenia", n.d.)

Each mental illness has its own properties and the art resulted from the illness is ignited differently. In arts like the depressive art, the feelings and emotions of the artist seem to prevail  the same goes for the bipolar art. On the other hand, intellect and deep intuition seem to have the upper hand in schizophrenic art and it is just slightly affected by feelings and emotions. One of the distinguishable differences in the process of treatment between bipolar art/art produced by clinical depression and schizophrenic art is that, in depressive art, when the disease fades, creativity fades along with it since the intensity and "mass" of emotions caused by depression is gone, like the excision of a tumor. However, in schizophrenic art that is rather related to intellect and thought process, the treated patient remains creative and innovative. ("Art and Schizophrenia", n.d.)

"Art Brut" and Schizophrenic Artists

The term "Art Brut" was coined in 1945 by the French artist Jean Dubuffet. Meaning Raw Art, the term describes how the art has no connections to or influences from culture, known artistic styles or previous education. Jean Dubuffet studied and deeply admired schizophrenic artists and their work, especially Adolf Wolfli and Heinrich Anton Muller. They both were schizophrenic artists who spent most of their lives in mental health institutions. Adolf Wolfli was a Swiss painter who had a rough childhood and history of child abuse, and he was put in a psychiatric hospital. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia (he was delusional and had severe hallucinations) probably resulting from his life traumas. He produced art work at an immense rate; he finished a pencil in just two days. Because it "tamed" him, Adolf was provided with paper daily. Jean Dubuffet created a collection called "Collection de l'Art Brut", which he believes vividly portrays the concept of Raw Art, and more that half of the pieces were created by schizophrenic artists. ("Art and Schizophrenia", n.d.)

Art and Schizophrenia Today

Many groups dedicated to art and schizophrenia in the modern art community can help schizophrenic artists find both audiences and markets for their work. Art is often used as therapy for people suffering from schizophrenia. Perhaps the ability to visually express themselves allows schizophrenic artists to share their perceptions of reality with others. --- Schizophrenia is acknowledged widely today and is being accepted by the society. Many psychiatrists sacrifice their time and effort to treat the mentally ill and encourage them to open up from their solitude and communicate more often with the world though their art work. The first step is usually introducing them to art because in that way they can't express their feelings like we do, yet art helps them to do that and interact with the outer world in that way. The society is accepting that art is a means by which psychotic patients share their perception of reality with the rest of the world, and it is helping them to find admirers of their works and a market it as well.

 

References

Art and Schizophrenia: A Window into Other Realities. Retrieved from   

 http://www.healthtree.com/articles/schizophrenia/schizophrenic-art-artists/

Anonymous, 2010, ‘Crazy Art’ Documentary Explores Art Therapy, Schizophrenia. Retrieved from

 http://www.arttherapyblog.com/mental-health/crazy-art-documentary-explores-art-therapy-schizophrenia/

Navratil L., (n.d.). Art Brut and Psychiatry, Schizophrenic, Depressive, and Bipolar Art 2010, Retrieved from
http://www.rawvision.com/back/navratil.html

Art by the Mentally Ill. Retrieved from
 http://www.findingoptimism.com/blog/reviews/art-by-the-famous-mentally-ill/

Latham L., (n.d.). Art Therapy for Treatment of Schizophrenia 2010. Retrieved from
http://what-is-bipolar.com/art-therapy-for-treatment-of-schizophrenia/