Is Depression Art Also Art Therapy?
Depression Art is a relatively new term in our modern age. The idea of art therapy itself can be traced back to a man named Adrian Hill who coined the term while recovering from tuberculosis.
While these two ideas are linked they are not the same.
Art therapy can be used in conjunction with a desire or objective for achieving a therapeutic outcome for any number of reasons. By comparison Depression Art is an individual concept for art.
This concept can be art produced for therapeutic purposes or existing artwork that aids in someone recovering.
Depression Art Itself Is Not A New Idea
Vincent Van Gogh stated “I put my heart and my soul into my work, and lost my mind in the process.” Depression Art while not fully understood within history did exist through the hands of many artists.
Van Gogh suffered greatly from anxiety and depression throughout his life.
It is unfortunate that his work never came to popularity within his lifetime. Rather his depression became overwhelming and as a result he took his own life.
It is through stories like this that we can begin to peer through a historical lens in an attempt to better understand the connection between our emotional state and art.
Artist Edvard Munch is another example of this connection through his works. He suffered from anxiety and hallucinations.
It was common for him to paint onto a canvass what he saw within his hallucinations.
Michelangelo himself also suffered greatly from anxiety. Some stated that he existed within a world between genius and madness. In a letter to his father he stated that he was beset by a thousand anxieties and for fifteen years had never known happiness.
Our present time within a modern age of science still cannot fully quantify nor cure many of these same illnesses. The typical response from the medical community is medication and then more medication. There still lacks an understanding of cause as well as what could potentially be the cure.
Nevertheless it is evident that Depression Art is not something which is new. In understanding this I find what modern medicine has to say concerning the art therapy interesting in light of how little they actually know.
Defining the cause of depression is as complicated as the myriad of potential treatments.
Modern Science And Depression Art
If you ask medicine about art, the answer you receive from what art can offer someone in terms of therapy will be different. The reason for this is due to who you are asking, and the nature of how the study was conducted.
If they were predisposed to a position this clearly is a problem. Also the individuals who participated in the study matter in terms of their natural disposition towards art.
Some studies will indicate there is no benefit to be found in the use of Depression Art. This is clearly untrue.
To discover this all one must do is begin to study great historical artists and see the impact art had on their lives. For some art was all they had to keep them moving forward.
This is an important revelation considering that within history they did not have modern medications as we do today. For those artists it was art which was their medication rather than an auxiliary therapy.
Other studies will find that art helps either moderately or substantially for those suffering with various illnesses. These studies are not limited to the mental health field but also for other medical recovery.
Yet here while the art community would appreciate this finding there still seems to be a disconnect.
Rather than merely picking the middle of the road and say that art can possibly help, we need to know why it does or does not. There must be a connection that medical science is missing.
Missing Link In Depression Art And Science
The first major problem with these studies is that they act as if art is a pill. Just as if a pill is swallowed and the medication enters the body the science expects a measurable result.
It is critical to realize that art is not medication.
Achieving a measurable response is not something which the traditional scientific method may be able to always quantify. The reason for this comes back to any given individuals disposition towards art.
There will be those who are more inclined to participate in or appreciate art. For those individuals there should be a greater measurable response.
Likewise there are those who have no care for art at all. Here one would expect a lesser impact.
Within these studies I take issue with three key factors. First the institution behind the study with any presupposition for the outcome.
Secondly the art they apply for the individual may not be suited to who they are. Thirdly the individual themselves may not be geared towards art appreciation.
Personal Findings About Depression Art
What I have discovered from artists who suffer from depression is that they often require more than one art. This too is something which only an artist can understand and clinical science completely overlooks.
The artists I know will use nonrepresentational art to express what words cannot. This allows them to spend that emotion constructively.
In turn to build a constructive mindset they use either representational art of some form or a crafting based art.
In this way the mind and emotions can flow out via artistic expression in one art, while the second flows into them giving structure. Art is a two way street. Too many doctors miss this principle.
This exchange between the artist and the world around them is like breathing. The exhale removes what cannot sustain life while the inhale takes in the oxygen.
For those who may be looking to use art as a therapy especially for purposes surrounding depression it would bode well to keep this principle in mind. Each art form can have its own personality, structure, or the lack of form and shape.
Creativity Is Ultimately The Key For Depression Art
For those who are battling depression, what then becomes the key factor in success? Even if one is not an artsy individual research has shown that creativity is the most crucial component.
With this being known creating anything through crafts or building can achieve similar results.
If one is seeking to use depression art, it can be quite successful. Modern artists today find that nonrepresentational art is effective for this purpose.
Additional studies have been conducted in an attempt to paint or show moods rather than explain or define them.
In this way the one suffering is not in a position feeling as if they must justify or explain their state of mind. Through art rather they are expressing and sharing in a form of communication.
While the communication cannot be fully understood by others, it is often an expression the one suffering also does not fully understand themselves.
Depression Art aids in bridging the gap in communication. The link in its success comes to the creativity a person chooses to have and use.
We all have some measure of creativity. Where it is applied becomes the vehicle of communication.
The Artist Must Select The Medium For Depression Art
This will be counter intuitive when compared to clinical studies yet it perfectly makes sense to any and every artist who has lived.
For someone who is looking to use Depression Art as a form of therapy the artist must select the medium used.
In order to achieve maximum benefit this can be the only way. As an example I am a wood artist.
If one were to hand me paint and brush I would laugh at them. It simply will not work.
There will be natural dispositions which exist within a potential artist that they will tap into. It is through that medium which they will find the most success.
This breaks from many attempts by clinical studies that seek to conform people into a box of monkey see monkey do.
While trying to tap into a creative aspect of an individual forcing them into one medium or art outlet removes that very creative property needed. It is not only ineffective but also sabotages the very outcome from the onset.
Best Mediums For Depression Art
Historically the mediums which one finds more Depression Art in than any other can be found within the classical arts. This though is bent to a bias. The art world itself has undergone its own internal conflict in defining art and the mediums used for its creation.
Nevertheless among the most common found is painting, sculpting, and drawing with ink or other tools like charcoal.
Within these you will find historically more representational art than others. This is largely due to nonrepresentational art being a more modern creation.
Personally when I look at artists today there are so many more alternatives. Glasswork, wood art, and even graphic arts within new media art are common. While some of these require either equipment or technical skills they are amazing alternatives to traditional means.
To say which is best requires the individual to have an ability to seek out what connects with them. If one does not like to draw or paint then an art which traditionally comes from the crafting world may better suit them.
Viewing Vs Making Art
There are great benefits in viewing art for many reasons including that of for therapy and depression. Art has the ability to define an entire space within a given setting for decoration, tone, theme, and project meaning.
Yet this too ultimately is dependent upon the individual and their taste or preferences. If one appreciates art then the benefit is exponential when a piece speaks to them.
The question becomes which is better, viewing or making art.
There is no doubt that the act of making art gives more in its benefits when compared to only viewing. Reasons for this are due to how much more one must be engaged in the act of creating.
It is understandable though that not everyone will be an artist even if only for self benefit.
While viewing art may not be on the same level do not underestimate its potency and capability to aid with issues like depression. It can open a whole new world allowing ones mind to still release emotions and also build new structure.
This goes back to the creative aspect of life. The appreciation of another creation is still stimulating. This has been one of the most powerful components behind art for generations of history in its ability to influence people.
Should The Idea Of Depression Art Be Used As Treatment Alone?
Depression Art though art therapy should never be used as a treatment alone. While artists of history did not have the modern advances we do today many of them suffered greatly.
Professional help is a must with the advantages we have at our disposal today.
Nevertheless it is imperative to note that generally speaking the artists of history did do well using only the means they had. Predominately it was the therapeutic use of art.
This should give science pause to note that as a tool it has a powerful component to offer when used in conjunction with modern means.
If someone suffers from depression, anxiety, or other illness it is imperative to seek out help. That burden does not need to be carried alone.
There are additional means to be had beyond medicine and art such as utilizing community.
Where people come together to express and share within the venues of interests you may have there is an underlaying current which is powerful. It is in part why the art community has always been unique and also powerful.
We tend to always be on the fringe of society as it is.
The world often sees artists as being a little nutty, and most of us like me have no issues admitting to being a bit of a nut. Yet it is important to be a good nut.