"Art is a way of recognizing oneself." - Louise Bourgeois
Art allows us to communicate in ways that words cannot. It is a way to convey emotions and ideas that transcend language and culture.
Many artists believe that the unconscious mind holds the key to our creativity and that art can be a means to access this realm of the psyche. This blog post explores the relationship between art and the unconscious mind and how the two are intertwined to create works of art that are both personal and universal.
ART, THE UNCONSCIOUS MADE CONSCIOUS
The terms unconscious mind (often interchangeably called as subconscious mind) refers to the part of our mind that is not readily accessible to our conscious awareness. It is a reservoir of repressed memories and desires - the source of our deepest fears and instincts that plays a significant role in shaping our thoughts and behaviors. The founder of the concept, psychiatrist Sigmund Freud, believed that neuroses could be healed by accessing the unconscious.
Art has long been considered a reflection of the human psyche. The Surrealist art movement - which emerged in the early 20th century - was completely founded on the idea of the unconscious being a source of authentic inspiration defying rational explanation. The founder, André Breton, studied medicine and psychiatry in Paris before becoming an artist.
ACCESSING THE UNCONSCIOUS
Breton's background in psychiatry gave him a unique perspective on art, influencing his interest in the creative potential of the unconscious mind. He sought to access it through writing.
Breton developed a technique called automatic writing, which involves writing down whatever comes to mind without censorship or self-criticism, "free from aesthetic or moral preoccupations". He believed that this method could access the unconscious mind and reveal the true nature of the individual. In his book "Manifesto of Surrealism" (1924), Breton described his technique as a way to bypass the logical and rational mind.
Some of the other processes the surrealists used for tapping into the unconscious were hypnosis, interpretation of dreams, lucid dreaming and using different substances. Through these techniques, the surrealists sought to create works of art that were not only visually striking but also emotionally powerful, tapping into the primal energies of the subconscious mind. Their work often featured bizarre, dreamlike imagery, such as melting clocks or disembodied body parts, which reflected the disorienting, fragmented quality of the dream world.
Salvador Dali - The Great Masturbator (1929)
AUTOMATIC PAINTING
Also abstract artists have used the unconscious mind as a source of inspiration. Jackson Pollock was a pioneer of Abstract Expressionism, one of the most dramatic art movements emphasizing expression of raw emotion through spontaneous, gestural brushstrokes.
Abstract Expressionism represents a powerful synthesis of art and psychology. By tapping into the unconscious, artists were able to create works that were deeply emotionally charged and highly expressive.
Pollock would often work on a large canvas on the floor, using his entire body to move freely without conscious thought creating rhythmic, abstract compositions. His process was called automatic painting, and it was believed to be a direct expression of the unconscious.
Jackson Pollock - One: Number 31 (1950)
Another key way that Abstract Expressionism tapped into the unconscious was through the use of color. Artists often used bold, vibrant colors that were meant to evoke strong emotions and associations. For example, Rothko's large, color field paintings are often seen as representing different emotional states, such as joy, sadness, or contemplation. The use of color was seen as a way of communicating directly with the viewer's unconscious mind, bypassing the constraints of rational thought.
CONCLUSION
Art is a window to the soul, and through it, we can see the inner workings of the artist's mind.
The connection between art and the unconscious mind is not limited to visual art. Many musicians and dancers also tap into their subconscious when creating their work. By accessing the unconscious, artists can bypass the limitations of the conscious mind and create art that defies rational explanation and create works of great beauty and power.
REFERENCES
Freud, S. (1915). The unconscious. The standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud, 14, 159-215.
The Manifesto of Surrealism. Referred 14.4.2023. https://www.arthistoryproject.com/artists/andre-breton/the-manifesto-of-surrealism/
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