Life and Death: Life Must Imitate Creative Art

By Harsh Kabra

Art is a great healer. By supplanting apprehension with inspiration and trading stress for relaxation, it tempers human physiology and attitude.

Scientifically speaking, it improvises human brainwave pattern, autonomic nervous system, hormonal balance, brain neurotransmitters, immune system, and blood flow to various organs. Through self-expression, it rejuvenates the creator with an enlightened perception of within and without.

Scientists uphold that art is an effective coping mechanism. Neurophysicists aver that art, prayer and healing share their physiological genesis and are interconnected temporally and spiritually. They all catalyse a therapeutic rendezvous with feelings, emotions, visions and imagery, releasing healing resources for the cause of revitalising the immune system.

Anne and Charles Simpkinson write in Soul Work: A Field Guide for Spiritual Seekers  that "One of the fastest growing areas in psycho-therapy is art therapy, based on the idea that all human beings are endowed with the ability to unleash, examine, and transform their emotions through creative endeavour, be it painting, writing, dancing or singing".

The focus here is not on the outcome embodied by a finished work of art. What is more healing is the process of articulation, self-awareness, exploration, and, in the words of improvisation expert Stephen Nachmanovitch, "free play".

Creativity mandates as much discipline as human expression. But the language of art is devoid of the rigours of structure and objectivity that overbear human conversation, thereby evolving into unique opportunities of self-discovery, listening to our inner voices of change, relieving the psyche of its accumulations: tantamount to the "catharsis" Aristotle expounded on as "a pleasurable release of emotion" to effect "the healing and purifying of feelings of pity and fear".

The pursuit of art involves selection of the right medium and place for practising the art, obtaining the necessary material, orienting to the world of ideas and inspirations, seeing, appraising and assimilating the art of others, and, most importantly, making dispassionate first movements.

The artist gives in to the 'process', working towards the unseen and the undefined, and experiencing the felicity of evolution. Once in place, the piece of art often seems to transcend the artist's imagination in its message, beauty and wonder. But being witness to its growth and transformation spurs a release.

As much as being therapeutic, this release is what should also signify the ultimate objective of the greatest voyage that is life. It provides focus on the process rather than the results, a constant communion with the inner self, a constant exploration and better assimilation of ideas, inspiration, beauty and all things positive leading to a life that is self-mending.

Like art, life too is replete with surprises, unexpected twists and unforeseen triumphs. We have as limited control on tomorrow as on the final work of art. Like the bliss of creation often eclipses the rationale of returns, letting go of expectations in life helps savour the joys of living.

While art unsettles and intimidates those blinkered by objectivity and realism, life too appears meaningless if not interpreted beyond the visible, tangible and explicable aspects of existence. Life must imitate art in visibly and audibly manifesting our transformation. If only we looked for the creative streak in every chore, life's drudgeries could well spawn self-replenishing delight.

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See also: Life and Death, Life and Beyond, Death and Dying, Body Mind and Soul

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