The Mind Creative
the
deemed,
insignificant
element at the bottom of the
production chain—thousands of
cheap labors, assembly lines in
gigantic factories and tedious
procedures”. How many of the
millions of people who have seen
this actually got it? If not, does
it matter? More than likely, many
people would have reflected on
the monstrous amount of effort
put out by 1500 artisans who
painstakingly painted each seed
by hand.
Do we have to “understand” a work of art when we go to an art
gallery? If one is not an aficionado of art, what would
Chagall’s Green Violinist mean?
If we don’t understand the art pieces, why
go to the Art gallery at all? Which raises the
question what is the purpose of art?
I don’t have an answer, but two philosophers
Alan de Botten (England) and John
Armstrong (Australia) seem to. In the
bestselling book Art as Therapy, these two
scholars propose a new way of looking at
familiar masterpieces and art in general.
They suggest that art can be useful, relevant
and above all else therapeutic for their
viewers. The book which is variously
described
as
“engaging”,
lively”,
“controversial” is packed with 150 examples
of outstanding art, architecture and design,
while chapters on politics, sex, love, nature,
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