Art as a Fundamental Human Need #

There is mounting evidence that engaging with art can have profound effects on our physical and mental well-being. Art experiences, whether as creators or spectators, have the power to rewire our brains, release neurochemicals, hormones, and endorphins, and improve conditions like obesity, heart disease, chronic pain, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, loneliness, and depression.

Research suggests that art is a basic human need, satisfying a fundamental urge that dates back to the early history of our species. It is wired into our biology and impacts our biological circuitry. Engaging with art activates multiple neurological and physiological systems, involving the entire brain, body, and spirit.

Experts argue that art is not just a luxury but a necessity, just like exercise, nutrition, and sleep. It has the potential to promote healing, well-being, and even longevity. Art is a physical experience that goes beyond intellectual or philosophical contemplation. Engaging with art in person, immersing oneself in its physical presence, size, and surroundings can significantly impact how it is valued and experienced.

Art can also challenge and surprise us, providing benefits even when the experience is uncomfortable or confusing. Such experiences allow our brains to break free from well-worn pathways and filters, offering us a glimpse of nuance and beauty in the world.

Healthcare practitioners are increasingly prescribing arts engagement as part of treatment plans, recognizing its powerful effects on mental and physical health. The benefits of art extend beyond the end product, as engaging in the artistic process itself holds value.

Incorporating art into our daily lives, even in small ways, can contribute to our overall well-being. You don’t need to be skilled or talented to benefit from art; the process itself is what matters. Taking just 45 minutes to engage in any form of art has been shown to lower stress hormone levels significantly.

Art is a choice, a decision to seek richness, discomfort, wonder, uncertainty, and beauty in our lives. It is a fundamental human need that has evolved over millennia and continues to hold transformative power in our modern world.