We live in an era where the media encourages people to consume and acquire, and where the pursuit of power is presented as almost the only value. Whether we like it or not, we are constantly trying to keep up with something or somewhere. In this fast-paced world, we act as if we don’t even have time to stop and smell a flower. When was the last time we listened to a bird sing? Due to the intense external stimuli around us, we’ve forgotten how to listen to our own inner voice.
Actively engaging in any form of art and creating something not only takes him away from the stress of daily life but also creates an opportunity for him to listen to his inner voice. Whether his interest lies in music, painting, photography, ceramics, model-making, gardening, or writing—whatever it may be—it allows him to step away from the outside world, do something for himself, take a break to relieve the day’s fatigue and tension, and unwind.
We can even turn cooking, sewing, and various crafts into an art form. All these pursuits help us get to know ourselves better. Whatever we do, when we concentrate and focus on the task at hand, we don’t think about anything else. This reminds us to live in the moment, just as we did in childhood—to savor that moment without dwelling on the regrets of the past filled with “if onlys” or worrying about the future. It is at this point that the healing power of art emerges. Art is a space where we can freely express our inner world and articulate ourselves openly.
He projects emotions such as anger, fear, and pain—which he might hesitate to express verbally for fear of being rejected—onto his creations without the worry of being judged or criticized, and this allows him to relax and cultivate a peaceful inner world. Sometimes words alone are insufficient to express ourselves; art gives us the opportunity to convey our feelings and thoughts in that moment through sound, rhythm, movement, color, form, pattern, and so on.
His art is an outward expression of his emotions and thoughts, and through art, he can express his negative emotions in a harmless way. Over time, he comes to realize that just as he reflects his inner turmoil and tension in his paintings, he also reflects his enthusiasm and joy. Every individual possesses innate creative potential; if he allows this constructive and creative energy to emerge, he will achieve beautiful, exciting results that may even surprise himself.
Art also allows us to experience the joy of creating an aesthetic work, the pride of receiving praise and appreciation, and it boosts our self-confidence. The moments we engage with art are the moments we step away from adulthood for a while and bring out the child within us. What matters is not that the works we create are perfect, but that we benefit from art’s healing power by integrating our minds, emotions, bodies, and spirits during the creative process.
If he lets his emotions and thoughts flow freely, he realizes that he hears his inner voice more clearly, that he is freed from anxiety and worry, and that he feels at ease and relaxed. When we immerse ourselves in our work, we lose track of time; these are the moments when we step outside of daily life and find ourselves alone with our inner selves. Being able to release tension before it reaches a breaking point is one of the benefits art offers. For this reason, in my view, art is neither “art for art’s sake” nor “art for society’s sake.” Art is, first and foremost, for people.