Art — a major source of narratives
“Art as a source of narratives manifests itself in every kind of medium, in every culture. In every form that you can imagine.”
Narratives take many forms: oral, written, performed, and visual. But of all forms, the visual form is strongest. It uses the power of the visual image to ignite imaginations, evoke emotions, and capture universal cultural truths and aspirations. By the means of imagery, art can tell stories that people could not read. Subjects conveyed by narrative, are either of real historical events or imaginary fantasies. In either case, by creating a visual narrative, the artist presents his own unique interpretation of the subject and is usually depicted in a defined space in which the artist chooses how to portray the story and represent that space.
Art is almost a savior during this pandemic. The very essence of our freedom has shrunk — we are moved inward, to the vast inner space of our thoughts and imagination, a place we have perhaps neglected. Of all the necessities we now feel so keenly aware of, the arts and their contribution to our wellbeing are evident and, in some ways, central to coronavirus confinement for those of us locked in at home.
As also seen on various social media platforms, people have been resorting to art to make good use of this forced break in our regular lives as a way of expressing ourselves without words, to process complex feelings, find relief, stay socially connected while keeping physical distance and also as a hobby to pass time. Some decided to create illustrations about the importance of taking care of your mental health during times of isolation. Others opted to pay tribute to health care workers on the frontline of the pandemic or shared a message of support against stigma and discrimination.
It helps manage behaviors, reduces stress and anxiety, increases self-esteem, etc. caused by the uncertainty.
- Self-discovery: creating art can help you acknowledge and recognize feelings that have been lurking in your subconscious. The process will give you a feeling of self-accomplishment which can be very valuable to improve your self-appreciation, confidence, and productivity which has been a topic of a trend nowadays.
- Emotional release: it provides you a healthy outlet for expressing and letting go of all your fears, complex emotions such as sadness or anger sometimes that cannot be expressed with words.
Studies have also shown that creating art stimulates the release of dopamine. This chemical is released when we do something pleasurable, and it basically makes us feel happier. Increased levels of this feel-good neurotransmitter can be very helpful to battle anxiety, depression, and other such negative feelings.
To conclude: No matter how young or old, embracing the creative side is helping people make it through these enduring times. With the world battling the virus, it is in our hands to maintain a healthy mind and remain positive.
Contributed By- Ummeaiman, Content Writer @ Mitti Ke Rang
At Mitti Ke Rang, we started with a COVID-19 community support fundraising, as an emergency response to provide a safety net to families. This will help them survive in the lockdown period. We aim to directly support these families by providing a minimum wage, through transferring the same into their accounts or partner with local NGO, Organisation, Fellow, or a Volunteer and support them with groceries.
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