Some days it seems as if no work of art can really please us. But are we actually allowing ourselves to be pleased?
Art, by its very nature, is something creative. It is a dynamic, structuring force that brings what is inside – emotions, thoughts, ideas – into the outside world. These outward manifestations can be poetry, paintings, or even perfume.
Structuring our inner world into anything – in this case, art pieces – embodies the Taoist yang-force. It shows the human ability to structure, energise, manifest and create things.
So, if the artist represents the yang force, how can we best receive their works? It is by getting into the complementary yin-state.
Structuring our inner world into anything – in this case, art pieces – embodies the Taoist yang-force. It shows the human ability to structure, energise, manifest and create things.
So, if the artist represents the yang force, how can we best receive their works? It is by getting into the complementary yin-state.
We can only receive something if we are open to the experience. The yin-force is all about receptivity, a willingness to engage with the unfamiliar and explore new ideas, sensations and emotions.
Artists of all kinds have gone through this cycle, where they first need to be receptive to the ideas and energies around them to bring them to the outside world. By being in a receptive yin state, they gather the raw material from the outside world that they restructure with their unique artistic processes through the yang force in them.
As observers, it is our turn to go through that process now.
Far too often, we engage with work in the yang state. We look at a painting, smell a perfume or read a piece of poetry and automatically start formulating an opinion. “I do/don’t like this scent, because…” – “This is a bad/wonderful painting because…”
Before we know it, we have made a decision, most of the time, without genuinely receiving the work.
To be better receivers of artistic expression, we must allow ourselves to get into a space of being – the yin-state.
We can start by being more present in the moment. Allow yourself to engage with the art you encounter, be it a fragrance, a painting, or a piece of music, out of curiosity – not out of the force to immediately know what you think about it.
What comes to mind is this picture I was shown when I studied photography. It was a bland office, with a somewhat ugly plant gracing the space. We mainly saw an ugly cupboard. It was a stupid picture. When we were told the title, we discovered it was an archive of a very unsettling police case. All of a sudden, the silly, dumb picture started having meaning.
So, Instead of merely observing, see what the artist wants you to see, smell, or hear. Immerse yourself in the experience, letting the art evoke emotions and thoughts within you.
Cultivating this mindset of curiosity can significantly enhance your receptivity. Approach art with a sense of wonder and a desire to learn. Ask questions about the artwork, its origins, and the techniques used. This inquisitiveness can open new avenues of appreciation and understanding, enriching the experience.
The fastest way I have learned to enter the being state is down-regulation and gratitude. That doesn’t mean you must do an entire yoga routine before experiencing some art, but a rapid exercise is the following.
Notice how you feel in your body, and see if you want to make any adjustments.
Take 4 deep breaths – 6 seconds in, hold, 6 seconds out, hold
Now, see if you notice any other sensations in your body, and make yourself comfortable
Look around you, and name 4 things that you are grateful for. It can be the people you are with, the sunshine, the fact you have eaten today, the lovely blue of those flowers outside the window, a bird flying by.
Take 4 more deep breaths – 6 seconds in, hold, 6 seconds out, hold
Return to your normal breathing, and ask yourself when you engage with the art: “What is really here?”