Outsider Art
When Hans Prinzhorn began studying the art of the mentally institutionalized in the 1920’s, such as Adolf Wolfii’s, there was not a specific name for the movement. At the time, his research focused on the artists’ ability to direct their illnesses and/or recovery into works of art, that evolved into complete bodies of stylistic avenues coming from these untrained patients. He saw these abilities having manifested as instinctual, with no need of cognition—as purely from a place of internal emotion and not needing the conventions of “sane” thought processes.
In the 30’s and 40’s, Jean Dubuffet and a group of artists presented “Collection de l’art brut,” classifying their stylistic approach as,
"…pieces of work executed by people untouched by artistic culture, in which therefore mimicry, contrary to what happens in intellectuals, plays little or no part, so that their authors draw everything (subjects, choice of materials employed, means of transposition, rhythms, ways of writing, etc.) from their own depths and not from clichés of classical art or art that is fashionable."
Jean Dubuffet, Monument à la bête debout (1969-1983) Coll. Fondation Dubuffet, Paris ©2017 Fondation Dubuffet, Paris / Pictoright, Netherlands
In making these bold statements and delivering upon them, with quality and ingenuity, the group was able to bring themselves and others to the forefront of the modern art movement—their delivery of the new assisted with Roger Cardinal, thirty years later, attaching the term Outsider Art to their radically differing attitudes on the creation art, in his book. Dubuffet and Cardinal, together, ushered in an era of artists who did not need to be classically trained, but were significantly more able to attain gallery shows and recognition than ever before.
In the years later, around the mid 1970’s, there was a movement nationally to increase the artistic exponent in the treatment of the mentally ill and otherwise disabled. The ability for the patients to have an outlet for things they may not otherwise be able to express was starting to be seen as an immensely positive experience for the institutionalized, as well as those who were facilitating their treatment. The progression the patients were able to make through the activity of making art around each other, in social and cognitive ability, had been noted among several caregivers. Though constant encouragement, several mentally challenged patients were able to create their own treatment journeys. Today, there are programs of study revolving around the treatment of disabilities and illnesses with artistic creation intervention therapy.
Outsider Art and philosophies are present in the art of Burning Man and other art and music festivals is today’s wide spread untrained “anyone can art” art collections. The temporary setting, the inclusive nature, and the complete participation of the community, add up to a heightened sense of expression in the artwork. The display of everything for all to see, comment on, and interact with inspires next years would be artists—and the cycle continues and grows every season. The initial builds on the playa were makeshift (though ingenious) forms of environmental-or whimsical-or expressive, now they range from the first time crafter to huge technical achievements of monstrosity. Anything goes.
Love, by Ukrainian artist Alexander Milov, is an expression of conflict between a man and a woman and the internal struggle in human nature in general. When the sun goes down the child-shaped sculptures glow, representing hope in times of darkness. Photo by Gerome Vivant
Whatever the form, function, origination, or belief of what term to use, “Outsider Art” is what we have and it is not going away anytime soon. There are things you can do to keep the premise of “everyone can art,” too. Inspire art from all the directions. If you are a “classically” trained artist, go inspire others who are not to do art. Think about donating your time to teaching a donation based class—just to spread the art. If you do not know how to art, just start—it can just be by putting paint on a page and smashing it around, then gluing something on top of it, then…it’s up to you. If you need inspiration, find someone else and art together. It’s for your mental health.
References
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LadyBee. “The Outsider Art of Burning Man.” Leonardo, vol. 36, no. 5, 2003, pp. 343–348.
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