Alain de Botton’s Art as Therapy and Bridget Watson Payne’s How Art Can Make You Happy are prime examples of how we can let go of the traditional notions of art as elite and exclusive, to connect with it on a personal level. As Watson Paynesays, “art is magic”.
Researchers at University College London, have conducted a series of brain-mappingexperiments, led by neurobiologist Professor Semir Zeki. During the experiment, volunteers underwent brain scanning whilst viewing a series of 28 pieces of art.
The scans show that viewing art triggered a surge of dopamine, the happy chemical, into the brain, which results in feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. It appeared that the reaction was almost immediate, in that when looking at things we consider to be beautiful, activity in the pleasure reward center of the brain is increased.