When old age takes us back to art.
Text: Malena Merlo
"A person can be perfect
length with his entourage
and enjoy together
a complete autonomy of mind ".
Jollien Alexander, philosopher
length with his entourage
and enjoy together
a complete autonomy of mind ".
Jollien Alexander, philosopher
experience painting workshops with the public shows that old age and creativity are intimately linked.
Old age has long been considered as a degeneration body and mind. Outside, it is known today as "the mind does not age." An elderly person is never able to learn and grow as an adult (even if it develops strategies are different). We can say without any problem age is good to flourish.
Even icons of the paint like Picasso or Matisse saw a particularly fruitful creative period at the end of their lives. This has been observed in many other cases from various artists.
If the loss of immediate memory represents a handicap vis-à-vis the learning strategies, it is by no means an obstacle as regards artistic expression. The desire and pleasure to make and share with the other, seems to be an engine for developing new strategies in line with present capabilities of the aging person. I found myself several times during my workshops.
It is therefore not to question the person and his abilities, but to question our ideas, our practices, our gaze, to avoid the stigma of loss whatsoever.
Faced with losses related to aging (health, mobility, social status ...), the elderly waiting to implement their creative resources, often along its unfulfilled lives. Do not forget that we are facing a generation that did not experience the pleasure, a generation for the practice of painting which just for pleasure is almost inconceivable. "Anyway I'm no good! I can not draw a cat!" Arguments are well-recurring ... Because it is unexpected, the possibility to express themselves through artistic medium is a real discovery, a source of desires, renarcissisation. The elderly person accesses, almost evil sandstone itself, a freedom of expression close to that of childhood. She found a well-taken release, spontaneity and freedom of expression is conducive to their artistic development and existence.
The old finds the spirit of a child while carrying him in a lifetime experience ...
The work of the elderly person is in charge of content, stories, retreat, wisdom, humor and awkwardness. And that is why it touches me.
The idea that old age can bring us back to "a state conducive to artistic expression," can help our modern companies to take a fresh look at our seniors and people with degenerative (Alzheimer's), but also about the human condition and its potential.
Art is there a preferred media for "living together" and "aging well"?
Is there a way for a non drug in the treatment of degenerative disease (Alzheimer type)?
To me old age has much to teach us about the mechanisms of creation of artistic language and the impact that it has on the development of existential identity of the individual: his relationship with oneself, with the other and the world around them.
Old age has long been considered as a degeneration body and mind. Outside, it is known today as "the mind does not age." An elderly person is never able to learn and grow as an adult (even if it develops strategies are different). We can say without any problem age is good to flourish.
Even icons of the paint like Picasso or Matisse saw a particularly fruitful creative period at the end of their lives. This has been observed in many other cases from various artists.
If the loss of immediate memory represents a handicap vis-à-vis the learning strategies, it is by no means an obstacle as regards artistic expression. The desire and pleasure to make and share with the other, seems to be an engine for developing new strategies in line with present capabilities of the aging person. I found myself several times during my workshops.
It is therefore not to question the person and his abilities, but to question our ideas, our practices, our gaze, to avoid the stigma of loss whatsoever.
Faced with losses related to aging (health, mobility, social status ...), the elderly waiting to implement their creative resources, often along its unfulfilled lives. Do not forget that we are facing a generation that did not experience the pleasure, a generation for the practice of painting which just for pleasure is almost inconceivable. "Anyway I'm no good! I can not draw a cat!" Arguments are well-recurring ... Because it is unexpected, the possibility to express themselves through artistic medium is a real discovery, a source of desires, renarcissisation. The elderly person accesses, almost evil sandstone itself, a freedom of expression close to that of childhood. She found a well-taken release, spontaneity and freedom of expression is conducive to their artistic development and existence.
The old finds the spirit of a child while carrying him in a lifetime experience ...
The work of the elderly person is in charge of content, stories, retreat, wisdom, humor and awkwardness. And that is why it touches me.
The idea that old age can bring us back to "a state conducive to artistic expression," can help our modern companies to take a fresh look at our seniors and people with degenerative (Alzheimer's), but also about the human condition and its potential.
Art is there a preferred media for "living together" and "aging well"?
Is there a way for a non drug in the treatment of degenerative disease (Alzheimer type)?
To me old age has much to teach us about the mechanisms of creation of artistic language and the impact that it has on the development of existential identity of the individual: his relationship with oneself, with the other and the world around them.
Art is not a question of age.
This is not to be gifted, but rather to dare ...
Our elders are there to prove it!
