Friday
Controversial Art, Spotlights, ThoughtsThe Art of Sadness - Showcase
Everyone gets sad. We all are susceptible to negative thoughts and feelings sometimes. Sadness is a normal emotion that has the ability to make life more engaging. Some of the greatest art in the world was created because the artist was so entrenched in his emotions of sadness, that it bled on to a canvas without control or restraint. Sadness almost always accompanies loss. Loss of life, love, happiness, and the most crushing of all, loss of hope. Hope for something better. Something beyond the feelings that are possessing you at the moment. When you are at your grimmest times, hope is the only thing that will keep you fighting.
Sadness assists us in appreciating our own happiness. When our mood eventually evolves from sadness toward a sense of hope and happiness, the sense of contrast gives a stronger appreciation for the goodness that does exist. My next article will do just that, in showcasing art about hope, inspiration, & happiness.
I divided the showcase into two sections. Photography , and Digital & Traditional . Most of these pieces are not for the faint of heart, and the linked galleries or artists even more so. Many of the showcased artists here have dramatic galleries of sadness, some much too intense to be displayed on this publication. However none of them are horror and gore artists, they are but looking glasses to the underbelly of humanity. So visit with care. If you have any pieces to recommend for inclusion in this article, leave a comment and let me know!
Photography (View album in Picasa )
Digital & Traditional (View album in Picasa )
Post Tags: art showcase, sad art, sad photography, sadness
Sep 21, 2007
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I can understand how some artists hope to instigate a feeling or understanding of the monstrosities or injustices of life. However, I find that viewing SOME of this type of art is like viewing a horror film. It isn’t really to inspire but only to instigate negative emotions without offering any redeeming qualities. I also think that too many of these visuals can create a constant negative for the psyche.
Oct 8, 2007
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That in my mind raises the question, should art that came from extreme emotional stress be published? It is hard for me to envision what kind of sadness the artists feel. My friend is publishing something along those lines. He had a distressed childhood, and now he is publishing a book of intensely depressing poems with pictures that remind me of doom. I think, even if I did not know him, I would have so much trouble viewing such a publication because the intense emotional pain can be felt as I browse through the pages. In these cases, I think something hopeful is very necessary at the end of the book.
Oct 8, 2007
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Sad art is necassary for human outlook on themselves. And to find the beauty contrasting rage, and its immense power.
Mar 18, 2008
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The pictures are quite touching. It is difficult to truly depict sadness but there is beauty in sadness too and if we can see the beauty of it perhaps it will uplift, even only for a breif moment, the sadness we feel. Brevity is an important part of life just as sadness helps us appreciate the small things in life that we take for granted, like the morning sunshine, or the smell of roses or just a walk in the park or the fact that we walk at all. Sadness reminds us to enjoy more the lesser things of life.
Apr 11, 2008
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Some of the images were very graphic, and the image “They call her Dumbo” touched me, because I could relate so much to the situation. I think sadness and suffering are necessary evils in life, because without them, there can be no appreciation for happiness or compassion. I enjoyed your gallery. Keep up the good work.
Apr 21, 2008
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I agree with you when you say that the world has seen some of the greatest spouts of creativity from the saddest of mindframes.
I’ve noticed myself that I tend to write mostly when I’m at my worst - and you can see that in my journal.
Yes there are these bursts of happy moments in my posts, but you can tell how empty they seem at times.