Neuroaesthetics: Transforming Our Minds Through Art and Design
Imagine walking into a room and feeling an instant sense of calm wash over you. The colors, the light streaming through the window, the art hanging on the wall - everything just feels right. This isn't magic; it's science, specifically neuroaesthetics. This fascinating field explores how elements like color, light, texture, and shape can impact our wellbeing and emotions.
Sarah Daly (2024) Commission designed for a Parisian Apartment
What are neuroaesthetics?
Neuroaesthetics, a term coined in the late 20th century, delves into how our brains respond to aesthetic experiences, particularly in the context of art and interior design. It's not just about what looks good; it's about what feels good and why [1].The colors, lighting, textures, and shapes of rooms are not just decorative choices; they're instrumental in shaping our sense of well-being and emotional health.
The term "neuroaesthetics" combines "neuro," referring to the nervous system, and "aesthetics," the branch of philosophy dealing with beauty, art, and taste. Neuroaesthetics is a field of experimental science that studies the neural bases for the contemplation and creation of a work of art. It involves the scientific exploration of how the human brain perceives, interprets, and emotionally responds to aesthetic experiences.
How the Brain Experiences Aesthetics
Neuroaesthetics takes concepts from neuroscience and applies them to understand how we experience art and beauty, attempting to define these experiences at a neurological level. This includes how visual, auditory, or other sensory information is processed by the brain to form the subjective experience of beauty, pleasure, or emotional impact from artistic works.
For interior designers and art collectors, understanding neuroaesthetics is like having a secret weapon. By knowing how certain designs can evoke pleasure, calm, or excitement, they can create spaces that are not only visually stunning but also emotionally resonant. For instance, specific aesthetic qualities like proportion, symmetry, and balance are known to activate pleasure centers in the brain, creating a sense of harmony and positive emotions [2]. It's why a well-designed room or a beautiful piece of art can lift our spirits and why some spaces make us feel more at home than others.
The Science Behind the Beauty
Neuroaesthetics is an intriguing field exploring how various design elements like colors, lighting, textures, and room shapes impact our sense of well-being. It's not just about aesthetics; it's about how these elements can emotionally enrich us. Consider a recent project, "A Space for Being" at Salone del Mobile, where Google, in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University’s Arts & Mind Lab and other partners, created an installation demonstrating how design affects our biology and well-being. Visitors, equipped with wristbands tracking physical and physiological responses, moved through rooms themed ‘Essential’, ‘Vital’, and ‘Transformative’, each offering different sensory experiences. The data collected revealed unique, individual reactions to these environments. [3]
Tailoring Spaces for Emotional Impact
Understanding neuroaesthetics has immense implications for interior design and art collection. It reveals that our brains are wired to respond to beauty, with qualities like proportion, symmetry, and balance activating pleasure centers in the brain. Interior designers can harness these principles to create spaces that resonate emotionally, curating environments that evoke serenity, joy, inspiration, or relaxation. This approach extends beyond the visual to include textures, scents, and sounds, enhancing the overall ambiance. Furthermore, integrating natural elements, a concept known as biophilic design, can significantly improve well-being and cognitive function.
Sarah Daly (2024) Commission designed for a Parisian Apartment
Art Collection: A Neuroaesthetic Perspective
Art collection, when viewed through the lens of neuroaesthetics, becomes more than an aesthetic pursuit; it's a journey into personal well-being. Art evokes emotional responses, and understanding these responses can guide collectors in choosing pieces that not only appeal visually but also contribute positively to their mental and emotional landscape.
How Sarah Daly Art Complements Neuroaesthetic Spaces
In this context, Sarah Daly Art offers a unique opportunity. Specializing in commission art, and with a PhD research background, Sarah Daly creates bespoke pieces that align perfectly with the neuroaesthetic goals of interior designers and art collectors. These customized artworks can be the keystone in creating spaces that not only look beautiful but feel deeply personal and emotionally fulfilling.
A New Era of Design?
The integration of neuroaesthetics into art and interior design marks a transformative era. It encourages us to think beyond traditional aesthetics, considering how spaces and art can profoundly influence our emotional and mental states. As we continue to explore this fascinating intersection, we're reminded of the power of our surroundings to shape our experiences.
So, how will you let neuroaesthetics inspire your next design or art collection decision?
Further reading
Dr Tara Swart has written a new book called The Source. At the heart of this book is an idea that is backed up by the latest breakthroughs in neuroscience- most of the things we want from life - health, happiness, wealth, love - are governed by our ability to think, feel and act; in other words, by our brain. She was on the Diary of a CEO podcast talking about neuroaesthetics amongst other things.
Dr Anjan Chatterjee, is a Professor of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania and wrote The Aesthetic Brain: How we Evolved to Desire Beauty and Enjoy Art. This book takes readers on a journey through the world of beauty, pleasure, and art. Using the latest advances in neuroscience and evolutionary psychology, Anjan Chatterjee investigates how an aesthetic sense is etched into our minds, and explains why artistic concerns feature centrally in our lives. Along the way, Chatterjee addresses such fundamental questions as: What is beauty? Is it universal? How is beauty related to pleasure? What is art? Should art be beautiful? Do we have an instinct for art?