Guess what! I recently discovered that I’m a tetrachromat, meaning my eyes have an extra cone that allows me to see far more colors than the average person. I learned that this trait is more common in women, and looking back at my life, it makes perfect sense as I always argued I see more colors in a rainbow than the teacher said there were. Given my strong visual preferences and sensitivities, it may also have been the reason why I studied art in the first place. To me, aesthetics and art in all their forms are not just indulgences—they have become my tool-belt for healing.
Image Source: Benjamin Moore > https://www.wonderfulcolors.org/blog/tetrachromats/
But this doesn’t even matter that much; even if you are colorblind, there’s something deeply stirring about art. We all know a painting, a photograph, a sculpture that stopped us in our tracks, or a song that plays on repeat in your head, making you feel as if the artist plucked the emotions right from your soul. A film that leaves you sitting in silence long after the credits roll, or a book you got lost in and feel almost a certain sadness when closing it, not quite ready to return to reality.
We often think of art as decoration, fancy extras even, or pompous mumpitz nobody understands. But art is many things that gives us big or small pleasures and simple indulgences. It is more than something we admire—it’s something we feel deeply, sense … a vibe. Art has the power to reach into the very depths of our being, to soothe and stir, to heal wounds or to transform our life. And though we may not always understand why a particular shade of blue makes us feel better or why a certain melody tugs at our heartstrings, there are profound and unseen forces at work. Forces rooted not just in emotion and experience but in the intricate workings of the brain itself.
Let’s Start with The Language of Colours – How Hues Speak to the Soul
Have you ever walked into a room drenched in a specific color and felt instantly at ease? Or found yourself inexplicably agitated in a certain environment? Colors don’t just fill space; they make-or-break it. They whisper to the subconscious, shifting moods, awakening memories, and triggering emotions before we even have time to process them.
Scientists have long studied the psychological impact of color, and the findings are nothing short of extraordinary. Our brains respond to different hues in ways that are both instinctive and deeply personal. Red, for example, is the color of urgency, passion, and power—it raises heart rates, ignites energy, and commands attention. Blues and greens, on the other hand, activate the parasympathetic nervous system, slowing the heartbeat, easing tension, and bringing about a sense of calm. No wonder hospitals and spas are bathed in cool tones, while fast-food restaurants favor fiery reds and oranges to stimulate appetite and quick decisions.
But color isn’t just a visual experience—it’s a vibrational, cultural one. It carries history, symbolism, and deeply ingrained associations. I like to call these associations my memory stepping stones.
The Magic of Aesthetics: Why Beauty Moves Us
It’s a universal truth: we are drawn to beauty (whatever that means to the individual), even ‘wired’ for it. It’s all happening in an area called the ‘caudate nuclei’. Let me tell you what that is first:
These caudate nuclei, nestled deep within the brain’s basal ganglia (yummy), play a surprisingly central role in our experience of beauty and aesthetics. Traditionally associated with movement and learning, these structures are also key players in our reward system, lighting up when we encounter something we find aesthetically pleasing—be it a painting, a piece of music, or even an elegant mathematical equation. Neuroscientists studying neuroaesthetics have found that the caudate nuclei are particularly active when we experience deep emotional engagement with art, suggesting that our appreciation of beauty isn’t just a passive response but a deeply embedded, almost instinctual drive. This region helps link perception with emotion, reinforcing our attraction to symmetry, harmony, and form. In essence, the caudate nuclei act as the brain’s aesthetic compass, guiding us toward what we find beautiful and rewarding and subtly shaping our preferences, pleasures, and even creative impulses. It is no surprise to learn that these areas are also the ones responsible for dopamine production. So aesthetics are indeed ingrained in our neurobiology.
And while it’s tempting to dismiss this as mere preference or taste, the reality is that our attraction to aesthetics is a tangible thing.
But beauty does more than just delight the senses—it heals. When we immerse ourselves in art, our brains enter a state of deep engagement. The default mode network (DMN), the part of the brain responsible for introspection and self-reflection, comes to life. This is the same neural state activated during meditation and deep emotional processing, which explains why looking at a painting, losing ourselves in music, or even watching a ballet can feel almost spiritual. It is in these moments when we are truly present with beauty, that art works its quiet magic, soothing the mind and allowing us to process emotions in ways words often fail to do.
The Transformative Power of Creation
Experiencing art is powerful, certainly, but creating it is something else entirely. If you’ve ever lost yourself in painting, sketching, sculpting, making music, writing a song or poem, or even just doodling absentmindedly on a scrap of paper, you’ve likely felt it—the way time slows, the world quiets, and your mind shifts into a different state. This is no coincidence. Art is a form of active healing, engaging the brain in ways that promote relaxation, focus, and emotional release.
When we create (however good or bad is irrelevant), our brain lights up with activity. The act of making something—whether through brushstrokes, words, or melodies—stimulates both hemispheres of the brain, bridging logic and language with emotion and intuition. Art also activates the brain’s reward system, flooding us with endorphins and reducing levels of cortisol, the stress hormone that wreaks havoc on both body and mind.
This is why art therapy is such a powerful tool in treating trauma, anxiety, and depression. It offers a safe, often non-verbal way to express emotions that may be too difficult to articulate but need transforming. For those suffering from PTSD, neurodegenerative conditions, or deep psychological wounds, creative expression can be a lifeline—a way to externalize pain, reframe experiences, and ultimately find healing through color, texture, sound and form.
Art as a Mirror: Seeing Ourselves More Clearly
Perhaps the most profound reason why art heals is that it reminds us we are not alone. When we look at a painting that captures a feeling we’ve struggled to name, hear a song that mirrors our sadness, or watch a film that articulates something we thought no one else understood, we feel seen. We realize that our emotions, no matter how isolating they may seem, have been felt before, expressed before, and immortalized in paint, sound, and movement.
So next time you find yourself mesmerised by a painting, moved by a song, or compelled to pick up a brush and create, know that you are engaging with something ancient and powerful.
Art is more than a past-time or luxury—it is a necessity! A steady force that heals our souls through troubled times, and we are only beginning to understand just how potent it truly is.
