When you have an interest in both art and science, like I do, it can be challenging to find where the two fields intersect. I’ve been pondering on how my artistic work experience and passions can connect with my scientific studies in health. Fortunately, I’ve come across some information that shows art and science can come together after all!

In fact, there’s a fast-growing field in health called “arts in health”. It’s all about how the arts can contribute to our well-being. Many experienced health professionals talk about how a well-rounded physician should have a background in both the sciences and the humanities. Art helps a health professional see situations in multi-dimensional ways, instead of just relying on the data and science alone.

And art itself can be such a therapeutic activity in health. Art therapy is one way health and art intertwine. Through making art, patients can express their emotions, work through their fears and difficulties, and feel a sense of purpose through the creative act.

I remember reading a book a few years ago about how people with mental illness were often able to create extraordinary art. Their pieces would challenge our ideas of logic and order, and they showed that art often exists beyond our limitations and boundaries for it. Some of those works by patients even became famous in their own right, such as the surreal drawings and paintings of Friedrich Schröder Sonnenstern.

A few days ago, I read an article on the attention economy and its hidden logic. It was on Simply Psych, a website of musings on psychology. J.C. Pass, the author, pointed out that when creators strive to make it and become famous, that’s actually the most profitable situation for the companies and platforms which showcase their content.

When people are trying to become famous at all costs, they often upload tons of content and spend more time on the platform. As J.C. Pass put it, the effort is more awarded than the actual success.

The platforms that host all of this activity do not depend on a large supply of successful celebrities. They depend on the endless optimism and ambition of people trying to become them. The system is designed so that the attempt is more valuable than the achievement. - J.C. Pass

Reading that struck me, because I've witnessed how creators feel pressure to constantly upload and make more content, hoping that one of their posts takes off and becomes a success. The platforms themselves encourage people to put all their time and energy into them, because that creates a free stream of content these companies can monetize.

I was thinking about how today’s creative world, especially online, seems to reward people who can churn out content for the algorithms. If you know how to grab people’s attention, create catchy reels, or fit within what’s trendy, you get more success (especially on the mainstream platforms).

But what about artists and creatives who can’t fit this kind of “content creation” style so easily? There are many artists who create in much different ways than what the algorithm may dictate. Some artists are very spontaneous, and they don’t create unless they feel an urge or hit of inspiration. Other artists need time in between projects, and they don’t feel comfortable posting content just for the sake of it.

I feel my own art is hard to fit into what could “go viral”. I create when I have the feeling I need to express something, and oftentimes it won’t fit a trendy theme or aesthetic, because it comes out the way it does in that moment. It could be very dark or depressing if I’m going through something difficult, or very hopeful and inspiring if I’m feeling positive. Sometimes my art will be a kind of commentary or analysis of the world I see around me, too.

An article I read some months ago gave me a lot of food for thought. The writer, an artist himself, talked about how sometimes we need a break from the art submission process. At first, I thought, “Hmm, but I really like applying for these!” I kind of get a kick out of the suspense and adventure part of it, when you don’t know if your work will get accepted at first. But as I read the article, I started understanding there was a lot of wisdom in it.

He talked about how when artists submit to too many open calls, especially if it’s one after another, it can distract you from other areas of your art practice. You start to rely on other people’s validation more, hoping they’ll accept what you make. And even for people who try to take rejection pretty well, like me, it can still be hard to get a lot of messages that your art has been declined.

What’s more, focusing solely on calls for art can mean you miss the chance to create your own opportunities. The time spent crafting your submissions could be used in publishing and sharing work on your own terms. Even though calls for art can be really amazing ways to get your work out there, it does take time to prepare for them. So you have to balance that trade-off.

One thing I’ve noticed myself is that when I submit to a lot of different calls for art and writing, it can be challenging because I have to fit my work into the themes the juror or editors want. The writer also pointed that out, and said it could make it harder for you to develop your own creative style and voice.