Living through a global pandemic isn't easy, and being stuck in a lockdown can feel pretty miserable and claustrophobic. The little things that we used to rely on for comfort, like seeing friends, catching a movie, or even just browsing the shops, are now off-limits, and the news and other media outlets act as a constant reminder of the suffering and loss caused by this disease every day. Everyone is searching for an escape, something to distract from our slightly nightmarish reality. For many, this escape has been art. Art can carry messages of hope. It can remind people of a shared human experience, which can be comforting in tough times. 

The power of art to comfort has been well-proven. Art therapy has been utilised for over a century to alleviate the symptoms of common mental health disorders. A report published by the Arts Council England in 2020 found evidence to suggest that frequent engagement with the arts and culture links to higher levels of subjective wellbeing. The same report suggested that access to art can benefit physical, emotional and mental health, boost self-esteem, and develop a stronger sense of community. The research demonstrated that those who attended cultural events and places were 60% more likely to have reported good health in the last 12 months. 

Since 2004, there have been concerns regarding the rapid increase in mental health conditions in young people. Unsurprisingly, in 2020, these figures continued to rise, with one report suggesting that 69% of people felt some level of worry about the pandemic.

Considering these statistics, it is no wonder that so many have turned to art as a comfort. In fact, arts and cultural institutions have continued to feel an overwhelming demand from the public for access to their collections, despite closures. This demand has caused a rapid shift towards the digital sphere, with many museums and galleries choosing to showcase exhibitions virtually. It has become possible to view vast collections of work from your favourite galleries without even leaving the house. Infamous institutions, such as the MOMA, Guggenheim, V&A, and The British Museum, have all completely revamped their online collections, displaying thousands of unseen items online for the first time. Many smaller arts organisations and institutions have followed suit, increasing their engagement on popular social media platforms and creating exciting interactive virtual tours online. Curators have been forced to reimagine the ways visitors move through gallery spaces, changing the way we consume and even create art.

A study by Dr Imogen Racz draws parallels between art and the home. She suggests that the creative activity involved in making and responding to art links to the idea of constructing a safe and inviting living space. Her research concludes that art and culture help create a greater sense of home, community, and comfort. The pandemic has demonstrated that perhaps this primal desire to create and consume art is fueled by the need to feel safe. 

This March, The Scottish Gallery will present the work of Michael McVeigh and David Cook. The exhibition, available online as a virtual tour, will take visitors through their contrasting collections. Both artists have chosen to live lives of solitude for many years, and their art showcases the inspiration they find at home and from their immediate surroundings. 

Cook's body of work, Earth Shaker, is raw and emotional. It explores the environment and the rhythms of the natural world, taking inspiration from his home and garden on the North Sea Coastline. McVeigh's collection, A Sense of Place, focuses on Scottish urban subcultures and traditions. He takes inspiration from his home in Leith, and much of his work displays Edinburgh's architecture in firm lines and bold colours. The Scottish Gallery Director, Christine Jasen, felt this exhibition would inspire those stuck in lockdown to engage and be inspired by art, while at home.

The last 12 months have demonstrated the importance of art. As the poet and academic, Cesar A. Cruz once said, “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” His words, later used by British Street Artist Banksy, suggest that art has the power to help people cope in tough times. Certainly, it is clear that the creativity that has been born out of these darker days demonstrates the power of art to comfort and makes this past year feel a little richer.

Abigail Pooley graduated in 2020 with a BA in Arts Management from Goldsmiths, University of London. Since then, she has been working as a freelance arts journalist in Edinburgh. You can find more of her work at https://www.abipooley.com/