Exploring mindfulness : art as a meditative practice

Abstract

In today’s world, one might describe their pace of life as rushed, chaotic and demanding. We experience discomfort from inevitable stressors and constant anxiety in our daily lives. It has become challenging to speak of the present moment when time appears to be mercilessly speeding ahead. This makes inhabiting the here and now all the more crucial. Becoming present refers to the act of retracting one’s attention away from past or future thoughts, to be able to focus on the now. This notion of ‘presence’ is fundamental to the practices of mindfulness and meditation. Mindfulness is the practice of turning one’s awareness to the present moment, aiming at nurturing acceptance, curiosity and kindness towards the self (Kabat-Zinn, 2005). Analogously, meditation is an embodied practice concerning awareness of thoughts, emotions and physical sensations (West, 2016). This research project Exploring Mindfulness: Art as Meditative Practice draws on the act of painting as an extension of meditation and mindfulness practice. This research borrows from the fields of fine art, art therapy, neuroscience and psychology. I have adopted an auto-ethnographic practice-led approach, making use of reflective journaling as my method of documentation. The goals of this research are twofold. I have sought to devise an approach to meditative-painting and set up a multimedia contemporary art installation that aims to provide a space for viewers to engage with the present. Through this meditative-painting research approach, I gained an important understanding about the self, working through negative thoughts, sensations, emotions and investigating the therapeutic potential of such an approach.