Political leaders, soldiers and trench art
I feel looking into trench art will provide beneficial research for my current work around art therapy, by looking to the war as a large example of emotional trauma and mental battle, we can see how art can play a role in recovery. Trench art is the term given to pieces created in the trenches of war starting in WW1, made by soldiers; it also refers to art made in response to, or during conflict by soldiers, prisoners and civilians from repurposed war materials.
Throughout my research it has become apparent that soldiers and political leaders have been employing art as a coping strategy during times of pressure and stress, by looking at how soldiers naturally created and produced artwork during these times, we can see the positive impact of art on mind and wellbeing in the 21st century.
Individuals such as: Winston Churchill, George W bush and Adolf Hitler are examples of political leaders who have valued artistic merit and expression throughout their careers, returning to creative therapeutic comfort during times of crisis and pressure.
Winston Churchill “Painting came to my rescue in a most trying time” 1920
Churchill found painting in 1915, during a time political distress. He resigned from his government post and went onto to become an army officer; during this time of anxiety and deflation he turned to painting. In later life, Churchill would paint en plain air landscapes throughout his favourite locations in Europe as well as in his studio/garden at Chartwell. Winston also wrote ‘Painting as a pass time’ in 1948, furthering his adoration for painting throughout a stressful life of battle and leadership.
Hitler was another example of a political leader come artist however, his passion of painting began before coming to power. When Hitler was eighteen he had already found the drive to become a professional artist applying to the art academy in Vienna twice, but being denied entry each time; painting and drawing were still a hobby throughout his later life.
Bob Ross, famous painter known for the joys of painting, was initially an air force drill sergeant he began his painting in the military, painting the Alaskan landscapes surrounding their base. I was surprised to find out Bob Ross was ever in the military and found his passion there, I feel the more we look to the individuals within war and art we can recover further links between art and wellbeing.
“I was the guy who makes you scrub the latrine, the guy who makes you make your bed, the guy who screams at you for being late to work. The job requires you to be a mean, tough person. And I was fed up with it. I promised myself that if I ever got away from it, it wasn’t going to be that way anymore.” – Bob Ross
FAYE TIKIC 