The only people I would like to be with now are artists and people who have suffered: those who know what beauty is and those who know what pain is: no one else interests me. – Oscar Wilde (De Profundis)
In the recent past I have faced disappointment as a playwright and creator of therapeutic theater. This experience has been fundamental to understanding the abuse that artists are frequently subjected to, the traumatic wounds they awaken and the recovery process. Basically, when my artist’s naivety and idealism collided with greed and duplicity, I was challenged to deal with and overcome metabolic stress and bitter cynicism. This process catalyzed critical changes creatively and emotionally, which consequently infiltrated the therapy sessions I facilitate with a multitude of diverse artists in New York. Therefore, my experience compels me to share the painful obstacles encountered by the artist and the psychic cost and resulting wounds he incurred. Likewise, I also want to identify ways to defend the artist, so that these struggles and wounds can ultimately be transformed into wisdom, power, and success.
“The Artist’s Way” author Julia Cameron said that creating is surrendering and aligning yourself with a higher will. Cameron exposes that art is a mystical transaction, which unearths its purest essence in the artist. To risk bringing ideas of beauty and personal meaning to life and courageously sharing one’s artwork is to reveal vulnerable aspects of what humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow called the real self.
Yet we are often hampered by our simultaneous quest to update ourselves and the drive toward safety. Our formative experiences influence where we stand on this spectrum of safety and updating, as do a myriad of external factors that can discourage the expression of innate creative gifts and obstruct artistic expression. We see this conflict personified in the archetypal reality of the wounded artist in struggle.
In New York, artists often lack the resources to create their work. The cost of real estate, labor, and materials make it a huge challenge for artists to thrive. The varying forms of betrayal found in the dark womb of the art world wound the soul of the artist. The rigors of public humiliation, copyright infringement, transitory acclaim, theft of intellectual property, and corporate theft of one’s work, where top brass usurp and take credit for the pawn artist’s work , are common facts. Therefore, lofty goals and creative ambitions are often overshadowed by these tough challenges. To survive, working artists may improvise various art-related jobs or take a day job in a completely different sector. Balancing work with family responsibilities may require relocation and / or giving up artistic pursuits that require touring or long hours in a studio.
Art agency and idealism may need to be subordinated to accommodate those who finance artistic expression. This can take the form of private collectors, angel investors, producers, directors, or corporate organizations. Efforts to pursue business goals can reveal unethical narcissistic motives that creep into these collaborations. Successfully navigating this complex social and political terrain requires smart, healthy pride and formidable humility.
However, many artists are not equipped to handle these challenges. A healthy base of narcissism is needed in order to develop the ability to value one’s unique creative gifts and to withstand the onslaught of public scrutiny, duplicity, and rejection. If throughout life one is inadequately cared for, rejected, and inconsistently supported, it is likely that there are narcissistic wounds that prevent one from successfully overcoming these difficulties and fully appropriating and manifesting one’s aspirations. Under these conditions, what is incurred in displaying or marketing one’s art can catalyze creative stagnation, blockages, and traumatic representations ingrained in one’s story. Furthermore, vulnerable to having revealed personal truths through his artistic work, the artist can be swept away by overriding needs for admiration and approval. Deep-seated yearnings to be “special,” perhaps to compensate for and master unresolved betrayal and rejection, can set the artist up for a proverbial downfall.
Artists who are victims of disorderly parents can carry an inescapable insidious shame, reinforcing the edict that their own gifts are a threat, responsible for instigating feelings of resentment, inadequacy, and envy. Envied and perceived as a threat, the disorderly parent may prohibit the artistic child from playing music, drawing, performing, or expressing his creative gifts in any capacity. Parental bans and children’s shame send an implicit message about actualizing potentials. Having learned that any hint of happiness, achievement, or admiration results in contempt and a myriad of forms of emotional violence, these latent artists may hide in the shadows, having lost sight of their innate gifts or simply too fearful to expose those essential parts of themselves. themselves.
Alternatively, unable to tolerate human flaws and therefore driven by perfection, the wounded artist may identify with the aggressor and perpetrate the cycle of abuse he suffered by ridiculing and belittling others. Like their abusive parents, they may adhere to self-defeating perfectionist ideals as a defense against perceived inadequacy. While parents with personality disorders are known to perpetrate continuous sabotage and contempt, their egotistical fixation on status and personality can result in smearing the artistic child for his gifts while indirectly exploiting him for a narcissistic supply. in order to enhance the stature and self-esteem of the disorderly parent. importance. From now on, when these artists see their creative work usurped, repackaged, and exploited without recognition or accreditation, memories of dehumanizing parental abuse are triggered. For the artist rising to fame, being a narcissistic extension to industry moguls under the guise of fondness and admiration and dealing with the parasitic demands of a fan base can replicate the trauma of being objectified and used by narcissistic parents.
Ultimately, in a subconscious effort to master psychological and emotional injuries, traumatic patterns will play out with those who embody the traits of the abusive parent and / or the scorned victimized child. To free himself from these representations, the wounded artist must undertake an emotionally and psychologically draining exploration of a painful story, in order to bring to consciousness destructive patterns and powerful projections ignited by comparable dynamics found in the art industry. Only then can you grieve your losses and make a realistic and informed commitment to your efforts to creatively and financially prosper as a professional artist.
Freud argued in his article “On Narcissism” that primary narcissism is an essential part of normal development and is fundamental to one’s survival. To engender healthy narcissism, one needs to be fully seen and understood, taken seriously, feelings and needs respected. Self-promotion and the realization of mature ambitions and goals require healthy narcissism. Similarly, healthy narcissism forms consistent and realistic self-interest, principles, and an ability to form deep relationships. By healing core wounds and reclaiming a healthy narcissistic foundation, the artist equipped with a more formidable ego and perspective can more skillfully deal with the logistics of navigating the vicissitudes of the marketplace and popular culture.
For life-affirming options and change to prevail, the injured artist will need to modify logistical circumstances. Carl Rogers, a client-centered psychologist, said that we should create two conditions for people to develop the creative process in therapy. Rogers conveyed that psychological safety and psychological freedom lead to acceptance, empathy, and space to think, feel, and contribute fully. When one is free from judgment and criticism, the energy of inspiration and possibility becomes accessible. Ergo, by breaking free from toxic bonds and harmful collaborations that stifle creative energy, the artist can empower himself and prioritize his well-being by rebuilding a network of trusted colleagues who inspire and foster resourcefulness and partnership so that a healthy self-esteem and self-esteem.
Dr. Robert Firestone wrote: “Personal power is based on the strength, confidence, and competence that people gradually acquire in the course of their development. It is self-assertion and a natural and healthy effort for love, satisfaction, and the meaning of one’s interpersonal world.. “The professional artist, aligned with his power and therefore his birthright to love and fulfillment, will be driven to protect his work and guard against unscrupulous dealings. You will recognize the need to acquire a basic understanding of legal rights and the need to obtain legal representation sensitive to the difficulties of artists when negotiating contracts and selling their work. You may come to realize that restoring one’s artistic integrity and authority may require taking legal action with those who exploit the ideas and the work.
While one’s work is an act of self-respect and a critical part of upholding artistic and aesthetic integrity, it is also an integral part of strategic marketing. With renewed vigor, the energetic artist driven by creativity will be driven to embrace visibility through various channels. Knowing who you are as an artist and how your own artistic identity matches cultural and economic trends will influence the promotion of your art.
Branding and developing a viable customer base will require an online presence through a personal website, social media, various online galleries, and web posts. This will require crafting a meaningful artist statement to present one’s unique aesthetic and the inspiration and meaning that support one’s work. Depending on the artist’s medium, obtaining commissions, auditions, and assignments may involve representing the artist, such as agents, publicists, and curators. Additional outlets for art marketing may include online galleries and promotional sites for musicians and actors. To fund art, fiscal sponsorship can help with fundraising capabilities and grant applications. Artist scholarships, residencies, advanced training / internships, and ongoing networking with industry professionals are also critical to your success.
In short, surviving the dark descent into historical betrayals, traumas and defeats and the parallel battlefield of promoting one’s art lends itself to cultivating a greater capacity for discernment and discrimination to create the space to return bold and fearless to the artistic process of one. and wash the dust of everyday life from the soul (Picasso). A tenacious, dedicated, and disciplined commitment to hard work and long hours is an indisputable reality for the artist, but for the artist who has probed and maintains the stamina and guts necessary to create and promote their art, the rewards are substantial. The emboldened and healed artist, able to cope with core injuries and achieve a sensitive and balanced perspective, can safely traverse a daunting art industry and fully commit to his gifts from that mystical place of delivery where his creative spirit resides.