The Secret of Physically Challenged Artists

When I was in class-V, I had one classmate who was physically handicapped. I am not able to recall his name today. But if I close my eyes, he comes in front of me. He was an artist. He was not an intelligent student but he could draw best sketches in the class. He was able to draw the attractive pencil sketches of any personalities within minutes. He was not trained in any art school. No one of his family members was having artistic back ground. It was completely natural.

     At the bus stand and railway station some handicapped persons are seen to draw sketches on the pitch road or cemented floor. They draw the sketches with simple things - the pieces of bricks, stones, chalks and some chief colors. Basically they draw these sketches for collection of money. They are also a type of beggar but of intellectual classes. No one is the student of the art college. Yet they draw standard sketches which sometimes surprise the student of art colleges also.

     From very beginning I used to think about these talented artists. I have asked so many teachers, professors and later on departmental scientists. I did not get the answer why the physically challenged persons have good conception in arts and without any formal training how they are capable to draw such sketches. This question I have asked my mother also several times. She used to tell, the human body has a balance of strength. if one limb becomes weak, the strength of other limb is enhanced.

     Recent scientific research also tells similar thing. Generally if someone affected by serious brain disorder, we imagine deterioration and loss of function. But surprisingly new study revealed that some people develop artistic talent as a result of their brain disorder. Individual with neurological conditions, who with no previous artistic motivations suddenly become compelled to make art. Their art can tell us also about the nature of their brain disorder.

    It is seen in a case study that an epileptic man with no artistic ability was suffering from recurring epileptic attacks. He could not speak or focus his eyes. But during these attacks the patient began to draw spontaneously and compulsively and with remarkable skill. In another case, a 68 year old man had begun to paint at age of 56 with the onset of dementia. He was not interested before. In 10 years his paintings became more and more detailed, colorful, precise and realistic. He even won awards for his art.

    These interesting case studies offer new perspective on brain disorders and creativity. The temporal lobe and frontal brain regions work together and are involved in creativity. Damage or degeneration of temporal regions can release the temporal lobes inhibitory influence on the frontal cortex, resulting in enhanced creativity. The neural networks involved in creativity are delicately balanced. Disruption of this network can lead to the surprising and counter-intuitive emergence of new artistic talent.

It is the same thing what my mother used to tell.

Source :  Experts Column , 3rd June 2013