It has become trite to say that there is a fine line between genius and insanity, and yet the saying seems to have lost none of its veracity. If the numerous autobiographies, biographies and psychiatric diagnoses of some of the most famous people throughout history are to be believed, then mental illness is indeed much more prevalent among great artists than the general population. Among these we can count John Keats, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Leo Tolstoy, Ernest Hemingway, Virginia Woolf and Sylvia Plath, to name a few; but even if we have yet to discover the Van Gogh of our time, contemporary examples are out there too.
Not just for the sake of art
Art is playing an increasing role in creating, maintaining and restoring the emotional health of everyone from artists to homeless people, troubled youth and sufferers of such conditions as Alzheimer's disease.
27 Oct 2006 12:00
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