HIGHER ART - Serving the human need

Higher art addresses essential aspects of our emotional, intellectual, and spiritual lives, and here's why ...
Spiritual and Emotional Enrichment
Higher art often touches on deep, universal themes of existence and transcendence that resonate with the core of our being. It provides a way to explore and express emotions and spiritual ideas that may be difficult to articulate in words alone, fostering a sense of connection and belonging in the human experience.
Intellectual Stimulation
Higher art challenges the mind. It often presents complex ideas, symbolic representations, and thought provoking concepts that require contemplation. Engaging with these works sharpens critical thinking, expands our perspectives, and encourages intellectual growth, allowing us to see the world in new and enriched ways.
Self-Discovery and Reflection
By exploring higher art, individuals are often invited to look inward and reflect on their beliefs, values, and experiences. It can act as a mirror for our inner worlds, helping us to better understand ourselves and our place in the larger universe. This journey of self-discovery can lead to personal transformation and growth.
Transcendence and Meaning
Humans naturally seek meaning and purpose in life, and higher art often addresses these existential concerns. It can offer glimpses of transcendence, whether spiritual, philosophical, or intellectual, providing a sense of purpose, direction, or even solace in the face of life’s challenges.
Inspiration and Aspiration
Higher art has the power to inspire, to lift us out of the ordinary and into the realm of possibility. It encourages us to strive for greater heights in our own lives, to explore our potential, and to contribute to something larger than ourselves. It is often a source of motivation, reminding us of the beauty and complexity of life.
 
WHO CAN PARTICULARLY BENEFIT FROM HIGHER ART?
Individuals Seeking Personal Growth

• Reflective Thinkers - People who enjoy deep contemplation and self-reflection can find higher art a valuable tool for exploring new perspectives, understanding complex emotions, and fostering personal growth.
  
• Spiritual Seekers - Those on a spiritual journey or seeking a deeper connection to something greater than themselves can be profoundly moved by higher art, which often explores themes of transcendence, spirituality, and existential meaning.
  

Artists and Creatives

• Inspiration - Artists, writers, musicians, and other creative professionals can draw inspiration from higher art, which challenges conventions and stimulates innovative thinking. Exposure to profound works can spark new ideas and creative breakthroughs.
  
• Skill Development - Higher art often involves intricate techniques and profound concepts, which can help other artists refine their skills and deepen their own creative expression
  

Educators

• Teachers and Professors - Educators, particularly in fields like philosophy, literature, art history, and psychology, can use higher art as a powerful teaching tool to illustrate complex concepts, provoke discussion, and inspire critical thinking in students.
  
• Students - Higher art can help students expand their understanding of history, culture, and human experience, encouraging them to think critically and engage with the world in more meaningful ways.
  

Mental Health and Wellness Seekers

• Therapists and Counselors - Art therapy often utilizes higher art as a way for clients to explore difficult emotions, experiences, and traumas. The abstract and symbolic nature of higher art can help people express themselves when words are insufficient.
  
• Individuals Facing Life Challenges - People experiencing grief, anxiety, or other emotional struggles can find solace and healing in higher art, which often provides a sense of connection to universal themes and emotions.
  

Philosophers and Thinkers

• Philosophers and Intellectuals - Higher art frequently addresses abstract concepts like ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology. Engaging with these works can provide intellectual stimulation and provoke meaningful dialogue about life’s big questions.
  
• Curious Minds - Anyone who enjoys exploring new ideas and challenging their own thinking can benefit from higher art, which often invites viewers to see the world in new and unexpected ways.
  
• Everyday People Seeking Enrichment - Higher art isn't just for academics or artists. Anyone looking for enrichment in their daily lives can benefit from exposure to higher art, which can inspire, provoke thought, or simply offer a moment of beauty and reflection.
  
  

In essence, higher art has the potential to benefit anyone open to engaging with it. Its richness and complexity offer something valuable for every mind and soul, making it a source of inspiration, education, healing, and connection for a broad audience ....

'HIGHER ART' DEFINED FOR ARTISTS
'Higher art' is defined as "creative impulse received
from within" which seeks to communicate deep
meaning through a visual art medium, so as to foster inner contemplation. It attempts to "portray a quality,a value, or a principle, that resonates with the highest 'interior' aspects of human existence" (MacKenzie 2024).

THE PRACTICE OF HIGHER ART
As a creative practice, 'higher art' promotes an inward orientation that facilitates inner self discovery and personal empowerment for the artist. Artist-Author-Philosopher Kim S. MacKenzie (PhD) provides an innovative philosophical tool for facilitating the practice of higher art as outlined in her book 'COLOUR CONSCIOUSNESS A Practitioner's Guide to HIGHER ART' 
by Kim S. MacKenzie (PhD).
(Read book reviews, order books here. )

VIEW examples of higher art
by Kim S. MacKenzie here

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