January 19, 2010 - 9:57 PM

Why does nature art have such a universal appeal, and therapeutic effects?

Location: Wabaunsee County, Kansas

In an article for the Center for Health Design, authors Kathy Hathorn and Upali Nanda do an excellent job summarizing the theories and research behind, and best practices for choosing art for the healthcare environment.  (A Guide to Evidence-based Art)

The article references four different studies that demonstrate a preference for nature art in the healthcare setting.  They also reference ten different studies where nature art had either an analgesic effect or a stress reducing effect.

Why does nature have the above effects?  Nature art is enormously popular outside the healthcare environment as well.  Why is this so?  I will present some of the theories by experts, and a few of my own ideas.  

I am by no means an academic researcher, but I have spent a large portion of my 50 years hiking, backpacking and photographing in nature.  The culmination of these experiences and my experience with the artistic process may offer an interesting perspective.  The goal of any discussion would be a more illumined picture of how nature has its therapeutic effect, and in the end perhaps contribute to making the healthcare environment more nurturing.   This first post will be a discussion of one of the most common theories as described in the above article.

Evolutionary Theory

Hathorn & Nanda summarize this theory as follows: “...in survival of the species, humans have developed an affinity for the natural world that has sustained them.  Subject matter that is often associated with this evolutionary theory are works that depict “savanna landscapes”. 

Since prehistoric humans are thought to have evolved over millions of years in the savannas of east Africa, the hypothesis is that the characteristics of this landscape have been “hard wired” as a visual archetype into our current artistic sensibilities.  This is supported by studies that find savanna landscapes are preferentially selected over other landscape types. Ulrich, R. S. “Biophilia, Biophobia, and Natural Landscapes.” in S. A. Kellert and E. O. Wilson (eds.), The Biophilia Hypothesis. Washington, D. C.: Island Press, 1993.

The open country character of savannas offers a clear view of the surroundings and potential predators, and the canopied trees offered shelter from the sun.  In essence, “people are drawn to those same natural images in art today that represented shelter and protection to their ancestors.” (Hathorn & Nanda)

My experiences in nature leads me to embrace Hathorn & Nanda’s statement, “people are drawn to those same natural images in art today that represented shelter and protection to their ancestors.” There are very few more powerfully positive emotions than finding food, warmth, and protection after being exposed to an exhausting period of the lack thereof in a threatening landscape! 

Having had several stints in wilderness without food or shelter, and having been in situations where I wasn’t sure I was going to make it out, I can think of two very powerful characteristics these situations possess.  First is a very strong tendency for “woods shock”.  This condition is best characterized by an overdose of the fight or flight response; so much so it clouds good judgement.  A very focused effort is required to keep woods shock from escalating into a life threatening situation.

The second characteristic manifests when you successfully take control, by creating a situation of equilibrium and comfort with the materials at hand.  Finding food by catching fish, finding a rock overhang for shelter, and wood for a fire all contribute to a nearly ecstatic sense of relief, power, and self-sufficiency.  It's almost as if the severity of the threat creates a proportionately magnified sense of relief.  The further up “wood shock hill” the adrenaline takes you, the greater the ecstatic sense of relief when you fall back into the valley of comfort.  

Life on the ancient savannas of east Africa had to be filled with many terrifying threats, but as the inhabitants became more skilled and adapted to the environment, the sense of familiarity and security amidst the danger must have been a powerfully positive emotion. Perhaps the wave of positive emotion associated with the avoidance of tragedy was an evolutionary tool of natural selection.  Individuals that developed the gratitude and joy associated with near survival perhaps learned the lessons the environment had to teach with more efficacy.

 Associating the sights of grasslands with widely spaced trees could trigger these intrinsic positive emotions.  In any event, savanna landscapes are beautiful to look at!