Advertisement
Celebrate Hong Kong Art Week for art’s healing power: it can lower stress and anxiety, boost the feel-good hormone dopamine and bring people together
- Research has shown that looking at art that we consider beautiful triggers the same pleasurable response we get when we fall in love
- Viewing art gives our brain a workout, too, so if you are in Hong Kong for Art Week, take advantage of this at Art Basel, Art Central and more
Reading Time:5 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
There may still be a gloomy post-pandemic cloud hanging over Hong Kong, but when it comes to art, the city is singing.
Advertisement
Hong Kong has emerged as the third-largest art market in the world, trailing only New York and London. You do not need the deep pockets required to buy art or the wall space to display it to reap the benefits.
The catalyst for Hong Kong’s flourishing art scene may have been the auction houses, but the impact ripples through the city. A wave of new and revamped art museums and galleries now beckons, inviting seasoned connoisseurs and curious passers-by. As Art Week approaches at month’s end, it is the perfect occasion to immerse yourself in a smorgasbord of artistic creation.
Why invest time in gazing at canvases, sculptures, and installations? The answer lies in the profound effects art has on our well-being.
1. Stress reduction and anxiety relief
Stepping into an art gallery is not just an aesthetic experience; it is a therapeutic one. Studies show that viewing art can lower stress levels and alleviate anxiety. The act of immersing ourselves in colours, shapes and textures provides a mental escape, allowing worries to dissipate like brushstrokes on canvas.
Advertisement