Art and care arise from the same vision and the same movement.

Care and the arts are traditionally seen as two distinct domains, crossing over only due to the benefits that art can bring to patients with various diseases. The November 2019 World Health Organization report highlights that art can make a positive contribution to physical and mental health, a finding supported by evidence from more than nine hundred publications. Our approach begins, however, not with illness, but with the nature of art and artistic activity, seen as essential to individual and societal development. Art is not just for the sick, but for the whole of society, encompassing everyone regardless of their state of health. Robert Filliou, part of the Fluxus movement, considered that art made life more interesting than art itself and emphasized art as a means of communication and cultural exchange across ages and societies. Although using art in medical treatments is thought to contribute to well-being and quality of life, it’s crucial to remember that art and artistic practices concern all people, sick or otherwise. Art transcends care typologies and reflects a diversity of visions and practices according to the origins and beliefs of the artists, embodying a perpetual dialogue between affirmation and rupture with established powers, the quest for notoriety, or social engagement. The notion of “artist” as a generic entity is meaningless in the face of the multiplicity of personal artistic practices and creative approaches. Artistic engagement, often described as an “inner necessity,” can work as a personal survival strategy against malaise. Filliou’s assertion that art amplifies life underlines its importance in enriching human existence in all its dimensions. The relationship between art and the viewer, free of judgment, can reveal unexpected perspectives and enrich our understanding of the work. Art, like care, requires an openness to all forms of expression to nourish individual and collective well-being, thus respecting life in all its forms. Art and care, intimately linked in Eastern civilizations, offer a continuous learning path for improving how we live together, self-care, and care for others.