Why is it important to allow yourself to make ugly art? (thoughts)

When I worked at an open studio in a private mental health clinic in South Australia a lot of newcomers would come in and say: “I’m no good at art” or “I have no creative bone in me” or “I am not creative at all”. It was almost a ritual, to enter the space, look at art and immediately exclude themselves, by saying they can’t do it. My main answers were usually “Good! We need more ugly art!” or “This is a great place to start, then.”

How can you expect to create something exceptionally beautiful if you haven’t been making anything for a long time? It’s like expecting to run a really good time for 100m, when you don’t even walk regularly for exercise.

Here are some thoughts on why it’s a good idea to challenge yourself and make ugly art:

  • to break up with perfectionism

  • an act of resistance towards aesthetically pleasing consumeristic culture

  • to grant yourself a permission to explore and play without the expectation of outcome

  • ugly vs pretty, good vs bad - do we really live in such a simple binary world? Explore!

  • to learn something new, see your own response, observe the inner critic and how loud is it

  • ugly art can be seen as more real and authentic, as opposed to “masked” pretty art

  • you may explore narratives and beliefs around creation and art making: what’s your story?

  • who cares? you’re not going to get a grade! What if it’s actually a pleasant process and you get to have a bit of fun while at it? Who knows - you might even ENJOY it!

  • it’s not school anymore, there is no need for such discipline and judgement. Sometimes it’s nice just to make things to honour our humanity and being alive

  • when you let a bit loose and let go of the expectations, you might even feel more confident to try other new things

  • this IS the place to start if you are ever wanting to create things. They don’t magically appear pretty all the time, it’s time, effort and energy and plenty of mindfulness while at it

Perhaps you can just give it a go, make the art and then judge it, if you must. At least you began the process.

Karolina Lutkiewicz