Psychedelic Art Movement, Style and Characteristics
The Psychedelic Art Movement of the 1960s was a cultural phenomenon that changed modern art and fashion forever. Psychedelic art is characterized by bright and vibrant colors, highly imaginative imagery and its association with drugs, music and counterculture. It also encompasses a range of other genres including optical art, surrealism, and op art among others. While this movement is now largely considered part of modern mainstream art, it was once last viewed as revolutionary and scandalous. Thus, psychedelic art was a vehicle of self-expression and liberation during this decade and continues to be a source of inspiration and creativity today.
Style and Aesthetic Characteristics
Psychedelic art is vibrant, dynamic and stands out from the rest due to its intense use of color and fantastical imagery. Its style is often characterized by swirls, geometric patterns, morphing shapes, and abstract representations of everyday objects. Themes of mysticism, altered states of consciousness, spiritual journeys, and environmental awareness are also often featured in psychedelic artworks.
The motifs used in psychedelic art are derived from Mayan and Aztec art, as well as from signs and symbols from world cultures such as Hinduism and Buddhism. Visual references from pop and comics art, contemporary British and US counterculture and ‘Outsider Art’, created by self-taught artists and individuals with mental health issues, are also incorporated into the psychedelic aesthetic.
Influence of LSD and Psychedelic Drug Cultures
The Psychedelic Art Movement is most closely associated with drugs such as LSD and mescaline, which were seen as gateways to expanding consciousness. Artists such as Mati Klarwein, Robert Venosa, Storm Thorgerson and Victor Moscoso, either experimented with LSD or had a close relationship with the drug cultures that so heavily influence the style of their art.
One of the most famous signatures of psychedelic art, the “third eye” symbol, was inspired by the chemical compound of LSD. The fact that LSD was illegal in the 1960s meant that this drug-induced creativity was not taken seriously at first. However, over the years, this form of expression has been celebrated by counterculture movements and, eventually, has been accepted by mainstream culture too.
Pop-Culture and Music
Psychedelic art gained immense popularity in the pop culture of the 1960s and 1970s. It appeared on album covers, book covers, posters and even on the walls of music venues. Many major artists, such as Pink Floyd, Frank Zappa, Beatles, Grateful Dead and Jimi Hendrix, drew inspiration from psychedelic art and its themes.
The vibrant and electrifying visuals of psychedelic art have, for decades now, been an integral part of a concert or a festival. Many of the poster artists of this era, including Stanley Mouse and Rick Griffin, became legends in the arts community. It is worth noting that the psychedelic art movement would not have succeeded without the support of pop culture references and the psychedelic-infused music it was always so closely associated with.
Legacy and Continuity
In spite of its its connotations with drugs and residual stigma, psychedelic art has endured and remains to be popular in its various guises. Digital and software-programmed music altogether with audiovisual arts, street art, body art and other forms of visual expression have been significantly influenced by this trend. With endless possibilities to engage in self-expression, psychedelic art has influenced graphics, fashion and artwork of more recent decades.
Overall, the Psychedelic Art Movement retains its vivid imagery and its access to dreams and imagination over fifty years after its origin. Its style remains fresh and inspiring to this day, allowing people to interpret and express their own perspectives. As this art form continues to evolve and grow, it serves as a reminder of the power and potential of vivid visual expression.
