Inside The Outside

Outsider Art, also known as Naive Art or Peasant Art, is a term with a lot of varied definitions, which is known to encompass the works of untrained artists who operate outside the boundaries of the mainstream art world. French artist Jean Dubuffet, in the mid- 20th century coined the term, ‘Art Brut’ which refers to intuitive art created by individuals with mental illnesses, self-taught artists, or artists from marginalized backgrounds. Dubuffet (in ‘40s) began collecting artworks with an unusual context. He considered these artworks to be more authentic than works by classically trained artists. Hence, he coined the term ‘Art Brut’ meaning Raw Art. 

It had its origins in the psychiatric collections of 19th century European psychiatric hospitals. The works in these collections were solicited from patients and organized for the purpose of medical teaching and analysis. Some 1900 psychiatrists and professional Modernist artists came to see such works not as medical evidence but as art. 

Such artists create art using a unique and uninhibited approach to their craft because they have never been exposed to any sort of formal training. Such an art style seeks to challenge existing traditional artistic norms & expands the boundaries of what can be achieved through artistic expression. These artists simply create for themselves, in order to make sense of their experiences, interests, and the world around them, without following the rules of the art world. 

If we talk about art in general, the notion is that artists paint or sculpt with the intention to sell. While the notion itself is not wrong, it doesn’t usually fit the outsider artists. They do not have the intent to sell and don’t really worry about what other people are going to think of their work. 

For their artworks, it can be said that it’s driven by impulse, obsession, or religious inspiration. Many outsider artists are known as visionary artists. Some create art because they believe they have received a message from God or some other spiritual or intelligence source. 

Unlike many quintessential artists, outsider artists use non-traditional or repurposed materials for their artworks. These often come from their immediate surroundings like their house, yard, or neighbourhood. They use objects that have been recycled or things we might throw away. This is a characteristic feature of Outsider Art. 

Outsider Art has significantly impacted the art and design world. One of its key contributions is the recognition it gives to creatives from non-artistic educational backgrounds. We can also see this influence today in the proliferation of self-taught illustrators and designers producing surprising and delightful work. One such example is Maxime Manga, a self taught Cameroonian digital illustrator who graduated with a Computer Science degree in 2019. Having experimented with graphic design softwares since 2016, he developed his own unique illustrations style. His work caught the eye of numerous big brands. His clients include Adobe, Adidas, and The New Yorker. 

This genre of art celebrates and elevates the raw talent and uniqueness of non-academic artists, self-taught, untrained, imprisoned, people with mental illness, and others on the fringes of what can be considered the mainstream society. It gives an artistic voice to those whom we wouldn’t listen to otherwise.