The whole world is fighting agains drug use, while people of art, using their benefit of being different, abuse drugs in search of inspiration and new realms. Just imagine, last time you went to a art gallery and admired the vision and talent of the artist, you might have admired the influence of drug, not the person.
Would you treat Mona Lisa the same way, if you knew that Leonardo was under drugs, painting the picture? Numerous artist used drugs in search of new worlds and in desperate attempt to prove their talent and unconventional thinking, such as Rembo, Bodler, Thomas de Quincey and others.
I decided to ask a person who loves drawing, Natia, whether using drugs to create art can be justified. She had a definite and straightforward answer.
I do not think drugs are good and do not approve using them in search for inspiration.
In my opinion drugs do not reveal anything new, do not let the unconscious of the author speak, but rather confuse already existing memories and feelings. Such works of, so called, art do not deliver any message to the viewers, they do not transmit author’s emotions, rather just a stream of consciousness.
Take an example of Bryan Lewis Saunders, who is famous for his self-portraits, that he did while being under the influence of different types of drugs. Besides that fact that it is self destructive, it also does not influence the viewers in any way.
Right now Bryan Lewis Saunders is facing severe health problems as well as psychological disorders due to drug abuse.
Who knows how many more real art pieces he could have produced, if he did not take an easy path of drugs and obsessions.
