Your art and relationship to art on gluten

[Spherical Bird]

Hi everyone ! 

It's been a while that I wanted to post this topic because I'm very curious about the artistic practice or tastes of other intolerants...

The idea came to me as I discovered migraine induced art. Which seems to have touched something very personal in me... (I think this is has something to do with the loneliness that these intolerances have implied in my own life) I've always felt very isolated from others, so when I discovered about migraine art, it really comforted me in the idea that I am not alone with these struggles and pains...

And this might sound like the strangest thing ever, but I also personally found out I had some problems with food thanks to my own art. It began with stories about disabled characters (and that, without precisely being able to determine if they were disabled in the first place or not) but I also always had an obsession for gooey textures, and a lot of sympathy for tired characters, and eventually, texts that were talking a lot about curious physical sensations and exhaustion. Contemplation...

So obviously, I have been wondering if anyone have had a similar experiences. Weither it's through their art taste or very own art pieces...

Not that I consider that this necessarly impact our tastes in terms of characters/stories/art but I always tend to think that our minds get to be attracted or inspired by topics and things that can help us later on... Like a sort of intuition...

But maybe I'm just having too much expectations here ! And maybe I'm being a little bit weird...Who knows. Either way, I'm curious, feel free to share anyway 

Again, to anyone I haven't talked to yet, I'm French, so I apologize for the typos. Feel free to correct me ! 

[Scott Adams]

This is an interesting concept, and it may be the first time it's been brought up here.

I've sensed a certain anti-establishment sentiment among many with celiac disease, and although I'm not very artistic, I did play guitar in a punk rock band in the early 80's. I've often wondered what attracted me so much to punk music, and perhaps part of this was the feeling of being a misfit due to various health symptoms?

[Spherical Bird]

10 hours ago, Scott Adams said:

This is an interesting concept, and it may be the first time it's been brought up here.

I've sensed a certain anti-establishment sentiment among many with celiac disease, and although I'm not very artistic, I did play guitar in a punk rock band in the early 80's. I've often wondered what attracted me so much to punk music, and perhaps part of this was the feeling of being a misfit due to various health symptoms?

That makes sense ! At least, I can see the correlation here ! And I can agree with the anti-establishement sentiment too. I've often had a very similar feeling when talking to people with all sort of digestive issues too... And without much surprise, I usually get along very well with people who suffers from these things too. And it does show up in their tastes too !

I guess it all boils down to the fact that it can simply be very difficult for all of us to feel at ease in societies that often (cheerfully) advertise things or foods that aren't meant for all of us...

I mean, I know I often felt very bitter at marketing for similar reasons. Often left  to wonder why would anyone would show me a poster of someone delighted by an hamburger... when all it inspired me was... Puking (sorry) haha

I'm usually very careful about foods that are sold in such cheerful ways now... Same goes with art/musics that are too "happy" (it often feels suspicious to me)

[Scott Adams]

After hearing of artists who had many different health issues, including mental issues, for example Vincent van Gogh, I sometimes wonder if they had celiac disease or gluten sensitivity? Of course there is no way to know for sure, but I'll admit that I look through this lens now at many things, art included.

[I.M.Celiac]

On 4/2/2022 at 2:34 PM, Scott Adams said:

After hearing of artists who had many different health issues, including mental issues, for example Vincent van Gogh, I sometimes wonder if they had celiac disease or gluten sensitivity? Of course there is no way to know for sure, but I'll admit that I look through this lens now at many things, art included.

I wonder this as well. Especially after learning about gluten ataxia and my own decreased anxiety +neuro issues after quitting gluten. 
Guess someone would have to genetically study Van Gogh’s nephew’s children to see if they have the Celiac gene? 

[Spherical Bird]

On 4/6/2022 at 4:17 AM, I.M.Celiac said:

I wonder this as well. Especially after learning about gluten ataxia and my own decreased anxiety +neuro issues after quitting gluten. 
Guess someone would have to genetically study Van Gogh’s nephew’s children to see if they have the Celiac gene? 

I've also read about ataxia and I've been wondering too. Strangely, I remember having excellent visual memory while suffering from it, but also very poor movement coordination for everyday tasks, except maybe for dancing or artistic activities which were the things I could learn with more ease... since art didn't follow as much logic as other things in my mind (I mean, when you practice them alone at least, they can be as chaotic as you want them to be)

From what I've understood and also experienced, it does require much more conscious efforts to learn when you have ataxia. So you're kind of forced to mimic more... And damn, I definitely felt this... While also wondering why did "artsy" things felt easier to do while in this state too (maybe they're more impulsion-based than logical) all of this raises so many questions... 

But yes, the neurological implications of it all often made me question the whole artistic process too ! That and the cliché of the "tortured" or "damned" artist too... 

[knitty kitty]

When I've had ataxia, I've been very uncoordinated and awkward trying to do everyday tasks, too, but I've found that doing something involving muscle movement memory is much more successful.

Dancing would involve muscle movement memory, as would knitting. 

I knit really plain socks when I have ataxia, instead of the delicate lace knitting I love to do.  My brain can't translate the lace pattern chart/instructions into the stitches needed to make the lace.  The first time this happened I was truly a "tortured artist"!

There's a rhythm to plain knitting and my fingers remember what to do.  It's comforting, the feeling I can still be productive, even if I don't feel well physically or if I feel isolated because those around me don't understand what it feels like.  And my toes stay warm!  

Perhaps it's easier to do "artsy" stuff with ataxia because our inhibitions are lower and art is a form of nonverbal communication, like painting, dancing and knitting.

 

 

 

[Spherical Bird]

3 hours ago, knitty kitty said:

When I've had ataxia, I've been very uncoordinated and awkward trying to do everyday tasks, too, but I've found that doing something involving muscle movement memory is much more successful.

Dancing would involve muscle movement memory, as would knitting. 

I knit really plain socks when I have ataxia, instead of the delicate lace knitting I love to do.  My brain can't translate the lace pattern chart/instructions into the stitches needed to make the lace.  The first time this happened I was truly a "tortured artist"!

There's a rhythm to plain knitting and my fingers remember what to do.  It's comforting, the feeling I can still be productive, even if I don't feel well physically or if I feel isolated because those around me don't understand what it feels like.  And my toes stay warm!  

Perhaps it's easier to do "artsy" stuff with ataxia because our inhibitions are lower and art is a form of nonverbal communication, like painting, dancing and knitting.

 

 

 

I think this is a very good guess about the link between ataxia and arts ! There's resolutely something related to inhibitions too. And muscle memory. 

All of this remind me of the fact that a lot of people used to tell me I was very good when it comes to draw facial expressions. But I remember it would frustrate me sooo much to hear this ! Because this aside, I felt like I was really unable to communicate in more normal ways...

[Spherical Bird]

It's been a while but thanks everyone for your answers ! They're interesting (and yes, I'm pushing this topic up again because who knows, maybe we have some more tortured artists around who feel like outcasts) ; )

You're not alone !

I'd be interested to read more answers !