Working from home is one of the best ways to stay safe during the pandemic, however it can present its difficulties; boredom, lack of motivation, and decrease in productivity are a few aspects that have become quite familiar for many people working from home.
This leads us to the important question, how can we create a home work-space that encourages us to be creative and productive?
A study from the Journal of Workplace Learning explored the impact of art on employees in an organisation. The study unveiled that there are many positive impacts on employees when art is present in the workplace, including work-related content learning and interpersonal learning.
Here are a few more reasons from JD Malat Gallery on how art can enhance your home work environment:
Increases productivity
‘Art is truly an amazing way to inspire and boost your work ethic at home. Having art in my home not only makes my workplace more beautiful, it also encourages me to embrace its core values and be more creative and productive in my work approach.’ – Jean-David Malat, Founder of JD Malat Gallery.
People thrive in an optimistic environment, and art is one of the ways in which to create the perfect home workplace that encourages productivity. Research carried out by ARTIQ and the Zurich Insurance Group revealed that perceived productivity increased by 14.3% due to the presence of art in the work environment. Why? Displaying art in your home workplace can improve your mood and physical well-being, and in effect, bolster your work ethic.
Kojo Marfo, Defend Honour, 2020, Acrylic on canvas
63 x 63 in, 160 x 160 cm
Fosters learning
‘My understanding of the creative process is simply that all cultures and all concerns meet at a certain point, the human point in which everything is related to each other’. – Kojo Marfo
Art helps you incorporate different visual culture into your home, encouraging you to embrace new perspectives and viewpoints. According to Work Design Magazine, employees show the most attention to detail and show the highest levels of learning when their workplaces display art, demonstrating how art is key to enhancing professional performance. Fusing Western and Akan cultural references, the work of the Ghanaian artist Kojo Marfo perfectly exemplifies how art has the power to challenge an individual, convey a message and stimulate new ways of thinking.
Increases creativity
Research by the British Council for Offices suggested that 61% of workers believe artwork inspires them to think and work more creatively. Moreover, art can refresh and reinvigorate a space, renewing the sense of your personal creative agency. By personally curating your home work environment and by drawing inspiration from the art that you love, you will remind yourself of your own creativity.
Andy Moses, Geodesy 1509, 2020,
Acrylic on canvas over circular wood panel, 72 inch diameter
Reduces stress
Art can also alleviate stress by refreshing the atmosphere, helping you to recharge and rejuvenate. Forbes interviewed 800 employees from 32 different companies to find that 78% of respondents believed that art reduced their stress. The positive-mood inducing power of art is most evident through artworks depicting nature. Works by the Japanese artist Masayoshi Nojo, and the Swiss artist Conrad Jon Godly depict the ethereal Japanese landscape and Swiss mountains, presenting a window into a new and refreshing environment.
Masayoshi Nojo, Mirage#43, 2019,
Cotton on panel, acrylic, silver foil, aluminium foil, 120 x 150cm
Facilitates personal and emotional connections
Art can serve as a focal point; it gets people thinking and it opens up a dialogue that may have otherwise been lacking. In this way, having art in your home can not only improve your personal work experience, but it can also facilitate discussion with other household members, which in effect can boost the household morale.
Considering the recent impact of the lockdown on the lives we all live; the aesthetic environment of your home is undoubtedly important. It is one of the keys to ensuring productivity and creativity. It can add a creative edge to the everyday routine and achieve new heights.
For more information, please visit www.jdmalat.com or send an email to info@jdmalat.com
JD Malat Gallery, 30 Davies Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 4NB
References
Smiraglia, C. (2014), “Artworks at work: the impacts of workplace art”, Journal of Workplace Learning, Vol. 26 No. 5, pp. 284-295. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWL-11-2013-0097
Livingstone, Jamie. “The Power of Art in the Workplace.” ARTIQ.CO, accessed February 4, 2021.
https://artiq.co/art/the-power-of-art-in-the-workplace/
Smith, Rachel, “Art In The Workplace: Why You Need It And How To Choose It.” Work Design Magazine, 2016.
https://www.workdesign.com/2016/10/art-workplace-need-choose/
Luenendonk, Martin. “The Impact of Art in the Workplace.” Cleverism, last updated on May 14, 2020.
https://www.cleverism.com/impact-of-art-in-the-workplace/
Higginbottom, Karen. “The Impact of Art in the Workplace.” Forbes, May 1, 2016. https://www.forbes.com/sites/karenhigginbottom/2016/05/01/the-impact-of-art-in-the-workplace/?sh=6fe705e865a3
