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Art as Inspiration and Transformation in Work Environments

Art as Inspiration and Transformation in Work Environments

JANUARY 2018 | 4 minutes

“Art seems to me to be above all a state of the soul” (Marc Chagall)

Art is emotion and inspiration. And it not only transforms the spaces it occupies, but the people it coexists with, influencing their mood and perception, stimulating their minds and even lifting up their spirit. For reasons like these, art is now carving out its own niche in work spaces of all types as a facilitator of creativity and, as a result, of productivity and a job well done.

Art pieces are no longer relegated to executive offices, they now inhabit the individual and collective work areas used by all members of the team, with pieces that stimulate, raise questions and broaden horizons. With this in mind, during these months the Actiu Showroom in London is holding the second edition of the FT2 art exhibition, which allows art to fit into new work spaces, with the help of Chrom-Art, a non-profit organisation committed to supporting emerging artists and helping them to visualise their artworks, collaborating with the business sector and putting young talent in contact with art lovers.

Photography: Albert Palen (@albertpalenshoots)

Art that visits people and not people who visit art


Thus every three months, the Actiu Showroom in London will be transformed, welcoming new works of art as part of their commitment to placing the focus on people and their well-being. Creations that enhance certain qualities and emotions and that are periodically replaced in order to open the door to new artistic and emotional interests and stimuli.

Seeing art as a means to improve inspiring and creative environments is something that the WELL Building Standard system in the United States already takes into account, which includes it as a MIND value and recognises initiatives aimed at improving the state of mind, mental health and overall well-being of the people who inhabit these spaces.

Built on the premise of the new trends in workspaces defined in the Actiu Showroom (Focus, Team Work, Fresh Time and Training), a meticulous selection has therefore been made of the artworks that best connect with each environment and use.

‘Micky has died’ by DALOPO. Photography: Albert Palen (@albertpalenshoots)

Focus and Concentration


Focus is a synonym of concentration, silence and privacy. Therefore, the selected pieces are intended to be abstract and suggestive, aimed at attracting, but not dispersing attention, widening our perception to be able to assimilate new things.

Dawn”, by Andy Finlay, is an oil painting of a white Syrian landscape with concrete powder that interacts with light and its progression throughout the day, meaning that this light is integrated into the piece, revealing new facets.

The proposal by the artist Jason Molloy is a sculpture piece created from burnt papers, cardboard and wood in the shape of a spiral inspired by nature that encourages contemplation and meditation.

Third, “Moon Dust” by Ting-An Lin is an exquisite, balanced and poetic abstract composition.

Team Work and Collaboration


Collaborative work and teamwork are nourished by the hubbub of ideas and a group commitment to common goals. They are nourished by the ability to connect and share. Thus, in this case, abstraction gives way to figurative art pieces, which broaden our perception of reality and serve to initiative conversations and strengthen ties between members of a team.

These pieces include the “Twisted Lines” series of historic monuments by the digital artist Jacino Caetano, since travel and geographical identity are talking points that break the ice when people meet each other for the first time. The oil on canvas “Crossroads” by Lindsay Pickett creates a distorted perspective of a familiar urban environment. 

“Crossroads” by Lindsay Pickett. Photography: Albert Palen (@albertpalenshoots)

Fresh Time and Socialisation


Nature and well-being are concepts that are closely tied to social spaces, which are then strengthened by works such as Caroline Hands’ “Urban Angel”, an abstract and bright painting full of rhythm and movement; the Picasso-inspired collage “Micky has died” by the young painter and street artist DALOPO, focused on the passage from adolescence to adulthood; and the serene and beautiful painting by Eleanor Buffam that brings us closer to both nature and childhood.

“Urban Angel” by Caroline Hands. Photography: Albert Palen (@albertpalenshoots)

Learning and training


Intuition and understanding are two inseparable qualities inherent to learning, which invite us to assimilate concepts, formulate questions and develop new skills. For the area of the London Showroom dedicated to learning, the selected artistic pieces were balanced and energetic but never excessive, based on abstraction and the essence of primary colours.

They include the geometric composition “Breech” by Marcus Richards – with his powerful sense of colour – and “Pulse”, an example of the sensual and expressionist art by Shiroma Ratne.

“Pulse” by Shiroma Ratne. Photography: Albert Palen (@albertpalenshoots)

Whether it’s because it allows us to “wash the dust of daily life off our souls” as Pablo Picasso once said, or because it allows us to “find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time” (Thomas Merton), art has become one of the latest trends in offices, with artistic creations whose mere presence creates environments that are both interactive and inspiring.