The exhibition ‘Animal Therapy – Man and his animal muse’ shows an exclusive collection of works of art that focus on the special relationship between humans and animals. Museum of the Spirit celebrates the animal as more than a companion.
Petting animals as therapy? Does that really work? Utrecht University showed that in addition to endorphins (the ‘happiness hormone’), oxytocin is also produced during stroking. This hormone lowers stress and thus blood pressure and heart rate. This has a soothing effect and creates a feeling of connection between owner and animal. Museum of the Mind dedicates an exhibition to how animals improve the well-being of people.
Animal & art
Work by the popular British illustrator Louis Wain is exhibited in the Netherlands for the first time. Louis Wain became world famous at the end of the 19th century with his iconic cat paintings. After the death of his wife, Louis sought solace in endlessly drawing his cat Peter, which was decisive for his further career.
The exhibition also shows special work by Marlene Dumas: the impressive Het Hooghuys, which focuses on animal and human portraits that she made during an artist in residence at GGz Breburg.
Of course, work from the museum’s Outsider Art Collection will also be on display. A diverse selection of animal themes can be seen by, among others, Ria Mul, Yoshihiro Watanabe, Tao Zi and Dodi Espinosa, supplemented with loans from Jan Hoek, among others.
The exhibition ‘Animal Therapy’ can be seen until August 31 in Museum van de Geest, in H’ART Museum at Amstel 51