Dictionary
Psychedelic Art
As a style period, the phenomenon known as Psychedelia or psychedelic art lasted only for a rather short time, however, despite its short bloom, psychedelic tendencies can sometimes still be observed with contemporary art.
The term Psychedelia was coined by Humphry Osmond and Aldous Huxley in 1956, in order to describe the mind-augmenting effect of drugs (Greek psyche = soul, mind; delos = obvious). When applied to painting and graphic art, the psychedelic is to be understood as a form of art that is created under the deliberate influence of hallucinogenic drugs, especially LSD. Other drugs such as mescaline or psilocybin, both fashionable drugs in the years around 1968, were also used. The basic concept of psychedelic art is the "automatism" and is closely related to the concept in Surrealism.
Psychedelic art had its heyday in the 1960s and early 1970s, experimental tracks also found expression in psychedelic music. Psychedelic art developed an innovative esthetic, often displaying its powers in abstract-ornamental compositions. Spirals, organic forms and glaring colors are often depicted. The borders to the confusing repetition of forms in Op-Art are sometimes indistinct, a certain closeness to Pop Art can also be observed. Due to its visual powers, the esthetics of psychedelic art were also taken on by commercial design.
As a style period, the phenomenon known as Psychedelia or psychedelic art lasted only for a rather short time, however, despite its short bloom, psychedelic tendencies can sometimes still be observed with contemporary art.
The term Psychedelia was coined by Humphry Osmond and Aldous Huxley in 1956, in order to describe the mind-augmenting effect of drugs (Greek psyche = soul, mind; delos = obvious). When applied to painting and graphic art, the psychedelic is to be understood as a form of art that is created under the deliberate influence of hallucinogenic drugs, especially LSD. Other drugs such as mescaline or psilocybin, both fashionable drugs in the years around 1968, were also used. The basic concept of psychedelic art is the "automatism" and is closely related to the concept in Surrealism.
Psychedelic art had its heyday in the 1960s and early 1970s, experimental tracks also found expression in psychedelic music. Psychedelic art developed an innovative esthetic, often displaying its powers in abstract-ornamental compositions. Spirals, organic forms and glaring colors are often depicted. The borders to the confusing repetition of forms in Op-Art are sometimes indistinct, a certain closeness to Pop Art can also be observed. Due to its visual powers, the esthetics of psychedelic art were also taken on by commercial design.
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