'The Art Of Mind' - An Artistic Reflection Framework

Episode 8 - The CHANGE Phase (Part 1): Transformation, Art, and Cognitive Adaptation

"If you want to change someone's behavior at a certain level, it is better to focus on the levels above it. No problem can be solved starting from the same level of consciousness from which the behavior arose." – Albert Einstein

Change is an essential force in artistic expression, cultural evolution, and human cognition. Whether through painting, exhibition curation, or creative direction, artists and cultural professionals constantly navigate transformation, adaptation, and reinterpretation.

Unlike the OPEN phase, which operates largely through subconscious absorption and instinctive triggers, the CHANGE phase is rooted in conscious engagement and adaptation. It unfolds across the three primary brain regions—the Primitive Brain (Elementary), the Emotional Brain (Bonding), and the Rational Brain (Meaning)—each contributing uniquely to how we process, implement, and respond to transformation. Understanding this cognitive framework allows artists, curators, and museum professionals to harness change as a deliberate, creative tool, shaping the way audiences interact with art and how artists develop their practice.

Change in Each Brain Region: How Art Evolves

Every aspect of human cognition responds to transformation in different ways. Here's how change manifests in the three brain regions and how it applies to artistic practice:

🔹 The Primitive Brain: Survival and Status (see also Episode 3)

• The 'Elementary' brain governs basic instincts, including survival and reproduction.
• In the art world, this manifests in status-driven decisions, such as curatorial selection or gallery prestige.
• Artists adapt to market trends, historical movements, and cultural shifts, consciously or subconsciously.

Change within this brain area is slow but consequential—choices regarding artistic trajectory, identity, and creative legacy often stem from deep-rooted instincts tied to security and preservation.

🔹 The Emotional Brain: Connection and Learning (see also Episode 4)

• The 'Bonding' brain determines attachment to ideas, people, and experiences.
• Learning is dynamic, continuously evolving through creative exploration.
• Emotional responses to art shift over time, influenced by context, memory, and interaction.

Artists often experience fluid emotional transitions—a deep attachment to one artistic style may evolve into a radically different vision over time, shaped by new experiences, collaborative projects, or audience reception.

🔹 The Rational Brain: Meaning-Making and Discovery (see also Episode 5)

• The 'Meaning' brain frames logical understanding, perception, and interpretation.
• Change occurs when new artistic concepts are introduced, tested, and embraced.
• Rational processing allows art to be viewed through new perspectives, breaking traditional narratives.

Curators and museum professionals frequently reframe historical contexts, altering how audiences experience past works through fresh, intellectual lenses. Artistic movements gain momentum when the rational brain integrates revolutionary ideas into mainstream cultural awareness.

The Neuroscience of Flexibility in Art & Thought

Art is a fluid cognitive experience, shaped by neural plasticity—the brain's ability to reorganize itself based on experience, learning, and adaptation. The brain prioritizes what it engages with most frequently.

Artistic Implications:

• When an artist immerses themselves in a new medium, their cognitive focus shifts toward mastery.
• A curator exposed to innovative exhibition styles begins to refine their own curation approach.
• A museum director who travels extensively develops fresh interpretive frameworks.

Visual Preference & Memory

Humans often experience visual bias—when searching for a new car, one suddenly notices that model everywhere. Similarly, pregnant women often spot other expecting mothers more frequently than others would. This selective perception also applies to art—when deeply engaged with a style, technique, or concept, artists become highly attuned to similar works, strengthening creative development.

Neuroplasticity & Art:

• Experiences reshape neural pathways, reinforcing artistic abilities.
• Traumatic artistic failures can lead to mental blocks, while positive breakthroughs elevate confidence.
• Repeated engagement with challenging concepts enhances cognitive flexibility, fostering innovation.

Just as therapy can rewire emotional trauma, structured artistic experimentation can refine cognitive adaptability—transforming an artist's creative mindset, risk-taking ability, and conceptual framework.

Memory, Internalization, and the Power of Learning

Memory functions like compressed digital storage—it preserves core details while estimating missing elements based on past experience. Much like a low-resolution image expanding beyond its original data, recalled memories often contain subconscious reconstructions, where the brain fills in missing details based on familiarity and emotional bias.

👁 Why Does This Matter in Art?

• Art triggers memory reconstruction, shaping how audiences interpret meaning over time.
• Museums curate experiences that evolve with repeated visits, each encounter reshaping audience perception.
• Artists' creative identity shifts based on memory encoding—what was once familiar may develop into entirely new artistic visions.

A Finnish research team studied reading acquisition using neuroscientific principles. In just eight weeks, children's brain activity indicated the formation of new neural connections in the left hemisphere—suggesting that structured exposure and repetition significantly impact cognitive development.

Similarly, artistic growth benefits from long-term engagement rather than intense bursts of learning. The gradual accumulation of skills, conceptual refinement, and emotional interpretation leads to deeper creative mastery.

Harnessing Change in the Artistic World

Change is not just reactive—it can be actively shaped. Artists, curators, and cultural leaders hold the power to guide transformation, both in their own creative endeavors and within audience experiences.

Key Applications of the CHANGE Phase in Art:

• Artistic Evolution – Artists refine, adapt, and expand their creative process through exposure and experimentation. 
• Curatorial Direction – Galleries and museums shape narratives, altering how audiences experience historical and contemporary works.
• Memory & Interpretation – Artworks evolve in meaning as audiences encounter them through fresh perspectives over time.

Understanding the psychological, emotional, and cognitive mechanics of change allows for strategic artistic development, ensuring that creative endeavors remain dynamic, relevant, and intellectually engaging. Change is the force that propels art forward, challenging convention and reshaping cultural landscapes.

Where does your artistic practice fit within the CHANGE phase?
That, dear reader, is yours to explore.

*** Your thoughts and reactions are come on Instagram***

Reference art work for this blogpost: Piet Mondrian's "Composition II in Red, Blue, and Yellow", reflecting structured change through abstraction.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'The Art Of Mind' - An Artistic Reflection Framework

Coming up next: Episode 9 – The CHANGE Phase (Part 2) (expected 11/06/2025)

Check out my previous blogs:
Episode 1 & 2 – Introduction & Concept
Episode 2 to 5 – The Three Brains
Episode 6 – The OC² Process
Episode 7 – The OPEN Phase

'The Art of Mind' blog homepage