Art and the Senses

In recent years, there has been a re-discovery of the importance of sensory experience in our daily lives. The senses play a vital role in our health, in our social interactions, and in enjoying food, music and the arts. This book provides an introduction to the study of the senses and the arts. It contains over thirty chapters written by artists/practitioners, including, musicians, visual artists, a "sculptor for the blind", a celebrity chef, a choreographer, designers, and architects. It also includes chapters by leading neuroscientists and psychologists who study the senses, as well as chapters from scholars from the humanities, including, art history, anthropology, and cultural studies. The book provides a unique interdisciplinary overview of the senses, ranging from the neuroscience of sensory processing in the body, to cultural influences on how the senses are used in society, to the role of the senses in the arts. The chapters are written by leading academics, artists and scientists, each of whom brings different perspectives and experiences to the book. Together, these chapters form a timely snapshot of research on the human senses which makes clear a number of common themes that run across the arts, humanities, and sciences. The first book of its kind, 'Art and the Senses' will be a valuable tool for anyone interested in how the senses interact with eachother to create meaningful human experience.