Self-exploration and social alienation in spiritual painting inspired by taoist seclusion

This study investigates how spiritual painting inspired by Taoist seclusion (SPITS), an artistic form rooted in Taoist ideals of solitude, balance, and harmony, affects fine arts students’ self-exploration (SE) and social alienation (SA). Drawing on 390 Chinese students specializing in spiritual and cultural art, Smart-PLS analysis revealed a strong positive link between SPITS and SE (β = 0.656, p < 0.001), indicating that this art form significantly fosters introspection. Conversely, SPITS also showed a weaker yet statistically significant positive association with SA (β = 0.166, p = 0.032), suggesting it may inadvertently heighten feelings of social withdrawal. Crucially, emotional regulation (ER) and mindfulness (MF) were found to moderate the SPITS-SA relationship robustly (ER: β = 0.286, p < 0.001; MF: β = 0.225, p < 0.001), while neither significantly impacted the link between SPITS and SE. These outcomes imply that while Taoist-inspired painting enhances self-discovery, it can also evoke alienation unless supported by strong ER and MF. Integrating SPITS into art curricula, particularly through collaborative and emotionally attuned activities, could promote personal growth while mitigating isolation. Furthermore, spiritual painting holds promise as a therapeutic tool to bolster emotional resilience and mindful awareness in contemplative practice. Overall, the study highlights SPITS’s dual role in advancing introspection and managing social disconnection, advocating its inclusion in educational and cultural preservation initiatives to revitalize Taoist heritage within contemporary Chinese art pedagogy.