WHY ART?
Somebody once asked me why art exists, and why humans seek the opportunity for self-expression in such complex things. Why write? Why read? Why paint? Or dance? Why does it all matter? I sat with my thoughts for a long time on this one. I had to admit, I had no clue why even I, as tormented as I was to be heard, seen, and understood, chose to paint, write, and read - anything but actually speaks.
I have collected a few reasons since then, things that deeply resonate with me.
1. Art is functional.
Feelings get messy and art is a functional bridge between emotion and utility. It is said that even beautification is a utilitarian purpose when it comes to art. No piece of art, no matter how bad or strange is completely useless. People, creators, and perceivers alike resonate deeply with this.
2. Art is timeless.
Art hardly ever loses its value. With time, the works of old masters, geniuses, and men born out of their time step into the limelight. It is a common occurrence in the art space that works dug up from ancient civilizations are labeled priceless. Masters like Picasso, Van Gogh, and the rest were not always sensational. Once, they were just artists. One of the most beautiful things about art is that anybody has the chance to build a legacy that will span generations.
3. Self-expression is just an added benefit.
Artists hardly ever use art as a way of telling stories of their lives. It is more common to see artists portray ideas they feel strongly about or communicate messages they are passionate about. On the rare occasion that an artist expresses parts of their life, it is never the mundane, everyday stuff. Art is more than just a way to showcase feelings and work through emotions. It is, for the doer, perceiver, and general audience, a way to connect to something bigger than the self. A universal concept up for interpretation.
4. Everybody can be an artist.
It was Pablo Picasso who said 'every child is an artist.' A lot of people lose their ability to interpret the world through lenses of their own as they age. The media, education- formal or not, and experience often shape us into a neatly defined box, ridding us of any and all creative thirst. Without the relentless need to see the world differently, the ability to create art is limited. Art helps us break out of this box, if only for the time in which we are creators and channel for the inspiration that births art.