The Undeniable Importance of Art Explained.
Reilly
The Transformative Power of Art: Why It Matters
Art is more than just an aesthetic experience; it’s a powerful means of expression, communication, and connection. Across cultures and languages, art has the unique ability to convey complex emotions, ideas, and stories that words alone often cannot capture. This universal language of art not only stimulates creativity but also fosters reactions which stem from our most core emotions and experiences. The importance of art is felt in the emotional experience it evokes. Viewers and artists alike can tap into their most valuable and most vulnerable emotions through art. And I believe that’s just plain beautiful and adds to the rich experience of being a human. And even more, art tells a story about who we are and we come from.
The Preservation of Culture and Humanity
What I’m getting at is that I believe there are two main sides to art which equally contribute to the inherent importance of art. On the one hand, art serves as a means for social change and commentary. Much like reading a piece in the news or a book that sparks new ideas, art can be the catalyst for change. It often highlights moments and acts as a freeze-frame in an otherwise dynamic world. These moments make history and require our attention and analysis, and that’s what art is good at.
On the other hand, there are other forms of art that point more heaven-ward. They evoke feelings of bliss and longing. We can become enraptured in the fantasy lands and stories created by a hundred violins. Or the whimsical brushstrokes of oil on an old canvas can make the heart yearn for a love never known. Especially art of the Rococo Era or paintings of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, these styles evoke a romantic response. The art in those period depict an atmosphere where “everything is easy, romantic, ornamental and beautiful.” So sometimes art is just beautiful and for whatever reason, humans are simply wired to appreciate beauty. And the thing about beauty is that it requires us to take a moment to soak it all in.
Art Helps Us Slow Down
Think of some common forms of art: photography, ballet, painting, music, poetry, writing, architecture, and the list goes on. What do all these art forms have in common? Don’t you see it now? Art catches the eye (or ear) and draws it in for a closer look or listen. It’s as if we can’t help ourselves. Art is beautiful if not transformative in its ability to shake our world. To shake us by the shoulders and say, “Stop! Look at me! Look at this beauty! Take a minute, take a breath and remember who you are and where you are and say thank you”….and a minute later, you walk away. You paid your dues and in return are gifted peace and a sliver of understanding. A knowledge that life is bigger and more beautiful than what the business of daily life may have you believing.
And for many of us, we are hungry for these moments. We need reminders of why we get up so early and work our butts off for hours a day only to do it all again tomorrow. We need these artistic experiences to keep us in touch with our more spiritual and emotional selves, because life is much bigger than it seems.
The Individual Need for Expression
The importance of art for individuals, is felt with an individual’s ability to express. Art provides a unique outlet for personal expression and reflection. Whether it’s through painting, writing, or music, creating art allows people to explore and express their innermost thoughts and feelings. This personal connection to art is what makes it so indispensable in our lives. And it can be as the artist yourself or as an admirer. So this covers every human – you, me, everyone. We all have our stories. Stories that want to be told. Your experience is important and valuable and by sharing it, you can heal, find community, and find meaning from your experiences. So use art to help tell your story. We humans are wired for that, too.
The Healing Power of Art Therapy
Emotions don’t do well when they are bottled or ignored. Expressing emotions through art can lead to healing and a much-needed acknowledgement of the feelings. Individuals can even face their anxieties and traumas when they are given the tools to create. I know some of my best painting ideas come from ideas or truths that deeply resonate with me.
For example, I read an ancient myth about a woman who was thrown from a kayak by her own father. She had apparently committed an unforgivable act and was deemed irredeemable and sentenced to death. It was a commentary on unconditional love, a topic that strikes hard at a particular heart-string in me. Something moved in me so deeply when I read that story and thought of my own father. I imagined us sitting in the kayak together and realized that he would not throw me out. He knows my soul and my deepest desires for a wild life. We would likely sit in relative silence, sometimes staring a little too long into eachother’s eyes and souls, we would shift slightly uncomfortable at the vulnerability we share. But it would be so beautiful and our spirits would have an understanding of one another – a connection beyond words or mere human understanding.
Powerful Personal Connections to Art
So now when I look at the painting on my wall of two figures in a kayak together, I remember that story and my personal connection with the characters. I am filled with gratitude for my own father and the deep love he has for me. Anyone else might just see a scene with kayak and conclude that I love kayaking (i do, but that’s besides the point), but they no doubt have their own art in their home that speaks to a story of their heart. And that’s their little secret to keep and cherish.
Art as an Escape
Personally, I can also find escape in art. I can leave my reality and enter a new one. This is true of movies, enrapturing paintings, books with compelling stories and characters, and music that seems to lift my head off my body as I listen to just the beautiful sounds of life. I can look into a painting of a grove of trees – the edge of a forest, and if I stare long enough, I am there. I hear the wind rustling the leaves, I feel the temperature drop, I imagine the branches that would scratch at my skin if I went into the thick of the woods. An escape like this, its more of a dream. I am taken to another reality, one not so far away usually but believable enough that I can dream to be there one day.
Sometimes people need outlets to escape reality when it feels too heavy. Drugs and alcohol have been around forever and are many people’s go-to’s when need of escape. But we know the dangers of indulging too much in those means of escape. Instead, art can provide a similar vehicle for escape, yet the feeling is much more optimistic. Art can fill a person with fire, nostalgia, drive, gratitude, or a million other emotions. If anything, art can bring you more in-tune with your human experience, with your very soul. You are made more conscious of your desires and life story rather than made more numb to it all. So I urge you to go to a gallery, peruse Pinterest, take an art class, or read a book and see your imagination come to life. See your own life story unfold before your eyes.
So Why Does Art Matter? What Is the True Importance of Art?
Art keeps us human. In a world where the lines are blurring between humans and Ai and our importance even as a species is being diminished in favor of fast, vast knowledge, we owe it to ourselves and the future generations to keep the magic of our humanity alive. To be the soul-keepers and protectors of ourselves and for the children who will come into our technologically-saturated world. They will be confused and misled and be taught to value knowledge, schedules, deadlines, and progress, and losing the knowledge and way of life of their ancestors will be a real danger. They will be cut off from stories, myths, beauty, and nature. To forget the importance of art, is to forget why we are alive and continuing to create. So, please, learn to appreciate art and don’t stop creating and honor the magic in you.