Why Art Matters
Everyone has their own idea of what “art” is. The beauty of art is that there is no true definition of it. If I say art is a banana (or a banana is art), then art truly is a banana from my point of view. Someone could think art is a beautiful painting in a museum, or a colorful mural in the alley, or an ancient Greek sculpture, or a ballet routine, or an emotional poetry performance, or… the list never ends. Rather than contemplating what art is, I want to focus on why this all matters. At the end of the day, we are all the same. Art is the great equalizer among us, whether we know it or not.
Childhood: From the moment I could pick up a pencil, I knew I wanted to be an artist. I’ve always loved creating, and my fondest memories from childhood involve some sort of artistic activity or expression. I was always enamored with color, shapes, lines, letters, and numbers. I would always have crazy ideas for art projects and crafts, and it excited me to build upon ideas and make them extraordinary. I wanted to stand out. Our childhoods are our defining years where we discover who we are, what we want to be, and why we like or dislike certain things. Everyone has a memory that involves some kind of art. Whether that’s doing projects in art class in elementary school, participating in a dance class that your mom signed you up for as a 5-year-old, or playing a musical instrument, all of these activities shaped us as mini artists. Along with individual activities, we created art together. We collaborated on projects academically as well as planned events or tea parties with friends. We played dress up with inanimate objects and with ourselves. An amazing memory I have is my friend’s and I would personify our dolls and make them attend school in my bedroom. We would create full personalities and backstories for them, making them do work and create drawings from their perspective. We would make them get in fights, kiss boys, get in trouble, and even get report cards. It’s crazy how smart children can be in such an innocent, creative way. Whether you consider yourself an artist or not, everyone has some sort of exposure to art at a young age. These primary creative experiences shape us into who we are in the present.
Criticism: We see people critique others in many ways, whether that be personally, emotionally, or artistically. It’s human nature to criticize and judge. I, myself, am a critic. I am constantly finding myself critiquing others as well as myself. I look at what someone else is doing or wearing or saying, and I internally critique them & their choices. At the same time, I’m looking inwardly and placing those same judgments on myself in every aspect of life. Why am I doing or wearing or saying x, y and z? In terms of art and design, I am my biggest critic. I want to be exceptional, innovative, and unique in every aspect. The standards we set for ourselves and for others is our own way of making sense of the world. In terms of art, it is more digestible to critique a painting rather than critiquing the way another person lives their life. Criticism is how we know we are human.
Connection: The way the world interacts with art is very interesting. Our interpretations of our thoughts, feelings, and emotions through a visual vehicle is truly beautiful. Human connection is arguably one of the most beautiful, artistic experiences of life. Our connections with others as well as ourselves can be considered art. The artist process seems to mirror the process of making, sustaining, and ending human connections. When thinking of this from my own creative perspective, it makes sense. I usually start the process of making a painting or a design with self-reflection. I think of my expectations for the project, how I want it to be received by others, and what I will get out of the process. With new relationships or friendships, I think of these same thoughts; what do I expect to get out of this relationship, what do I hope to gain, will this relationship serve me in 5, 10, or 50 years from now? As the process continues, we learn things about others as well as ourselves. We learn to grow together, love together, and learn together. When making art, I go through trials and tribulations and second thoughts and what-ifs, but I also go through growth, self-discovery, confidence, and fulfillment. The phrase “life imitates art” truly resonates with me, and it is something to really think about & ponder. The process of human connection may be one of life’s greatest forms of art.
