There are many media through which we could view and understand the world but art is a powerful one. Much of art has to do with emotions and art provides us with an understanding of our own emotions and a way to connect with a wider cultural emotion. Connecting and gaining an understanding of something bigger than ourselves bring us new ideas and emotions. If you have read any of my blogs before, you will know that I think new ideas leads to new perspective and that this can lead to growth.

Creating art, enhances my self awareness and brings to light and focus the themes and subjects that I care about. The viewers and consumers of art can also increase their own mindfulness through their experience of art and also find out what they care about when they feel that connection to a certain piece of art. This awareness of self and connectedness to larger cultural conversations lead to more creative thinking for both the artist and the viewer. Creative thinking is necessary in all aspects of our lives.

One of the reasons why art will always be necessary, is that people will always feel the need to create. Art is innate. Embedded in our DNA is the need to produce something beautiful, something innovative, something that tells a story, something that starts a conversation, something that changes a conversation, something that shifts our perspective, something that resonate with our own emotions and something that resonate with the emotions of those around us.

As creating art is a part of our biological makeup, so is communication. We use art to communicate and share ideas. Some ideas are challenging to communicate, and words will not do the idea justice. This is where art can be a master communicator, we feel and see everything without a word. Art communicates stories, tells us about our shared history, or particular events and gives us insights into specific moments in time. Art can bring information to us, that we may not have learnt otherwise.

Art can be a tool for reflection both individually and collectively. We can reflect and make sense of an issue in a healing way when we consume art. When we stand before works of art, we are able to go on an emotional journey that brings us to a place of peace when there is something within us that needs reconciliation. Art can make us feel like we are in the company of others who understands and who stand with us to find solutions. Art is a way of distilling what we feel about what happened and where we have been even while still questioning where we are, where we are going and perhaps how we are going to get there. 

The art that we view is usually positioned somewhere before us where we sit or stand to consume it. We as viewers bring our interaction to the pieces. We seem to be the dominant force in the room. However, the art is also a living image before which we stand and its always ready to communicate with us, to tell us a new story, to heal us, to bring clarity, and to veer conversations away from what’s always been said to something new.