Why Art?

I know that some of you may have seen this article, but for those who haven't, here it is;

Art has been a major part of human civilisation for thousands of years and has been a huge part of millions of lives. It can earn a living, communicate thoughts and feelings and relieve stress. If you have inborn ability, if you learned how or if you can't draw stick figures, art is still a powerful force in everyone's lives.

Art has so many levels. From what started as drawings of animals on cave walls has developed into a multi-faceted industry that comprises of hundreds of categories of different media's and styles. Abstract acrylic painting to sculptures of angels, all art is powerfully attractive to the human psyche.

If offered a visit to an ancient cave drawing site, nobody would refuse. I can guarantee that. Why? Because art pulls at emotions and as humans we are hard wired to respond to visual emotional triggers. Monkeys know if a fruit is ripe by how the colour effects them. Just as art makes us feel certain emotions because of its form.

When you walk into that cave, the shapes on the wall are meaningful to you in a way that they could never be to any other creature on this planet. Where you see a horse, they see a splash of colour. That is why art is to important to so many people. Subconsciously they all understand that art is what sets us above and beyond animals. They may be beautiful enough to warrant painting, but we are the only ones who can create the painting, and we are defiantly the only ones who can appreciate it.

Stories and legends from all over the world attempt to explain why we were given conscience and animals were not. Millions of people wonder what is our purpose. I think the answer is very simple. It is to appreciate our surroundings in a way that nothing else can. To appreciate the oceans and skies as something worth capturing forever in paint, as something beautiful.

Art effects each and everyone of us in profusion of ways. No matter what the form or shape, no matter who the person, the effect will be there. You just need to look.

cheers
meg