Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known." - Oscar Wilde
When you hear of art what comes to mind? Paintings right? Incase you didn’t know, art goes way beyond paintings. Art can be presented in various forms including prints , drawings, videos, photography and many more. When I think of art, it has no limits to me but the only limits to art are those of our imaginations.
Art can be used to express so many things including emotions, visions, desires, and even thoughts.It all has to do with the owner of the art. I’m a lover of art and I appreciate the beauty and creativity of art. For some art, I am able to relate with and others I am not. But even with those I find no meaning to, I have lingering thoughts about what it actually means and what the artist meant to project to us.
Personally, art has had impacted my life so much and I never seem to be satisfied with art. Art served as a source of self discovery for me.Engaging with arts has helped me understand more about myself and I am able to think deeper into who I actually am and what to be. Art also serves as a source of comfort to me, especially paintings. Some paintings tend to calm you down just as you glance at them. Even before you take your time to fully take in the whole beauty of the painting you start to feel relaxed and comfortable. That’s how amazing art can be.
With the impact of art on society. To me, art is the bedrock of our society and there’s no doubt about that. Right from the days of our ancestors, art has been used as an expression of our culture, beliefs, history and even values. Through this, we are able to fully appreciate who we are and where we come from. Various communities have different ways by which they express their culture and this has to do with their way of life. These traditions tend to be passed down from generation to generation and they never seem to die.
Art also serves as as source of education and self reflection. Today, we find a lot of people around the world traveling to various historic sites to learn more about themselves and where they come from and also to learn about other peoples traditions. Even though we were not able to experience all those historic events from the days of our colonial masters, we are able have a feel of what our forefathers had to go through then and also bond and reflect more on who we are and what we stand for. This can also even serve as a catalyst for our general growth as individuals.
Art is used to preserve our heritage. Once, I went on a trip to the Elmina and Cape Coast castles in Ghana and I would say it was a really great experience. The whole idea behind this trip was to actually experience how it felt then when slave trade was actually a thing. Going into the dungeons , you could see that the place was kept as it was left then. You could smell the blood and the heat from those places. Everything was properly maintained and this provided us with an accurate record of our history.
As individuals engage with art whether as creators or appreciators, they embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery , emotional expression and exploration. Art in museums, studios, galleries and even in public areas shape the way we perceive and interact with the world. The impact of art on society is a never ending conversation and a testament to power of creativity.
I hope you enjoyed reading this, thank you for your time.
all images belong to me.