By Jack Young
What is the purpose of art? Does it give life meaning, or does life have meaning without it? Does humanity feed off art, or does art feed off humanity? Does the art I make even matter? These are questions I ask myself, especially the last one.
I think about people like Michelangelo, Jane Austen and Amy Winehouse and I wonder if they ever asked themselves if the art they were making mattered. You could never convince me that what they created did not matter then and does not matter now, but why is that? Is it because their art is internationally recognized and commercially successful, or is it because their work resonates with people, myself included, on a personal level? What makes art matter?
My answer is one that has been ingrained in my mind for years — without art, I am nothing. Why? Because without it, I have no means to effectively communicate with others. I have no way of understanding the world and the people around me. Language and communication are vital for all living beings. The types of language and communications are different for every species and vary within each particular one, including humanity. Human communication can vary based on what state one is in, and definitely if they are visiting a foreign country. Adaptability to these changes in language and communication is very important for people to live productive lives. However, art has always been an alternative way of expressing ideas and communicating with other people. I would say that it is one of the more effective ways of communicating because art is universal. It is experienced everywhere by everyone every day.
But what draws someone to their conclusion about whether or not art matters? For me, the answer to this is simple: a person’s relationship to art is what dictates their belief as to why it does or does not matter. I have always been surrounded by music, films and books. I have been to museums to witness art’s powerhouses, past and present. Because of this, art is essential to my life and happiness. It matters to me, because it has played an imperative part in shaping who I am and the way I primarily express my ideas about the world, people, and my own experiences.
To go even further, if art in general has value and matters to someone, especially an artist, why would they sometimes struggle with whether or not their own work mattered? As a writer and musician, how I view my work is directly influenced by how I view myself. For example, because I have always struggled with my own lack of self-worth and self-esteem — it has always been hard for me to admit to myself that something I created mattered. As I have gotten older and worked on the relationship I have with myself, I have noticed it has become easier to be more accepting of who I am, which has made it easier to see that my work does matter.
No matter what beliefs an individual has on the importance, or lack thereof, of art I believe we can all agree that it is powerful, expressive, and relevant for many people around the world. It is unanimously polarizing, heartfelt, unconventional, and healing. Art paints everyone’s canvas in a different way. For some, it is bold and colorful. For others, the colors and brush strokes are barely noticeable. As to whether or not it has any meaning or matters, that is a subjective belief and is answered through one’s own life experiences with art itself. All one can do is search for that belief by experiencing the art all around them, until the answer unwinds in their heart and mind.
