Why Art?
Art is important. We are told that all the time. It makes our society better. We must support artists. All these statements are around us. But we also know that art is not that important. I mean, it doesn’t make life easier like a dishwasher or a toaster does. It is not something required in everyday life like electricity, or a car. No one was ever inconvenienced by not having original art in their homes or offices. At best art is a good to have, a thing to desire and own for the sake of itself, but not really to serve any purpose. Totally agree. But, we still need art. Not for making life more convenient. Not to serve any necessities. And definitely not to survive. Except, that you do need art to make life a little bit better each time you gaze at it. Like having a tiny enclosed room with a small window to stare out and noticing birds and trees, or people walking by makes for a better existence. In the same vein, looking from a blank wall to a wall with a piece of art on it is a distraction that we appreciate. It’s a respite, it’s a connection, it’s a place to get stirred. Here is why you need that piece of original art in your space:
1. It makes your space more beautiful and unique. How you combine your furniture with you wall colour, and finally that piece of art that you took your time picking and thinking about is a process. Well now, that room speaks of your personality, your taste, your uniqueness. The piece of art that spoke to you at the art show, now it’s a part of your environment. You get stirred and reminded of that feeling every time you look at it. And no one else owns that piece of creation in this world of 8 billion humans.
2. Connection. If you bought your art made with human hands and ideas, and now it hangs in your home or office, you get to connect with that human and their feelings and desires and vulnerabilities. You may or may not have actually met that person, but you are connected to them forever by this idea, this act of making that flowed from them to you. From their making to your falling in love…that’s a rare thing, and ever more important in the digital world these days.
3. You now have a story to tell. When someone else sees the artwork in your space, not only do they get to know you better that little bit without you having to say much, most often it will become a point of exchanging thoughts and ideas as to why this piece of artwork attracted you, the story of where you found it and the artist who made it. What that piece of art means to you or what the story behind it’s making is. My husband and I fell in love with a large oil painting in Lima at an outdoor market on our last evening in Peru. We walked past in a number of times before we made the decision to approach the artist and buy the canvas- language problems and all- and I can’t help but look at that painting hung in our dining room with a moment of fondness to that time and meeting in Lima. We are always very happy to relate the story to anyone who visits our home and comments on it. We will always have a piece of connection to the artist and the country and our travels with this piece of art that I am so glad we ended up buying.
4. You support a small creative business. You help someone live their passion. You promote positive creative energy in this world. You make a nod to the act of human making that has been core of our development as a species for thousands of years. And you do all of this while rebelling in a small little way to the factory churn of things that are soul sucking.
5. You find new meanings in that piece of art, a new way for it to connect with your life right now. They say every time you read the same book, it turns out to be a slightly different book. Because you are different, you find different points of understanding in the book, you have a different life to relate to the book from. Your maturity has increased since the last time you read the same book. And the same holds for that sculpture or painting that you invested in.. Your investment grows with time, with you. You may find something new that excites you about it, or a different space it fits in, or even maybe a different person to pass it on to who may benefit from having it around. Art pieces speak to us at a level that we are ready to listen to them, and provide to our needs in that moment, whatever that may be.
Original art is as close we can get in this world to authenticity, to connection, to uniqueness. Buying and supporting artisits is important. It’s our way to nod to the humanity in each other. To fall in love, to open up our hearts and show our vulnerability. Do yourself and the artist a favor if you can- buy an original piece of art.
