What fascinates me so deeply about Art is the unfathomable amount of forms it takes on. There is physical art, such as paintings or sculptures, and non-physical art such as music or spoken word. There is abstract art, and there is realism. Beautiful art and provocative art. Food is art. Movement is art. All forms must relate to some physical component, the most obvious being our eyes and ears. Many artists, I think, would agree that, while the physicality of art is entirely necessary, the point that is being articulated in any piece lies beyond the physical; the eyes and ears are gateways into the soul, the spirit, or the essence of both the creator and the beholder.
To be a creator means to take a stance–not necessarily on a particular worldview or the most prevalent topics of today. Rather, creators take a stance on life as a whole. Creation is, after all, half the lifecycle. From this perspective, it really does not matter what is created, just that something is. Oftentimes, in the process of creating, the artist is not only putting their emotions into their work but also their life story. Many may not realize it fully, but the entire composite of events that occur in their lifetime leads them to where they are when they create a piece. In this way, they are expressing to their observers a glimpse of their role in the world. Art is simply a means of communication.
Since art is akin to communication, one might be inclined to believe that its various forms are comparable to languages and perhaps that some people might be more fluent in one versus another. While I assure you, beloved reader, that there are certainly forms of art that even the most celebrated masters cannot replicate, all art is understood by any and everyone. Oftentimes, despite “art snob” opinion, contemplation of art can detract from its most potent message. One glimpse at a piece gives the onlooker plenty of opportunity to determine what its meaning is. Why? Because art is a universal language that translates seamlessly. Its meaning is to be seen, heard, smelled, felt, and tasted.