The breath of art

One of the most words in our languages that manifests almost everywhere universally is 'art'. It's a word that exists with a limitless fashion, an umbrella for a multitude of varied forms and expressions of our experiences, feelings and lessons. Over time, it has become a medium far more powerful and impactful than words alone. Though it alternates between various forms like music, painting, dance, sculpting or the other countless genres, every note of music, artistic stroke and acrobatic move holds within it a story, an emotion, a momentum built with passion, resilience and purpose, with an ultimate goal to create belonging and togetherness.

But did you ever think about how art would go on existing if we didn't have a world to share it with?

The art forms that humans have crafted have come a long way since the time of their formulation, but over time, you realize that art is not just the final song, choreography, picture or statue- you realize that the true essence of art lies in the hard work, perseverance, patience and dedication put into producing that work of art. That true art lies in the ingenuity and vigor behind the beauty- the fire and ambition that drives a person's journey as an artist, no matter the kind of trade.

Picture by Me (Flickr)

I guess that's the reason why ideas like 'life is an art form in itself', and the artistic and aesthetic beauty of nature are brought up more often than ever, as you start to understand not just the art presented in front of you, but the morals, dreams and the work behind the scenes- the origin- that brings an art form that only existed in the crevices of our minds a reality that has the potential to evoke emotions and lived experiences in the people who willingly receive the art. In other words, if you are someone who is an artist, or someone who simply enjoys exposing themselves to different kinds of art, you learn that art pushes you to be vulnerable with itself and yourself, to look into the depths of your own heart and discover your true self for the first time. In a way, art is one of those things that wields more power than anything else in this world. It has the transformative nature of creating storytellers and being a vernacular for the illiterate.

Picture by Me from the Sun Temple in Konark, India (Flickr)

What would our world have been like without the presence of art? What if the word 'art' and everything it symbolized vanished from this universe without the slightest trace?

This world would not know the complexities and chaotic beauty of human emotion and the reality that all humans go through similar struggles and successes throughout their lifetime yet colored by different cultures and backgrounds. We would have never come to recognize the innate gift that humans have, allowing us to bring people together no matter who they are and where they come from. We would have never come to know what makes something human- never evolving, growing or empathizing. We would have never learnt about where we came from, understood and learn about where we are now, and where we are heading in the future.

That's why art is one of the most respected and admired entities of the countless innovations that humans have designed and cherished for centuries- not because of its infinite and immortal glory, but the lessons it teaches us, the stories that it brings to us during our time of need and the reminder that vulnerability is the creator of art and is an art in itself.