This article is as an effort to instil the belief in everyone (even those among us who think that art is the last thing they can do) that, art is a powerful tool that all of us can use in our daily lives simply for ourselves in order to live better lives.
- Why should we increase the use of art in our lives?
Firstly, art helps connect what we feel emotionally to what we can interpret intellectually. What this means is that art is a medium of expression that comes in handy when words are unable to deliver what we really want to say. It makes sense especially once we understand that our brain understands visuals faster and better than text. This enables us to connect with people and change their perceptions in ways speech never can.
Secondly and perhaps most importantly, art creates a space for each of us in which, we can escape and either go inside ourselves or separate ourselves from our thoughts to get a better understanding of things. It creates a safe space for many of us to completely be ourselves, to embrace silence and slow down so that we can look at what is really happening around us. It allows us to be vulnerable, to find ourselves and heal in ways that is unbelievably powerful.
So art is important in our daily lives because it helps us connect with others as well as ourselves.
- The next step is to understand how to become more literate “visually”. How can we ensure that we use the benefits that art has the ability to give us?
I think making art a part of our routine and lives is crucial. ‘Looking’ and trying to interpret art just like how we ‘read’ text and, ‘creating’ art just like how we ‘write’ sentences and paragraphs help build the creative parts of the brain in a similar manner to how we build our reading and speaking abilities. Expressing ourselves through paintings, sketches, comics, mind maps, that is, more ‘visually’ whenever we can, is important. Our work never needs to be a complicated and intricate piece, it can be ugly and imperfect but, it is entirely ours, and that is all that matters.
So the next time we are trying to understand ourselves, talk to others, write about our day or anything else that matters, we must try to do it through art.
I cannot stress how much more intentional and beautiful our lives becomes when we add a bit more art and creativity to it.
I hope that after reading this article all of us makes time every day to pick up a brush or a pen, to experiment and have fun with art so that we can discover our voices, because, I firmly believe that art is too important to exist in this world without us touching and interacting with it.
