What is Art?

And Why Do We Need It?

We live in an inchoate world, with great uncertainty peering around the edges. Instances of human error, violence, and cruelty assault our psyche and leave us in a state of anxiety and unease. This is why we need art.

But what is art? It is a question that few people try to answer, yet it is essential to our individual survival. Art movements attempt to define it in different ways, and that only adds to the confusion. I believe this confusion arises from a narrowness of definition.

To me, art is the color of the sky and the call of a bird. It is a sonata by Chopin and a symphony by Beethoven. It is a line, a figure, a gesture. Art is the rhythm of car horns, engines, and sirens. It is the smile on the lips and the glint in the eye of a young graduate in cap and gown. It is the lithe, muscular body of youth and the warm, crinkled smile of age.

Art is the mysterious, formless thought of sleep recalled upon waking. It is the emotion evoked within us by much of what surrounds us—if only we direct our attention to appreciate it. Art counteracts the anxiety of the world and gives us hope amid hopelessness. It offers serenity and joy, reason and meaning.

In the end, art is what one tries to make of life.