Why Art is Critical Now and Always: Facing Hard Truths, Hearing the Oppressed, and Righting Wrongs
8 brilliant quotes about why art matters more than ever from The Big Ideas in the New York Times
The power of art is astounding in the way it reframes problems, tells an important story, or proposes a better future. Let’s look to artists’ work when we seek interpretation, contemplation, and resolve. Theater of the Oppressed and art for advocacy overtly call for social change. But every film you watch has carefully chosen subjects, stories, and angles. Every play you see has carefully crafted dialogue, movement, and conflict. Comedians find a way to casually and humorously talk about heavy subjects. Visual art lets us focus on an image to analyze its mood and gravity. Music and dance communicate more than words can describe.
The New York Times recently asked leading artists and thinkers to answer the philosophical question: why does art matter? For years I have been intent on finding meaningful answers to that question. I was an actress for ten years and my life has been spent in the pursuit of great art exhibits, shows, and experiences. After acting, I worked in consulting and research in the fields of program evaluation, international development, counter human trafficking, counterterrorism, stoic philosophy, etc… Now I apply those skills to research on the arts and I too, ask these big picture questions.
8 quotes about the importance of art from the The Big Ideas in the New York Times and what they mean to me
1
“Art sheds light on the urgent, necessary and at times painful issues that are not always easy to approach because we as a society have not been able to figure them out. Art lays bare our brutal reality — a reality that is complex, diverse and often unfair…” Yalitza Aparicio
Art helps us face hard truths. Art depicts problems and journeys that may be grimmer than we have individually or collectively understood or admitted.
2
“…art requires a radical break with indifference. It demands that we immerse ourselves in specific traumatic events that have a distinct political immediacy.” Doris Salcedo
Politically fueled art helps bring issues that may be ignored, into the spotlight, figuratively and literally. The issues are brought into the room for audiences to experience viscerally in the moment. The artist is a liaison between the audience and the underestimated, underserved, suffering, and voiceless.
3
Art “…is a social investigation, with the results contributing to the advancement of society.” Cate Blanchett
Art explores the human condition and it is closely tied to psychology, anthropology, and history. In its “social investigation,” art is unafraid to examine flaws, contradictions, and injustices so that we can learn from them and move forward. Art also provides commentary on love and the good we want to emanate.
4
Art “…can teach us about one another, inspiring empathy rather than anger. Art matters because it [allows] us to cross divides…” Cate Blanchett
Art can “cross divides” because it presents the nuanced version of people; it explores someone’s deep roots so that we can have compassion for them rather than judge them.
5
“…art and culture are the most important vehicles by which we come to understand one another. They make us curious about that which is different or unfamiliar, and ultimately allow us to accept it, even embrace it.” David Zwirner
Art exposes us to people different from ourselves. Art intrigues us to look beyond our comfort zone. Understanding the lives of others makes us infinitely better people.
6
“For me, art is not just sensory stimulation. I believe it’s most gratifying as an intellectual pursuit. Great art is, by definition, complex, and it expects work from us when we engage with it.” David Zwirner
Art is not limited to entertainment or spectacle; it can demand engagement and critical thinking. As a spectator, absorbing art requires open mindedness and a willingness to experience what the artist has shared.
7
“…it is our capacity to expand our creative skills beyond basic problem-solving into artistic expression that uniquely distinguishes us as humans.” Ahmed Elgammal
It is our gift to be able to handle the world’s challenges by using art as an instrument for confronting complex problems in non-traditional, non-conformist ways.
8
“…you can be creative when you’re doing pretty much anything: You can be creative in the way you walk to work, respond to grief, make a friend, move your body when you wake up in the morning…” Eric Kaplan
Creativity is a form of agency. Creativity can be a constant in our lives if we want it to be. Creativity is not reserved for art, but being creative in our everyday lives is artistic in itself. We can be creative about how we make positive change in our communities.
These 8 quotes about why art matters from The Big Ideas in the New York Times are illustrative of art as a positive force in our daily lives. Look to art in hard times. Look to art as a catalyst for peace, health, and equality. Look to art to help articulate our outrage, love, and potential. Look to artists as wise, brave, and reflective.
We don’t have to be professional artists to make art and to express ourselves. We don’t need to be professional artists to have smart ideas about how and why art is powerful!
This article features the Tokyo based graphic/collage artist Saori Ike, with her permission. See more of her work here.
