How Art Affects our Perspectives

Life is art. On an individual level art enhances our lives by building and nurturing emotional and cognitive growth. Art is a way we can express ourselves. Art is a way we can visibly show our emotions. For the creator, art can be therapeutic as an outlet to let out our emotions – for the viewer, connecting with a piece of art can highlight new perspectives and make them think about their own emotions in a deeper meaning. It helps foster your creativity and critical thinking. When you engage with art – either by creating it or viewing it – it forces you to think; it forces you to try to look for deeper meaning, to look outside conventional boundaries. 

Art shapes us as a collective, forging connections and promoting social consciousness. Art is used to preserve cultural heritage; for example, ancient civilisations like Egypt and Mesopotamia used art to create a "memory" system that recorded their history through the styles of their eras, or early forms of art, like the ancient cave paintings and sculptures found in Europe, provide evidence of human creativity and expression dating back tens of thousands of years, a more modern example being the Mona Lisa, which has become part of the cultural heritage of multiple nations and the world as a whole. Art is seen as one of the most powerful storytellers; it embodies the values, ideas, beliefs and identity of a community. It encourages a sense of community; public art – such as performance and community art programmes – brings our community together, creating an idea of creating a sense of a shared identity by uniting people – bringing them together. Additionally, art encourages a sense of community by creating shared experiences, reflecting local identity, and reducing social isolation. Public art, collaborative projects, and communal activities like singing or dancing provide visible and tangible examples of shared pride and history, while participatory arts programmes bring diverse groups together to reduce loneliness and foster social inclusion.

 We can also see how art serves as a catalyst for societal change. In history artists use their art to challenge the status quo, raise awareness of injustice in our lives, and advocate for change. It has further impact on a larger scale; art broadens our perspective of the world. The way we view and engage with our environment can be changed by art. Art can broaden our visual and cognitive awareness by provoking us to recognize expressive or aesthetic qualities in the outside environment. It may be seen in the way our food is prepared, how gardens are laid out, and how buildings are designed. Our everyday settings become more colourful and meaningful when art is incorporated into them. 

In the end, art is essential to society advancement and human development rather than a luxury. It is a dynamic energy that strengthens our intellect, promotes mental health, and binds us to our common humanity throughout space and time. Art's impact on our lives is as timeless as it is indisputable, whether it is encouraging a society to work toward a better future or inspiring an individual to view the world in a different way.