The Importance of Art in Our Everyday Lives
Originally published on 8/18/2009 by yloyana project
Most people don`t realize just how much we rely on art and all forms of it, in our everyday lives. While you might not be aware of it, we are surrounded by it and use it on a continual basis. It might sound exaggerated, but it is very true. Chances are, you have some form of art in your home. Whether visual art or musical, it`s there. Do you have a photograph or painting on a wall? A quilt on the bed? A woven area rug or decorative tea towels? Not all visual art is purely for looking at, a lot of it is functional and this is particularly true when it comes to our homes. Everything from that cute blue and white teapot to the sleek computer case can be considered a form of art. But why is it important? You could get along just fine with essential items that were non-artistic. You could survive just fine without music on your stereo. And that is the reason that is it so valuable. You see, while art may not be vital to fulfill our basic needs it does make life joyful. When you look at the paintings you`ve chosen to hang on your bedroom wall, you feel happy. The sculpture or figurines in the kitchen window create a sense of joy and create the atmosphere that you want to live in. It might seem very simple, but the fact of the matter is, music and art affect most of what we do. Everywhere you go, art is evident. The parks use sculptures to add interest and to inform people. Posters on walls give information and motivation. Music plays on the radio to keep your energy levels up. It`s something that we literally find ourselves immersed in most of the time!
Many people work with music on. It`s something that helps them set the mood for what they are about to do. If they have something hard or difficult to work on or are feeling tired, an energetic music band can wake them up and add some energy to the situation. Likewise, when stress is high, many find that relaxing to a calming music is something that works well. Inspirational posters or even art that you personally find motivational are often found in workspaces to encourage the worker to continue being productive and have been proven to actually work. This is why many companies now use art in their offices, as well as background music or they allow their workers to listen to music as they are working on a project. Whatever the case, the end result is often of far better quality. The art we are surrounded with or watch, even in videos, can impact us in an emotional sense. Some art is very dark and can cause disturbing emotions, anger or even depression. Other art, visual art or otherwise, can affect our mood in a more positive method, making us feel happier, calmer or even inspired to do something, it’s a very powerful thing! Whether visual or musical, you`ll find that art is something that can really affect your everyday life, for better or for worse.
Using a music set to visual art has proven to be an excellent method of providing mental stimulation. If you have ever watched an inspirational video you know just how strongly they can cause you to react, just by using visual art and music in combination. Likewise, you can tell a story or convey a message through this type of combination, using art and music to get the point across. Even in another language, these types of artistic presentations make sense because they are using universal languages! They will cause joy, anger or sadness, no matter what your mother tongue. As you can see, art is everywhere. We are influenced and affected by it on a daily basis, whether we realize it or not.
For a PDF version of this newsletter follow this link… Photos for Healing Newsletter #108-Jan. ’16
