Art is Us

I would not be here without the art that kept my heart beating when all I could see was darkness.

From the Sistine Chapel to Starry Night to Law Roach to Kendrick Lamar, different kinds of art and artists are not distant entities. Art and artists exist fully and aren’t so different from you or me. Just as you see a piece of art that you truly understand after looking at all its angles, the same can be said when you see the whole picture of a person when you see them for who they really are. Art is not confined to museums or concert halls. It permeates our daily lives. It breathes; from the beginning forms of oak and papyrus to the paper artists write or draw on, art lives and speaks in every form it takes. We interact with it more than people think. The desk your average 9-to-5 worker sits at was crafted by someone with a big heart and a vision for more effortless living. The television they watch after working that job may or may bring them joy was built with love for entertainment and exuberance. We all forget the pieces of art that give us life. And, at times, people need to remember the importance of it. 

The masses may dismiss art but will never stop being influenced by it. The Tudors were rulers who influenced the masses through art. Sun Tzu found the unruly yet masterful art of war and wrote down all his techniques in dedication to the unholy mess of making it. Napoleon Crossing the Alps captures a moment when conquering was the artform many followed and championed. Through her art, and the hurt and love we accept from it, Lauryn Hill made us understand our miseducation. Bell Hooks weaves together words that make us reconceptualize our souls and hold onto hope for empathy between ourselves and others.

We all see it. It’s plain as day. Art is here to stay. It’s the very fabric of our being. Even with that being said, we hear from detractors of creators:

“Do something else that will make you money.”

“Are you okay with being broke?”

“It’s just a hobby, right?”

Look at us now. Still here writing, drawing, creating. I’m thankful for the sun of Apollo, who shines on our collective skin and charges us to bring life to these creative aspects of our minds. The more art we consume, the more we understand ourselves. Many nights, I look back and know I wouldn’t be able to call Earth my soul’s home anymore if it weren’t for a piece of music, nature… art. My heart is still beating because of it. 

I implore all of you who read this and consume these words to reflect on and thank the piece of art you consumed yesterday, today, or tomorrow. Be thankful for it. Like all good things, life will come to an end eventually. Thank the artists, consumers, yourself. Because without each other, the art we consume wouldn’t be worth it. Art helps us understand each other. Whether they’re your sister, your mother, your father, your brother, your lover. You. Art is us; and I love us.

To read Tyler's poetry and other work, visit his Instagram.