Khalil Gibran Said “Art is one
step from the visibly known toward the unknown”. The definition and evaluation
of art has become especially problematic since the 20th century. Art is the
procedure or creation of consciously arranging elements in a way that appeals to
the sense or emotions. It motivates thoughts, emotions, beliefs and ideas of an
individual’s inner universe. It is also an expression of one’s inner world and
it can take many different forms and serve many different purposes. It’s a way
of expressing the curves of ones’ soul.
It includes a diverse range of creations and modes of expression, including
music and literature. Art has existed for almost as long as human race. Art has
always inspired people. Art has brought revolutions. It has made nations proud
of their existence. It has changed the face of the world. Art doesn’t only need
paint or brushes or a good sense of using techniques. It needs more than that.
Art need the soul of an artist. Ancient civilizations were accustomed to use art
as a way of making there civilizations immortal. But in modern time the whole
concept has been changed. The importance of evolution can’t be denied but the
extent to which it brings change shouldn’t be ignored. Now art is being
approached by some highly sophisticated artists. It has been changed into a
profession. Expensive art schools are teaching modern techniques to the students
and providing skillful artists to the society. The efforts of these institutes
are appreciable but my question is that is this art? Does art mean joining an
art college, learning techniques and methods and holding a degree? It’s clear
from the history that great artists didn’t even visited schools. Their souls
were thirsty and art quenched their thirsts. Art is something to be found in
one’s own soul, not in the institutes. Art has nothing to do with erudition or
daintiness. Imagination is essence of art. It’s all about bringing one’s soul on
canvass or playing tunes of one’s soul. It’s all about depicting our inner
universe. It’s heart breaking to see true artists being wasted in the mob
because of financial constraints. No such institution can be found who are
searching for artists instead of students who can pay them well. The need of the
time is that such institutes should be established that carve out diamonds from
the coal mine. Artists should be promoted so that like other civilizations we
also make our culture immortal. Let us promote our Islamic culture and
tell the west that we have a culture and at the same time we are capable of
making it eternal. Let us learn art not buy it. Let us help people know their
point of existence and let them fulfill their duty. Let us stop the exploitation
of art and do art for art sake!