The Desire for Art: Suggestions for Seniors

There is a common question to gauge one’s passion, “If you are the only human left in this world, what would you do?” This question is flawed, the dread, and necessities of the situation are often confused for the purpose of the question. I propose a new one. “What will you do in a utopia.” I propose that the most common answer is “I will create art”.

Why art? 

In a utopia, all needs are met, the necessity of labor is gone, luxury is common, and scarcity is extinct. I personally will write, you may draw, sculpt, or paint or something that seems more functional such as mathematics, coding, or science. It does not matter, the removal of necessity from work makes all of us artists. 

What is the product of the artist? What is the product of the worker?

The artist sculpts, and the worker makes. What separates the “Venus de Milo” from the marble countertop? The marble countertop, from a functionalist viewpoint, is more valuable than any sculpture. The countertop is an actionable surface, you can work on it, you can rest on it, and it has more function than any sculpture. Yet we still value the sculpture more.

Why?

Compare the sight of the night sky to “The Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh. A sight is flat, it is natural, and it is separate from the human. The essential element of “The Starry Night” is not the paint, the brush strokes, or the color, it is the essence of van Gogh looking out the window of his asylum room. That is what makes art, the essence of humanity infused into every line, every word, every drop of paint a reflection of the blood, sweat, and tears of a human. 

This is why we desire art. 

Art is a reflection of the collective soul, the common experience of humanity. To feel, to love, to smile, to hurt, to hate, to laugh, art captures humanity in a physical form. 

Art is essential. 

Everyone creates or desires to create art. Life is boring and dull when all action is taken as a necessity against the struggle of life. To celebrate our struggle, to celebrate our success, through art is needed to know that there is more to life than chasing necessity. 

You may disagree, or you may claim that your work is parallel to art. 

In a utopia, you may be a scientist, a mathematician, or an accountant, but it does not matter it is still art. Finding art in one’s work makes work meaningful. The scientist finds beauty in their observations and experiments. The mathematician finds beauty in logic. The accountant finds beauty in numbers and spreadsheets. Thus, all of them work toward beauty in a utopia, thus all of them are artists.

What is your art? Do not limit yourself to the canvas; do ceramics, bracelets, sculpting, anything where you find beauty and passion.

It is never too early nor late to become an artist. What brings you joy? What fires your passion? What do you consider beautiful? Work towards it, bring beauty to your life, be an artist.

— William Ouyang