"That's why we have art: to escape," the gallery owner said, looking at a painting with soft colors and edges.
I saw her point. We were in a gallery surrounded by artwork, drinking in their beautiful details and finding refreshment therein. In that moment, there were no questions of politics, world issues or the future. We were simply appreciating the work before us.
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Yet, that moment was not one of escape.
Each painting I liked was for a reason. Often, that reason had to do with the feelings conveyed and evoked by the piece. Sometimes it was a more solemn, lonely feeling as I took in the forms of solitary sailors on a gray sea. Other times, it was the feelings of joy and intrigue as I gazed upon natural scenes with details as clear and sharp as crystal and vibrant colors.
My reason for admiration never had to do with me feeling far away as if I was in a different world. And it couldn't have been. I enjoyed the works as much as I did because of the ways they connected and attested to the beauty, awe and experience of the real world.
Without that connection, there would be no framework to appreciate the works. How can a person even find significance in something when it is completely unreal?
Humans need something with which to connect when pieces of art are present. Sometimes that connection is found in the beauty, emotion or symbolism of a work. Whatever that connecting point is, it is something that has been enjoyed or experience in humankind, the world or existence.
Even the most fantastical visual or written works speak to people because of these things. Imagination, creativity, beauty, intelligence, valor, bravery and goodness all strike viewers of the most fictional and outlandish works.
People often speak of the need to escape through art and literature, but merely escaping will not help. In actuality, any retreat that is to be had occurs by being immersed in that which is seen as the good parts of the world and existence.
For this same reason, it is not healthy for people to pursue escape. When we view a piece of art or literature as having good, intriguing components that our own world does not, we not only sell our own world short—we make a more dismal view of reality for ourselves. If all of the enjoyable, good things are in books or paintings, we will fail to see the good that is in our own world and fail to enjoy it. A life without enjoyment is a very sad one. It is also an unrealistic one.
Instead of trying to escape, perhaps we should try to explore. Explore the world around us. Find and identify those good things. Explore the reasons we have for liking different works of art and literature and connect those to the real world. Explore the world, rather than give up on it. When we do this, we may find there is a lot of exploring to do.
