The Function of Art
A friend showed me a video of a robot stuck inside a glass box. It was not in any way built to represent a human. But the industrial digger-like subject had some moves to show off for anyone passing by. A bit of a dance, so to speak. The thing was, that as it moved its arm, body fixed to the ground in one place, it continued to leak oil and it had the tedious job of cleaning up after itself. As time went by it slowly became more fatigued and struggled to continue its dance with the same snap that it started with. You couldn’t help but feel sorry for it. It's tired. Poor thing has to do the same dance over and over for everyone to see. And even worse, it’s programmed to do it. It doesn’t have a choice. Trapped in a glass box. Like a slave.
But the robot doesn't feel anything. It’s us humans that feel. That is what good art should do. It should make you aware of your own humanity. Your own feelings. Because we all have them. Even though we sometimes like to pretend we go through our day just thinking we're doing what we thought was the right logical, rational thing to do. But it is our feelings that drive most of our decisions. Whether we're conscious of it or not. Whether we are trying to suppress particular feelings from arising. Sometimes it is the avoiding of a feeling that drives most of our decisions in life. Or maybe it's not just sometimes, maybe it’s all the time. We don’t want to feel cold, we don’t want to feel hungry, or sad, or anxious, or afraid. But that’s what makes us human.
The artist behind the robot exhibition did a great job of making us aware of our own humanity. Can a painting make you hungry, sad, anxious or afraid? Of course. It can certainly make you feel happy, confident, and nostalgic. I guess that's what usually sells. Most people don't want sad on their walls. But look at the giant paintings of Mark Rothko (preferably in person if you have the privilege) and you will experience the fact that colour alone can carry a unique subjective emotional resonance within us.
What is the function of art? I believe real art should show us that we feel. It makes us notice our own humanity.
