Keeping Art Alive: Art Transcends Time

Art reflects our dense history in any given moment. Illustrating human experiences, our world would not be interconnected without the existence of art. It allows us to learn about people and places that we would have never known otherwise. We are then able to see the world through different perspectives, allowing us to understand people, places, and periods of our history.

With that being said, generating art during COVID-19 is especially important because it conveys a collection of stories from a major, global pandemic that has impacted everyday life. With my art history knowledge, I believe hundreds of years from now, historians will look back to the year 2020 and discuss the historical impacts COVID-19 had on the world. It’s important to note that art not only resonates in society and everyday life, but it also allows artists to communicate their emotions, voices, and perceptions of a given moment through any medium. It’s interesting because I’ve noticed a common theme of artists’ work being inspired by the pandemic.

(slime world by Kayla Greenwald)

For me, I design art every day since it’s already a part of my daily routine; however, I’ve noticed the aesthetic of my work, in terms of color and form, has evolved recently. I titled my most recent piece for a final project, slime world (see image above), slightly mimicking a type of germy, slimy vibe. Additional themes embedded in my work include: dreams, space, and extraterrestrial life. I usually resort to this type of digital drawing, with intricate, abstract concepts relating to a surrealist technique that’s influenced by spontaneous, automatic, or subconscious thinking. It’s a soothing and therapeutic type of process that allows for my inner self to become expressive during these stressful and unknown times.

Overall, the creation of art matters because people matter, and arts are one of the best ways to abstractly record civilization in a given moment. I believe anyone can create art no matter how much experience you have because it allows you to calm down and be present.