Quotes on Art Experience part 2: My Friends and Colleagues Share their Thoughts on Art

We don't need to be artists, writers, or philosophers to appreciate art experiences. 

A Still at National Museum of Fine Arts.

Art is our shared story. We can think of it as a narrative that contains all we want to express, all emotions we feel, and all ideas from our collective ingenuity. It is a part of us and it reflects what makes us all human.

In this final part of my present post series, I'll be sharing takes on art from ordinary people. I've talked to various friends and colleagues to know their thoughts on art experience. 

Let us hear what they have to say. Here are 7 quotes on art experience according to my friends and colleagues:

Daniel

"[Art experiences] calm my mind from all the buzz that surrounds me. It affects my train of thought. It makes me feel positive to face life." 

Art experiences' ability to ease psychological troubles was a recurring theme in my interviews. My friend, Daniel not only considers art as entertainment, but also as an experience that brings positivity to his life.

Marc

"[Art experiences] open me up to new knowledge, ideas, and perspectives. It makes me optimistic and it frees me up from having a big ego."

Aside from making him optimistic, my friend, Marc considers art experiences as educational experiences. It enlarges his perspective and negates the close-mindedness of his ego.

Reinar

"[Art experiences] for me is a way to understand and express ourselves. It encourages us to be creative and it makes us embrace individuality."

Individuality and expression are the values that my friend, Reinar gets from art experiences. For him, understanding art is the same as discovering an identity.

Rian

"I feel amazed at the fact that [art experiences] allow artists to express their imaginations. Through [art experiences,] I come to know different cultures and life stories."

Like Marc, art experiences for my friend, Rian are educational. He sees artwork as artists' way of showing the world their unique stories and ideas.

Bryan

"[Art experiences] for me is a rollercoaster of emotions. It can make me confused. It can make me curious. It can make me feel empty and sad but it can also make me happy." 

Art experiences have great emotional appeal to my friend, Bryan. Every time he sees artwork, it stirs him from the inside. It makes him feel an array of emotions that enrich his life experience.

Ryan

"[Art experiences] make me curious. I question why an artwork is made a certain way-Why this brush stroke? Why this color? Why is it mad? Should I empathize with it? I also question the emotions it portrays."

Curiosity is another recurring theme I noticed in my interviews. This statement from my friend, Ryan describes it best. Art experiences always make him think. It rouses his intellect and makes him yearn for understanding. 

Jean

"I would describe [art experiences] as a language. Great artworks for me are those that communicate and relate well with viewers."

Lastly, my friend, Jean considers art experiences as communication. It is a way of telling profound ideas that would otherwise be less heard if spoken in other means.

Conclusion

Though each of my friends shared different perspectives, I found them all united in their appreciation of art. They made me see that art experience, indeed, is an essential part of being human.

A Still at Pintô Art Museum.

Informed with the perspective of writers, philosophers, artists, and for this week, ordinary people, I hope I was able to send the message that art experiences are vital experiences. 

It has the power to unite us, inspire us, and, most importantly, it can change our lives.

I am always seeking for unique takes on art experience. So, don't hesitate to share your thoughts in the comments. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more art insights!

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to my friends, Daniel, Marc, Reinar, Rian, Ryan, Bryan, and Jean for sharing their thoughts on art experience. 

Thanks also to my sister, Bea, and my cousin, Carlo for the photos.