What is Art?

Art is a sublime mode of communication, a spiritual bridge between its creator and its audience—the most intuitive and natural connection imaginable. It is an embodiment not necessarily of what currently exists, but of possibilities, of what can be. This mystic connection, however, unlike any other, operates not at the conscious level, but subconsciously. The true beauty of an artistic creation lies in the fact that neither the creator nor the audience is consciously aware of the veracity or nature of this relationship. Artists do not precisely know what they are communicating through their art, and the audience does not precisely know what they are absorbing.

The reason for this unconscious connection is that, at the time of creation, artists are not in their "right state of mind," so to speak; they are in a state of trance. Unaware of their conscious being, they are levitated from their mundane existence, embarking on a fascinating journey into the abyss of infinite unknowns within their psyche. This is perhaps the most inspiring mental state humans may ever achieve, because in this state, the artist is liberated from all their presuppositions and confinements. They become capable of revealing their shadow, the persona artists do not fully comprehend or are not aware of its existence. What emanates from an artist and what is discerned by the audience constitutes the true meaning of art; this delightful process of subconscious discoveries is what makes art genuine, fantastic, and unique.

The masterpieces created by Salvador Dalí serve as a prime example of how the unconscious mind manifests in art. His surreal and dreamlike imagery transcends the labyrinth of his psyche, enabling him to explore themes of desire, fear, aspirations, and irrational dreams.

Art is created only when the artist is possessed by forces unknown to them. Consciousness is the nemesis of art. The conscious urge and effort to create art is merely the beginning of the magnificent journey of an artist into the eerie labyrinth of their spirit, where they may or may not find the treasure chest of artistry they are anxiously seeking.

The form of art is merely a conduit, a device, a tangible exterior utilized to unveil unconsciousness and make it discernible by consciousness. The manifestation of artistic creation—the form, the appearance of art—is not the essence of art in itself; it is a façade that masks the true meaning of art. The more an artist is integrated with their inner being, the more the veneer of their creation reflects the crux of their inner soul and the essence of their message. Conversely, the more an artist consciously creates, the more they reflect their conscious being and suppress their shadow, inevitably distancing themselves from who they truly are. Artistic creation driven by full consciousness is more of a cognitive statement than genuine art, however beautiful it may be, because it is produced, or at least influenced/tainted, by conscious thought.

Artistic creation itself cannot be taught or learned; only the techniques of such creation may be.

At a more palpable level, art is an exchanged sentiment between two human beings, a portal that connects two souls. As inspiring and magnificent as this human connection is, art is capable of achieving more than just a link between its creator and its audience. Art is also reflective of the collective unconscious of a nation in a given era, since, in its purest form, art itself is a product of the collective unconscious communicated through the psyche of an artist. This is the ultimate beauty, power, and universality of art.