Art is an incredibly multi-faceted tool that has been used in a myriad of ways since the beginning of human civilization. In my blogs, I have talked about art’s therapeutic connection to mental health, community building and even as a career pathway. However, I have not yet discussed art and politics, art’s many purposes in the political realm and how it has often been used as an effective tool to communicate and galvanize the masses towards activism and societal change.
This is what brings us to this blog today; we will be taking a closer look at art’s connection with politics and also explore how it has been utilized in various ways to achieve political objectives and goals.
Using art… for raising awareness
Art has been an incredibly useful in raising awareness for causes that might otherwise struggle for visibility. In recent times, we have seen this happen at a more grand and effective scale because of the prevalence and convenience of social media, where visual art is more easily shared to millions of users. An excellent example of an artist using art as a tool for raising awareness is Banksy, who has used his subversive and notorious artworks to bring mass attention to the European Migrant Crisis and more recently to highlight the valiant efforts of the National Health Service works during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Using art… for activism
There have been pivotal moments in world history, where art has been effectively used as a medium to promote and encourage the masses to question the political and social status-quo. This sort of “activist art” has come in various forms such as traditional visual art and performance art, providing visceral commentary on issues that challenge the institutions in power. Ai Weiwei is an artist who comes to mind when we think of examples of artists who have used their art as a form of their activism. Weiwei is well known for having used his art to comment on Chinese government’s stance on democracy and human rights.
Using art… for preserving cultural and political history
Art has been crucial in preserving our history and culture over the millennia, as it keeps a visual record of significant events and experiences that have occurred and helps us build a more nuanced understanding of history and the politics involved. This preservation of art helps in building a nation’s identity and creating a cultural, political and societal legacy that can be passed on to the future generations. This explains why cultural authorities of various countries maintain libraries or registries specifically for preserving art, for the Library of Congress in the US.
Using art… for uniting people and building communities
To help strengthen communities and unite people together for a cause, art has proven to be quite effective over the course of our history. With the power of impactful art, people can be motivated to become change champions and transform the surroundings around them. Community art is an art form that finds its roots in the spirit of collaboration amongst communities to help promote unity and also express concerns or issues affecting the community members through art. This art practice can often act as a catalyst of change triggering events that can bring change within the national or international community.
It is absolutely incredible the various ways art and politics come together to support and encourage differing perspectives, to promote unity and fairness within communities. With the advent of social media and the growing popularity of activism, we will continue to see the valid importance of art in the political sphere.
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