Saturday Art: The "Art" of Living

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Having embraced art as a way of life, seeing beauty in the world around me and drawing inspiration from it, it's worth asking: What role does art play in our lives, and how can it transform our everyday existence? Can we draw a parallel between the traditional world of art and the art of living?

If living is an art, then the art of living is about mastering the balance between being present and evolving. It’s about finding harmony between purpose and pleasure, discipline and spontaneity, self-awareness and connection with others. Like any great art, living well requires creativity, resilience, and a willingness to embrace both joy and struggle. It means cultivating gratitude, being open to learning, and expressing oneself authentically while respecting the rhythm of life.

So if we draw a parallel between the traditional world of art and the art of living, we could see life itself as a canvas, a sculpture, or even a symphony, each requiring creativity, technique, and emotional depth. Just as a painter considers composition and balance in a painting, in life, we must design a fulfilling existence by balancing work, relationships, and personal passions. The way elements interact in a masterpiece mirrors how we shape our experiences. 

Looking at it in another way, a great painting has depth, layers of colour, shadow, and texture. Similarly, a rich life isn’t just about surface-level achievements but about depth: meaningful connections, introspection, and purpose.

In art, perspective changes everything, what looks chaotic up close might be breathtaking from a distance. Likewise, in life, how we choose to perceive events shapes our experience. A challenge can be seen as a setback or an opportunity to grow. As another parallel, in art, imperfections often make a piece more compelling, more human. Likewise, in life, our flaws, struggles, and scars add depth, character, and uniqueness. They tell our story, making us relatable and real.

The art of living is personal, and no one else can create your masterpiece. It is about creating inner beauty that radiates outward, just like a great work of art. Harmony, peace, and balance aren’t just personal achievements; they become something that others can feel when they interact with us, much like how a masterpiece moves those who witness it.

It is a deeply enriching way to live, to find beauty in each moment rather than measuring life by an overarching purpose that may or may not be fulfilled. It allows for fluidity, appreciation, and a sense of wholeness at every step. It also means that even the seemingly small moments, an insightful conversation, a piece of music, a fleeting sunset, are as meaningful as the grand milestones. When we give meaning to these small moments, they become the essence of a life well-lived, like delicate yet vital brushstrokes on the canvas.

So by immersing in art, music, poetry, and literature, it creates a deeply rich and meaningful way to live, continuously letting them shape and refine our  understanding of life. It is a gradual unfolding, yet with a sense of fulfilment at each stage. It reminds me of how an artist knows when a painting is complete, not because it is “perfect” in some objective sense, but because it has reached its own natural resolution. By that view, life isn’t about chasing some final state of perfection but about being fully present in the act of creation.  And when the final brushstroke is made, life is not left incomplete, it is whole, a complete work of art. 



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