Is art an expression of beauty or a reflection of hidden pain? This question is mind-boggling and deserves a comprehensive investigation. Over the years, man has always expressed his admiration and appreciation for art without bothering to look beyond the aesthetics and question the thoughts behind the art.
Art has always been seen as an expression of creativity and imagination. There are various ways artists express themselves. These include but are not limited to songs, writing, drawings, fashion, sculpting and a few other ways. These works of art are a beauty to behold, but beyond the beauty, we need to start asking questions about the artists.
Are artists normal people? What qualifies one as an artist? Do artists see things others don’t? These questions need to be asked, and more research needs to be commissioned to learn more about the minds of artists.
Who is an Artist?
An artist is an individual who expresses their thoughts or imagination through a piece of work, usually for public consumption.
Artists often exhibit creative traits that make them stand out among other individuals. Anyone who possesses special skills can become an artist in the field that aligns with their talent.
Musicians are generally referred to as artists, but I dare say that not all musicians are artists. To qualify as an artist, you must identify with a unique craft through which people identify you.
For instance, the Nigerian music industry has hundreds or even thousands of musicians, but only a few of those could be said to be artists. People now do music solely for commercial purposes, and these people cannot be qualified as true artists. Some popular secular musicians in Nigeria qualified to be called artists include, but are not limited to, the following: Asa, Oma Lay, 2 Face Idibia, Brymo, Wizard Chan, etc.
These musicians exhibit craftsmanship through their music, and their songs go beyond just good rhythm and sounds, unlike the commercial musicians who just use sound to gain popularity.
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In literature, Nigeria has also had some of the best artists from the African continent. Authors like the late Chinua Achebe, the Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, and Ngozi Chimanda Adichie are some of the finest artists from Africa. To express their crafts through writing.
Are Artists Happy people?
Artists work assiduously to create art pieces that make our time worthwhile here on earth. They create beautiful songs that light up our hearts in times of challenges, or amazing paintings that take our breath away and they write literatures that tell our different stories. But the question no one is asking is, are these artists happy people? I have some reservations about the lifestyle of artists. I think artists are sad people. I have often seen art as a temple where sufferers go to seek solace. Artists usually tell a message or hide a message through their crafts. These guys are going through a lot and need some attention.
Pain of Artists
Many artists suffer from a variety of pains and wish to express themselves through their art. Most of the arts we enjoy are born out of pain. Most art pieces around the world express the pain of heartbreak, poverty, bad government, etc. In the Nigerian music industry, the legendary late singer, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, expressed his disdain for bad governance, which has dotted the leadership of the West African Nation since independence. The late musician was notorious for his craft, and he took on successive Nigerian governments head-on, demanding accountability and transparency in their day-to-day activities.
Artists also suffer pains such as gender persecution. Some artists are closeted non-binary but are too scared to express their identity to their fans for fear of persecution. In Africa, talks of gender liberty are frowned at and often met with backlash and criticism. This is why many artists fear expressing themselves fully. They suffer the pain of hiding their identity, and out of this pain comes their craft. This is why fans need to be kind and supportive to artist, because those smiles you see on their faces, those beautiful artworks you enjoy, all of those might just be some façade masking chronic pains. Our artists deserve better.
The Mystery of Art Viz-a-viz Gender Identity
There is a mystery attached to artists with regard to gender identity. I have noticed how some male musicians have effeminate personalities while some female musicians have portrayed some measure of masculinity in their crafts. For instance, musicians like Flavour Nabania, Fireboy DML, Oma Lay and even the late Michael Jackson all have some measure of effeminate features in their art. In the same vein, female artists like Tems, Teni, Fave and a few others all show some masculine features.
It begs this question: What is this mystery? Why do some artists behave like the opposite gender? The mystery of the arts concerning gender gives credence to the suggestion that artists might be suffering a lot that their fans know little or nothing about.
A Call for Support to Artists
Since time immemorial, artists have been a beacon of hope to the world. They make our world a beautiful place through their crafts. The musicians, the visual artists, the sculptors, you name it, have all contributed immensely to making our world a better place. I can’t imagine what the world would have looked like without art. Life without art wouldn’t be worth the while. It is, however, shocking to learn that some of these crafts that beautify our world are born out of pain. These artists go through a lot in their heads. They suffer a lot psychologically but hide their suffering from the prying eyes of the public, allowing the public to see only the beauties and crafts borne out of their pain.
This is therefore a call to lend our support to artists, regardless of their field of specialisation, acting, music, drawing, etc., they need our support despite not publicly acknowledging it. We must learn to look beyond the aesthetics and offer support to these artists.
There are several ways we could support these artists, such as patronising their act, being less critical of their work when we review them, and sending them goodwill messages.
