Since art presents a pictorial record of a nation’s everyday life and existence, and at the same time creates the means for promoting the artistic taste of each generation—a taste which cannot be satisfied by materialism—the arts must have a significant impact on each society.
However, it is materialism that has almost totally dominated contemporary life, giving a harsh edge to common perceptions. And it is art that can soften this sharpness. Although art is so deeply ingrained in the conscience, it has to be seen through an individual’s own eyes for each person to realise its importance.
Artistic rank
It is the Ministry of Culture’s responsibility to restore art to its deserved rank in contemporary life. If we concern ourselves with art and beauty, any member of society can taste and understand the meaning of any artistic work, whether a painting, sculpture, melody or poem.
Thus promoting fine taste in the public of the future has to be the first artistic aim of any school. This should be through decoration in the classrooms and gardens, with provision of reproductions of works by Egyptian artists and well-illustrated pictures in schoolbooks. This would help to bring out latent skills and energies in all fields: arts, culture, and science.
Life maker
Art is a life maker. Art was a contributing and formative element in the civilisation of Egypt. This is clearly represented in the high level of architecture—the crown of the arts—of ancient Egypt and successive eras.
The importance of portraiture is that it reveals the values of society’s beauty and knowledge, while sculpture plays a role in conveying features and landmarks. The old arts have thus trodden a civilised historical path. In former times, Egyptian society was breathing art. The older parts of Cairo are like artists’ windows, showing various genres of arts and still so rich in architecture.
Art as emotion
Because art touches the senses and emotions, the government should assign a portion of the total cost of public buildings for artistic works and architectural ornamentation. This is what we miss today: the link between architecture and the other arts.
Egypt’s artistic heritage is laden with superior examples, all of which need to be explored. The cultural authorities should promote interaction with the public. While art galleries and museums certainly do offer an opportunity to experience artistic fulfilment on one level, this would be better realised through contemplating and enjoying works of art in dedicated locations and would accordingly enable viewers to understand the expression and form of any artistic work.
Art cannot be described; its value lies in its credibility. Its role is to deepen the meaning of life and to bestow an ability to express and create a kind of artistic taste that stays fresh in the memory.
