written by art historian & curator Mihaela Manolche
From the very beginning of human consciousness, art has served as a lifeline, a language, and a fundamental means of survival. Long before the advent of written language, humans etched their fears, triumphs, and spiritual beliefs into stone, using pigment and shape to navigate the complexities of an untamed world. The earliest cave paintings, brought to life by the flickering glow of firelight, weren’t frivolous creations but urgent expressions — messages sent across the vast expanse of time, whispering tales of the hunt, the mysteries of life and death, and the presence of unseen forces that governed their world. These raw images, scratched onto rock with instinct and intention, represent humanity’s first attempts to grapple with the unknown, to capture fleeting thoughts and emotions in a tangible form that could outlive their creators.
This fundamental quest for meaning through art has taken countless forms throughout history, from the representational to the abstract. In the 20th century, artists like the Abstract Expressionists pushed the boundaries of artistic expression, seeking to convey profound emotional and existential truths through purely abstract means. We are reminded thus, that the inherent need to seek meaning through art is as fundamental to our existence as breath itself. Throughout history, this primal…
