How Artists Reflect the Collective Human Soul

In many cultures, the artist is seen as a modern-day shaman or a secular saint who navigates the complexities of the human spirit on behalf of the tribe. They go into the dark places of the mind and bring back stories that help us survive our own shadows. This role as a spiritual guide creates a profound bond of trust between the artist and the public. When such a figure dies, their "teachings" in the form of their art become even more precious. We keep them in our hearts as a form of ancestral worship, recognizing that they have paved the way for our own emotional and intellectual growth. They are the giants on whose shoulders we stand, and we honor them by keeping their memory vivid and vital.