Avishi Gurnani, age 12

Varshini Arunachalam

It was a warm afternoon, and I was surrounded by a group of eager young faces, curious and excited, waiting for our poetry workshop to begin. 

The room hummed with quiet anticipation, the kind that sparks creativity. As part of a volunteer program with peers from my school, I had embarked on a journey to help underserved primary school students write and perform their own poems. The classroom was bright but modest, its walls adorned with colourful posters. Around 15 students from ages eight to 10 sat at their desks, sharpened pencils and freshly printed booklets in front of them. The challenge wasn’t just about putting words to paper — we wanted to help them unlock their voices' unique rhythms, to teach them the art of telling their own stories and bringing them to the world.

Poetry, I’ve realized over the years, is more than rhyme schemes, literary devices, or metaphors. It’s a way to express our emotions, much like music, which carries rhythms and resonances that touch the heart without the need for elaborate explanations. In many ways, poetry mirrors music, turning words into melancholic melodies and feelings into harmonies. It’s an art form that can convey any message of any depth with just a few carefully chosen words (known as diction). 

My tryst with poetry began when I stumbled upon a dog-eared anthology in the library. At that time, I was more familiar with the art of writing prose and expositions, and the exquisite sensation of finding another means of escape has never truly left me. I still remember the thrill of finally penning my first poem; although clunky, it was wholly mine. 

As we guided these young students through the poetic process that day, I was able to further understand firsthand how art, in its many forms, can be a powerful and amazing tool for us to discover ourselves.The journey began with blank sheets of paper, empty save for a few printed lines, and hesitant pens. Many of the students were unsure of where to start, and looking at their blank pages reminded me of how similarly daunting it had been for me to first make my way into the world of poetry. Since then, I’ve learned that poetry is not really about perfection but about connection. We reassured the students that they could write about anything that moved them, be it something they loved, something that made them delighted, or even something that made them wonder.

Slowly, pens slid across the pages. As I read through their drafts, I really enjoyed looking at the often musical meaning their poems conveyed. When it came time to perform, I could see the students’ initial nervousness start to melt away, and we spent time teaching them to use their voices: to emphasize certain words, pause for effect, and let the rhythm of the poem shine through. Some wrote about impactful, meaningful figures in their lives. One student wrote about her grandmother’s garden, and the depth of imagery was gripping. She spoke of her grandmother’s sudden passing and the subsequent withering of her garden, and her pen found its way to our hearts. Another student’s performance stood out differently — his poem about his love for football showcased his energy and humor to the audience. Describing the thrill of finally scoring a goal, he stomped his feet and mimed the action of kicking a ball, earning cheers and laughter from his peers. The students didn’t need to pinpoint various literary devices used to pique the reader’s attention, for their poems wholly captivated the audience with their rawness, almost as if they were offering us a glimpse into their souls. The joy they found was truly meaningful and struck me.

In this age dominated by screens and various distractions, it was amazing to see the students' receptiveness to such forms of art, and their conviction truly impressed me. Some of them managed to leave the room completely still, their peers hanging on every word. To be honest, the real beauty was watching the students develop not just as poets but as speakers, too, and this was incredibly fulfilling. Public speaking is a skill that may terrify even the best of us, but through their poems, the students actively tried their best, and learned to express themselves openly and confidently. As the workshop came to a close, they built meaningful connections with us and their peers by bringing their poems to life through performance. Their voices managed to add another layer of meaning to their poems, each intonation and tone coupled with the impact of the words striking a deep-set chord in our hearts.

This journey has deepened my love for the arts, and shown me how wonderfully they can bring people together. Everyone’s voices matter, their tales deserve to be heard, and art, in whatever form, can indeed strike a chord deep within us all. Sometimes, the most profound connections are created through simple words, shared in a room brimming with listening hearts.

Helping Hands

In a KidSpirit Helping Hands article, teen writer Varshini Arunachalam explores the impact of helping younger students write and perform poetry.

 Striking Chords Through Words

Jewel Yang

Music and art play a very important role in my cultural tradition.  

For example, at every holiday we celebrate with unique traditions, and we show gratitude by playing different genres of music and expressing ourselves with different forms of art. In particular, music teaches me how to appreciate my culture. It gives me knowledge about my historic background and it takes me back to my roots. It reminds me to never forget where I came from. 

I never used to understand the lyrics of the songs when they were played in restaurants during holidays like Chinese New Year. I would simply just sit there and eat my food without thinking of the meanings of those songs, and I didn’t bother to ask questions because I thought they were just regular songs. But as the years went by, I came to a realization that certain songs would only be played during the month of Chinese New Year. 

Chinese New Year, which is also known as Lunar New Year, is the most important holiday for Chinese civilization. This holiday marks the start of the lunar calendar. During Chinese New Year, there is a list of traditions to follow. If we don’t follow those traditions, we won’t have good luck for the new year. For example, we need to say positive things during the start of Chinese New Year. Saying positive things will guarantee you a year of happiness. There is also a list of things not to do. We shouldn’t buy shoes during this period of time because, if we do, the shoes will lead us onto a path of bad luck. We can buy shoes 15 days after Chinese New Year ends. Chinese New Year also symbolizes the end of winter and the start of spring. Usually animals come out of hibernation during spring. This also means that spring is a new start for everyone. Chinese New Year is the time to gather with our families, wish for wealth, happiness, health, and to be grateful. 

I started to have many questions about the Chinese New Year songs. I wondered what inspired songwriters to write them, and how it became a tradition for us to listen to them during Chinese New Year. So I began asking my parents loads of questions, and they explained what the songs were written about, and how the stories from the past became our traditions. Then they started telling me the stories from the past, and as I listened to the stories, I made notes on the events that had happened. After that I carefully listened to the lyrics of the songs and Googled their meanings. One song that I really liked was “Gong Xi Gong Xi,” which means "congratulate, congratulate." The lyrics are cheerful and lively. What I love about this song is that its filled with positive energy. The song is congratulating us for finding peace and happiness in the new year.

Since then, I have found out that many of the Chinese New Year songs were written in hope for an abundant amount of wealth, health, success, happiness, and good fortune for the new year, or to symbolize joy. The intentions of the songwriters were to pass down these songs from generation to generation, and they wanted them to be a part of Chinese cultural traditions. Even though I am Taiwanese, my family and I also follow these traditions. In fact, the majority of Taiwan follows the Chinese traditions for Chinese New Year. 

These songs have made a great impact on Chinese and Taiwanese civilization. For over 3,500 years, they have helped spread cultural awareness, a sense of community, and a sense of belonging. Not only have they made a huge impact on Chinese and Taiwanese civilizations, but these songs are now known by people from all around the world. This helped preserve Chinese cultural traditions for Asians who don’t live in their motherland. For example, Asians who live in Western countries often don’t know much about their culture because they are not taught cultural traditions. Living in a place that has different traditions makes it harder to adapt to Chinese culture. 

In addition to music, my cultural traditions are influenced by visual art.  While I was in lower school, every year when Chinese New Year rolled around, Chinese teachers would help us learn how to write Chinese calligraphy on Chūnlián, square or rectangular pieces of red paper. On these pieces of paper there are usually either one or four Chinese characters that symbolize good fortune, blessings, wealth, health, happiness, and more. You will see one Chinese character on the paper that is in the shape of a square and you will see four Chinese characters on the paper that is in the shape of a rectangle. 

Chinese calligraphy is written on square or rectangular pieces of red paper called Chūnlián. On these pieces of paper there are usually either 1 or 4 Chinese characters that symbolize good fortune, blessings, wealth, health, happiness, etc. You will see 1 Chinese character on the paper that is in the shape of a square and you will see 4 Chinese characters on the paper that is in the shape of a rectangle. These papers are called square and rectangle shaped paper that are red are called Chūnlián.

In lower school I learned how to write Chinese calligraphy on Chūnlián. Before the teachers taught us how to write Chinese calligraphy, they taught us the historic background on why writing Chinese calligraphy during Chinese New Year is our tradition. They explained that Chūnliáns are placed in houses to welcome good fortune. 

Chūnlián are taped everywhere during Chinese New Year. You can find them on every wall, hallway, door, window, and anywhere you can imagine. We do this because we believe that changing Chūnliáns every year can help us with our luck. We throw the old Chūnlián away and change it to a new one for good luck. It is essentially like throwing bad luck away. 

After learning about the traditions in my culture, I know that music and art play a huge role in my community. These traditions are not just about celebrating the holiday, they are about embracing the values that my family and I believe in. Chinese New Year reminds me of where my ancestors, family, and I came from. This makes me proud of my culture and our traditions. Without music and art, Chinese culture wouldn’t be the same. But this is not true of Chinese culture, without music and art every culture in the world wouldn’t be the same. This taught me to not take music and art for granted.

How faith or wisdom traditions impact our lives 

Interfaith Connections

In a KidSpirit Interfaith Connections article, teen writer Jewel Yang shares how music and art are central to celebrating Chinese New Year. 

The Beauty of Music and Art

Siddhant Raj

Friedrich Schiller once said, “Art is the daughter of freedom.” 

This quote succinctly encapsulates the core trope that intertwines the profound ideas of art and freedom — the two primary keystones that drive the story of Wings in the Wild by Margarita Engle. 

Written in verse, this book is internationally commended for its lyrical style and deep allegorical connotations. The novel’s unique structure helps the reader connect to the characters’ emotions and struggles. Using its poetic narrative, Wings in the Wild intricately laces the ideas of art, freedom, and romance into a sublime depiction of two teens’ struggles in their journey toward tackling environmental crises. This delightful and stimulating novel serves as a quintessential portrayal of the intricacy of nature and human resilience. 

Wings in the Wild  starts by showcasing the ordeals faced by two Cuban teenagers, Soleida and Dariel. Soleida’s life is turned upside down when her parents are imprisoned for violating censorship laws by creating secret art, a rebellious act under their oppressive regime. On the other hand, a tragic wildfire causes the demise of Dariel’s parents, who used to be stars in the telenovela world. Soleida and Dariel encounter each other at a refugee camp where they seek asylum. Although they come from different worlds, one thing they share is their undeterred drive to make a sea of change in the world by working toward saving the environment. Engle’s lucid description of the hardships faced by Dariel and Soleida shines a needed light on the arduous lives of Cuban refugees, and at the same time helps us understand the adverse effects of natural disasters. 

Teeming with imagery and allegories, the dual perspectives of Soleida and Dariel deepen the reader’s understanding of the core message Engle conveys. Also, she lucidly balances realism and poetic idealism in the novel, thereby helping readers relate to the adversities faced by the characters. However, I found the plot to be a bit too predictable, as it only revolves around the “oppression-resistance-love” arc.

Along with portraying the effects of major crises, Wings in the Wild illustrates how a strong bond and shared values can have the everlasting power to make a difference in society. Albeit from vastly contrasting backgrounds, Soleida and Dariel find common ground in their keenness toward nature and art. This shows how love and solidarity play a crucial role in transcending the societal paradigms that confine one’s mind. I resonated with this idea as I am someone that enjoys art and a little bit of romance in books. Since art is used as a metaphor for resistance and freedom in the book, it serves as a motif in Soleida and Dariel’s journey to challenge norms. 

Furthermore, Engle also incorporates multiple allegories which act as a locomotive for the themes conveyed in the book. The author very meticulously shows wings — which symbolize flight — as a metaphor for freedom, juxtaposing the common perspective that wings symbolize escapism.  Soleida and Dariel face their own challenges for freedom, and the idea of “wings” and “birds” represent how they rise above these adversities to propel positive change. Another connection I noticed in the book is between the wildness of nature and untamed forces of the environment which are spurred by human actions. This destruction of nature could serve as a metaphor for how human greed and corruption can be detrimental to environmental equilibrium. 

In addition to these intriguing themes, one element I found fascinating about this novel is how Engle subtly blends concepts from her previous story Your Heart, My Sky to convey the ideas shared in the book. Through this continuation of ideas, Engle creates a literary ecosystem where she portrays the recurring significance of activism, nature, and human resilience. 

I would give this book four out of five stars, as it gave me abundant insights into environmental crises as well as how human resilience plays an important part in tackling them. I also appreciate Engle’s incorporation of metaphors in her efforts to communicate themes like love, art, and freedom. Moreover, as someone who enjoys poetry and philosophy, I could relate to the format of the book and the various ideas it encompassed. The only element that could have been enhanced was the plot predictability. 

All in all, Wings in the Wild inspired me to break through boundaries and constantly soar higher in life.

Media

In a KidSpirit Media review, teen writer Siddhant Raj gives his take on Margarita Engle's novel in verse about art, music, and environmental activism.

A Review of Wings in the Wild

Cléa-Rose Deschanel-Pathman

If there is light, filtering through the snowy branches,
Then surely there is music. Follow it through to the awning.
Everything here has been waiting for you since your ancestors
Broke the quiet dawn over fire, revealing that element 
That makes things heavy in the presence of light; 

Because where there are people, float barley and laughter, 
The surety of one’s hand in yours, elbows on concrete floors,
The glow of lanterns on the river and fried sweetness on the flame,
A noose forgotten in a basket, a couple of shackles laying broken,
A shadow pushed back by the sheer weight of the human condition. 

Some people are born whole. Others, lifting out of shadow, 
Tip chin on string, pressing lips to brass, voices laid on air,
Breathe in winter and sing out spring. 
Some things must be made. Others, are lying in wait
In the space between octaves, hidden in the chords. 

If it is not the light, then it is the darkness, 
Thick on the lungs and stifling the throat. 
Even in the gloaming, on the cusp of twilight,
Teetering between dusk and gold, I can find my way 
To my voice, grasping blindly for what was mine before I knew name and reason. 

Our faces, opening up in the cataclysm of dim and din, 
Are the only real deciding factor for music,
Because there is a blanket of snow sparkling with the promise of spring,
And if that isn’t music, then surely that’s the same as freedom,
And if this isn’t light, then surely it’s the path towards it. 

Poetry

In a KidSpirit poem, teen poet Cléa-Rose Deschanel-Pathman evokes the magic of music. 

Where There Is Music

Dr. Susan Magsamen

We are proud to announce that this issue's PerSpectives article will be written by Dr. Susan Magsamen, founder and executive director of the International Arts + Mind Lab. 

Susan Magsamen is the founder and executive director of the International Arts + Mind Lab (IAM Lab), Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics, a groundbreaking neuroaesthetics initiative at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 

Susan’s work focuses on how the arts and aesthetic experiences measurably change the brain, body, and behavior and how this knowledge can be translated to inform health, well-being, and learning programs in medicine, public health, and education. 

She is also the author of Impact Thinking, an interdisciplinary translational research model to enhance human potential through the use of arts and aesthetics. This model is a generative framework that applies a new scientific method to arts and aesthetics research and, at the same time, considers how the research can be scaled, disseminated, and evaluated for impact. In addition to her role at IAM Lab, she is the co-director of the NeuroArts Blueprint project in partnership with the Aspen Institute. The Blueprint aims to create the field of Neuroarts where arts and aesthetics are mainstream in medicine and public health. Magsamen is also the co-author of the New York Times Bestseller, Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us, written for the general public.

Come back later this winter to read Dr. Magsamen's article on this issue's theme, "Music and Art." 

A final note on our theme by a spiritual elder

PerSpectives

Meet Our Winter PerSpectives Author

Zoe Nhyira Maison

I checked today’s date on the calendar. June 12th. 

Exactly six months since my  sister’s death. Six months since my whole world decided to topple over. 

It had been difficult to deal with life without her. My family was broken without  her, and everything just felt . . . meaningless.  

I rubbed my hand on my face to pull myself together before getting up to open the curtains. The bright sun streamed through the window into my room. A lump formed in my throat as the thought of my sister never coming back hit me again.  Six months wasn’t enough to get over grief. No time would ever be enough. 

“Get yourself together, Brenda,” I murmured to myself as a tear rolled down my  cheek. 

Who was I kidding? I couldn’t go back to work today. Not like this. I dragged myself to my family's sitting room across the hall. It was empty, which was perfect.  

I sat behind my cello and sighed. This was the only way I could distract myself, and I honestly knew I couldn’t keep up with this every single day. I had a life to return to; but I didn’t care. 

I pulled a string. The note bounced off and rang beautifully in my ears, reminding me of the times I used to play for my sister so she could forget her sickness, and the pain she was feeling. 

I picked up the bow and began playing my sister’s favorite song, "My Girl" by The Temptations. 

I swayed swiftly as I gracefully moved the bow across the strings of my cello.  Playing her song felt beyond magical. It felt like she was there, moving to the tune with me. The tears in my eyes returned and before I could help it, I was sobbing. The music was enough to break me down.  

As I played the final notes, the wave of emptiness returned and the realization that I had to go to work rekindled in my mind. I reluctantly placed the bow on the little table beside me and sighed in satisfaction. 

I had to move on. I knew it was going to be hard, but I also knew that was what my sister would want. For me to move on. 

With the little reassurance I had given myself, I stood up and walked out of the room, silently humming the tune of the song, the only reminder of my sister’s true joy. 

Fiction

In a KidSpirit Fiction piece, teen writer Zoe Nhyira Maison conjures a story about music's healing power amidst grief. 

A Sister’s Symphony

Amy Bai

The magic of photography is that it can permanently preserve a moment, a person, or an encounter.

A normal, damp, rainy day in Melbourne. I was carrying my camera around to take photos of the same old neighborhood that I had lived in for the past five years. There was nothing new, so I struggled to find inspiration for my photography project. Just as I ran out of ideas, a cascading rain started, as if to complement my dampened mood. I quickly ran to the nearby underground walkway to protect myself from the rain. I carefully covered my camera with my jacket, embracing it as if it were a newborn baby. I took a deep breath, inhaling the cold moisture to calm myself and exhaling to release the unwanted toxins inside of me.

Somehow, I was saturated with impatience that day, desperately praying for the rain to stop. I paced around the entrance of the walkway, trying to entertain myself a little. Normally, on a photographing day like this, I would use all my spare time to filter through my chaotic camera roll and pick a few photos out of the hundreds that were just satisfactory. I was not even bothered to open my camera roll that day because I knew there were no decent photos. Again, I took in a long breadth. I shivered as the coldness penetrated every single cell in my body. 

Just as I began to exhale, someone said, “Are you okay?”

A child’s voice. Following the voice, a sense of warmth washed over me. Perhaps because the voice was uniquely sweet, distinct from the harsh sound of the raindrops. I was not sure whether the voice was targeted at me, but in the dark, desolate walkway there was only me and this anonymous voice. The child’s voice made me remember the rainy days of my childhood.

My mum and dad used to hold my hands as I jumped in and out of water puddles. As a child, I was not afraid of rain, but rather, I loved it. The rain always transformed the streets into a water park with free entry. It was endless happiness and fun. Those good old days.

A few seconds passed, and I withdrew from my nostalgic thoughts. I turned around, and the anonymous voice turned into a person. A little boy. He wore a bright yellow rain jacket with a complementary yellow umbrella in his hand. He waved, but looked confused as he stared into the dark walkway extending behind me.

“I am alright. Are you looking for someone?” I asked.

He shook his head, “No . . . not really.” Lifting up his umbrella, he passed it to me. I thought he just intended to show me his interesting umbrella, but no, he wanted to give it to me.

“No no, it’s fine . . . I am fine.” 

I gently pushed his umbrella back to him. He nodded and then hesitated as if he was trying hard to process my words. Then, without a farewell, he ran from my end of the walkway to the other. His yellow outfit made it look as if he were a firefly flying across the dark cave in front of me.

Without hesitation, I opened my camera. I lowered the exposure of the frame to emphasize the contrast between the bright yellow color and the dark background. Through the lens, I saw the little boy opening his umbrella and bravely walking into the heavy rain as if he were just a part of it. Something inside me clicked. I quickly walked to the other end of the walkway, following the boy’s path. He probably heard my hurried footsteps, so he turned around and smiled.

The magic of photography is that it can permanently preserve a moment, a person, or an encounter, even though in reality it was just an infinitesimal instant. The photo of the boy in the yellow raincoat became one of my favorite photographs that I always share with others, not only because of its composition and presentation of color, but also because of the lesson I learned from it. Photography is not always about having everything prepared and set up for the moment of capture: it is about living in the moment and being observant of your changing surroundings.

As a passionate photographer, I think this lesson was a very important step in my photography journey, since it propelled me to take a greater variety of photos. While photos are a form of visual communication, they also should act as a way for the photographer to convey their inner world and share the stories behind each image. This is why I think the photo of the boy in the yellow raincoat is one of the best representations of the value of photography. The stark contrast between the yellow and the gloomy background symbolizes the enlightening experience the boy had brought to me amidst the dismal environment.

After this encounter, I began to approach photography differently whenever I went out to take photos. I started to give myself more time to interact with the people I encounter on the way, to connect through casual conversations, and I have learned about the interesting stories of the people who might become the subjects of my photos. It’s the stories of those people that inspire me and bring depth to my photos.

Whenever I head outside now, I bring my camera with me to take photos of the random, yet valuable, things that I observe. This habit has largely broadened the diversity of photos I take, ranging from small plants on the road to people and buildings. 

Over time, I have grown to perceive photography as a reflection of my inner world. When my mood or mental state changes, my observations of the surroundings will change and influence what I choose to photograph. Recalling the special moments of my own childhood, I think I would have loved to have a photographer who captured and preserved my daily life as a gift for the older me.

Experiences of connection and transformation 

Awesome Moments

In a KidSpirit Awesome Moments article, teen writer Amy Bai shares a moment that shaped her journey as a photographer. 

Click, Processed, Stored

Dylan Zhang

The impulse to create, to make something out of nothing, seems to be deeply embedded in our species. But why?

Art has been an integral part of human existence for tens of thousands of years, from the cave paintings of Lascaux to the digital masterpieces that flood the Internet today. 

The impulse to create, to make something out of nothing, seems to be deeply embedded in our species. But why is this? What is it that compels us to paint, sculpt, dance, and sing? While the reasons are as varied as the forms of art themselves, there are several key forces that drive humans to create art: self-expression, communication, emotional release, societal influence, and, surprisingly, biology.

One of the most commonly cited reasons for creating art is the need for self-expression. Art allows individuals to convey thoughts, feelings, and identities that may be difficult or impossible to express through words alone. Whether through a painting, a poem, or a piece of music, artists channel their innermost thoughts into a form that others can perceive. Take, for example, Vincent van Gogh's swirling skies in Starry Night or Frida Kahlo's deeply personal self-portraits. Each of these pieces offers a glimpse into the mind and emotions of the artist at the time of creation. Van Gogh’s work conveys the intensity of his inner turmoil, while Kahlo’s paintings explore themes of identity, suffering, and resilience. Both artists struggled with personal hardship and found in art a way to grapple with their pain. This drive to express oneself is not limited to emotionally fraught experiences. Even in mundane moments, we feel the desire to leave a personal imprint on the world. From doodling in the margins of a notebook to singing in the shower, we find joy in making something uniquely our own. It’s a way of asserting, "I am here, and this is how I see the world."

Creating art can also serve as a form of emotional release or catharsis. In ancient Greece, the philosopher Aristotle wrote about how tragedy in theater had the power to cleanse the audience of negative emotions, a process he called “catharsis.” This concept is not limited to theater; art in all its forms can serve as an outlet for emotion. When we pour our frustrations, fears, or joys into a piece of art, we often feel a sense of relief and renewal. The psychological benefits of art are well documented, such as by researcher Vicky Karkou and her collaborators. Art therapy, for example, is used to help individuals process trauma, grief, and anxiety. By creating art, individuals externalize their emotions, allowing them to process difficult experiences in a safe and controlled way. The very act of creation becomes a therapeutic process, helping individuals to gain perspective and find healing. As I reflect, I wonder: How many of us have found comfort in simply sketching or painting, not for an audience but for our own peace of mind?

Art, however, is not just about individual expression, it’s also about communication. Historically, before the advent of writing, humans used art to convey complex stories, ideas, and shared experiences. The ancient cave paintings of Lascaux, for instance, may have served as a form of storytelling or a way to pass down important cultural knowledge. These visual records offer insights into how prehistoric humans lived, what animals they encountered, and even the rituals they may have practiced. Even in the modern world, art continues to serve as a powerful medium for communication. Political cartoons, street murals, and artwork shared on social media can influence public opinion, incite movements, and challenge societal norms. The work of Banksy, for instance, merges art and activism, commenting on issues like capitalism, consumerism, and war in ways that words alone often fail to achieve. Art can also cross language barriers. A powerful image or a stirring piece of music can resonate with people from vastly different cultures and backgrounds, conveying meaning in ways that are universally understood. In this sense, art is a bridge that connects people, making it possible to communicate ideas and emotions that transcend spoken language.

While communication is a critical reason as to why humans create art, societal influence cannot be ignored. Throughout history, art has often been used as a tool for reinforcing cultural norms, religious beliefs, and political ideologies. The grand cathedrals of medieval Europe, for instance, were not just places of worship, they were also symbols of the power and authority of the Church. Artists are also influenced by the societal conditions in which they live. Movements like Impressionism and Surrealism were, in many ways, responses to the political, economic, and social climates of their time. Pablo Picasso’s Guernica, painted in response to the bombing of the Basque town during the Spanish Civil War, is a striking example of how art can serve as a reaction to political events. The massive, monochromatic painting captures the chaos, suffering, and destruction wrought by the conflict, making a powerful anti-war statement. Today, social media and globalization have accelerated the pace at which art is shared and consumed. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have democratized the art world, allowing anyone with a smartphone to create and share their work with a global audience. This digital landscape has also fostered new forms of artistic collaboration, as creators from different cultures and disciplines come together to produce innovative and hybrid forms of art.

While cultural and emotional factors clearly play a role in our desire to create art, some researchers, such as Dahlia Zaidel, argue that there may be a biological basis for this impulse as well. Evolutionary psychologists suggest that art may have developed as a way to enhance social cohesion, attract mates, or demonstrate intelligence and creativity, traits that were advantageous for survival. In his book The Art Instinct, philosopher Denis Dutton argues that the appreciation of beauty and the urge to create art may be hardwired into the human brain. He points to the universality of art across all cultures as evidence of this. From the intricate patterns found in indigenous pottery to the haunting melodies of traditional folk songs, every human society has produced some form of art, suggesting that the impulse to create is a fundamental aspect of our species. Neuroscience also offers insights into the biological roots of art. Studies using brain imaging have shown that creating art activates the brain’s reward centers, releasing dopamine, the same chemical that is triggered by pleasurable activities like eating or listening to music. This neurochemical response may explain why humans find the act of creation so intrinsically satisfying, even when it serves no practical purpose. When you think about it, isn’t it fascinating that our brains reward us simply for the act of creating, reinforcing a behavior that seems fundamental to who we are?

The drive to create art is complex and multifaceted. It is shaped by individual desires for self-expression and emotional release, influenced by societal norms and political climates, and perhaps even rooted in our biology. Yet, no matter the reason, art continues to hold a central place in human life. It allows us to communicate across boundaries, make sense of our experiences, and leave a lasting mark on the world. In a rapidly changing world, where technology and globalization are transforming how art is made and shared, one thing remains constant: the human drive to create. As long as people seek to understand themselves, connect with others, and find meaning in life, art will continue to flourish, evolving in new and unexpected ways. And while the forms may change, the fundamental impulse to make something beautiful, meaningful, or provocative will remain as deeply rooted in the human experience as it has been for millennia. So the next time you sketch, sing, or dance, consider this: you’re not just creating something external, you’re fulfilling an intrinsic part of what it means to be human.

Dutton, Dennis. The Art Instinct: Beauty, Pleasure, and Human Evolution. Oxford University Press, 2009.

Gharib, Malaka. “Feeling Artsy? Here's How Making Art Helps Your Brain.” NPR, January 11, 2020. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/01/11/795010044/feeling-artsy-heres-how -making-art-helps-your-brain.

Karkou, Vicky et al. “Editorial: The Psychological and Physiological Benefits of the Arts.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 13, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.840089 . 

Zaidel, Dahlia W. “Creativity, Brain, and Art: Biological and Neurological Considerations.” Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, vol. 8, 2014. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00389. 

Features

In a KidSpirit Features article, teen writer Dylan Zhang explores the emotional, biological, and social impulses that drive us to create art.

The Intrinsic Artistic Desire of Humans

Xiaoxiao Chen

Are art and music truly universal, or are they bound by cultural and linguistic barriers?

Five years ago, I had the chance to perform at a folk music festival in Piesk, Czechia, representing young Chinese dancers alongside other students. 

Before the event, we spent hours every day polishing our movements to perfection, listening to the music over and over again to match every beat, and even rehearsing every facial expression in front of the mirror to represent the beauty of Chinese dancing to the fullest.

However, the highlight of that memorable day, as it eventually turned out, was not on the brightly lit stage, but unfolded on the dewy lawn next to it after the performances were over, when we joined the local students for a picnic. After a while, someone turned on music, and suddenly, the afternoon lawn transformed into a dance floor. Without hesitation, the local students began to form a circle, joining hands and stepping in rhythm together. Their folk music was fast-paced, joyous, and almost infectious, with sharp turns of the song of the flute and the resonating rhythm of drums. My friends sat on the picnic mat and stared at them, hesitant, held back by the more-than-apparent wall of our cultural and linguistic differences. I felt it too — a creeping sense of loneliness at the absence of my family and friends, the world I was used to, the unease of being foreign in a place rooted in its own traditions. Everything, from the pastries to the colorful, traditional dresses, was alien to us. But something in me stirred, something that overshadowed the feeling of being out of place. I did not know a single word in Czech, but I could understand the dancers’ unspoken invitation for us to share their joy, to be part of something together.

Before I realized it, I had leaped into the circle, joining its momentum. I found myself immediately being accepted into the colorful spin of traditional clothing — the embroidered aprons, the red and yellow and green flowery skirts — the lacy hems at once blending in with the pink silk that was my dance costume. I was completely unfamiliar with the steps and kept stumbling, accidentally stepping on the local students’ feet, but rather than frowns and complaints, there was genuine, friendly laughter that echoed in the air. I kept on dancing in the circle, feeling the lawn — a soft and thick green carpet — underneath each step. Changing partners after every verse, clapping hands, and joining arms with the students, I saw the smiling faces around me, our worlds so distinct, so far away from each other, yet colliding at that shared moment of joy. I realized then that dancing was not all about being perfect, about performing and representing, but about our human nature to be happy, to celebrate, and to bond. When we were not on a stage anymore, under the scrutiny of both an audience and our own awareness, we were truly able to dance with freedom. To express. Our dance, then, turned into a celebration of life itself, an appreciation of art and beauty in its very purest form, despite the fact that we were unable to exchange a single spoken word.

The separate walls that we were used to living within, that defined our identity — languages, cultures — caved in. In the circle that flowed according to the melody, it almost seemed as if we had created our own little universe with the medium of dance and music, where movement spoke louder and more eloquently than any sentence we could construct. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t dancing for the sake of imitating a given repertoire, pose for pose, in an attempt to represent certain meanings constructed by others. Instead, holding the hands of the other children with whom I’d never imagined I would become friends, who came from the other side of the world, we became creators of meaning. I found myself dancing simply to express joy, to connect, to be part of something larger.

Dance, in its purest form, is never supposed to be all about precision or a showcase of skills and flexibility. It is about the way it brings people together, about the shared emotions that flow through every step, every turn of the dancer to reach their audience. It’s a celebration of life, of the joy that transcends every social barrier we perceive. Art, then, is unique in its great power to communicate across linguistic, cultural, geographical, and political disparities. Just like I did not need to understand Czech and the local students did not need to speak English or Chinese for us to share the joy of the dance, a person can also appreciate the emotional message of a painting or a piece of music without having to learn the nuances behind it.

Since my first-hand experience in Czechia, I began expanding on this realization, harnessing my years of practicing traditional Chinese folk dancing in various regions and choreographing dance repertoires to promote environmental awareness. Using art as the bridge between cultures, I hoped to not only bring together different communities with emotional resonance but also engage them in global causes. In one of the pieces I created, for instance, I incorporated various physical motifs often used by the Dai ethnic minority, such as the wind, rain, and ocean tides, in an attempt to remind my audiences of the inherent and constant connection between humans and nature. By blending the heritage of Chinese folk dance with modern issues, I have been able to create performances that resonate across cultural boundaries, proving that art can evoke empathy, and in turn raise awareness that, hopefully, will one day turn into collective action.

In short, art and music are powerful forces that transcend the limitations of language and culture. By evoking shared human experiences and emotions, they can unite people from drastically different backgrounds. In the increasingly globalized world we find ourselves in today, they can, perhaps, serve as a constant reminder of our shared humanity, allowing us to ignore our superficial differences and truly connect.

The Big Question

In a KidSpirit Big Question article, teen writer Xiaoxiao Chen ponders if art and music are universal or bound by cultural and linguistic barriers?


The Transcendence of Art

A universal language, a tool for change, a social mirror, a bridge between worlds. Art and music are all around us, connecting us with each other and ourselves in a vital human experience. Embrace creativity and imagine the beautiful possibilities of expression alongside KidSpirit writers and artists this season. 

winter 2024 • Music and Art

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