Meditation

Photo:Prehistoric cave paintings.

Man as a universal artist.
There are more theories about the motives of our prehistoric ancestors for making cave paintings than the actual number of cave paintings. The most fundamental theory that is accepted by many is that the drawings weren’t merely decorative. This is supported by the fact that the drawings generally weren’t made in the caves where the prehistoric man lived, but instead were created in extremely inhospitable caves that were difficult to access.

Theo van Doesburg and Piet Mondriaan aimed to create a universal visual language based on the laws that control the universe. The universal character of their art would bring regional and international differences to an end and therefor contribute to world peace. Their opinion was that art can change society.

Countless theories on the meaning of ‘universal art’ were developed. An example is the next opinion: ‘Art arises from a sort of inner impulse that forces the artist to express him/herself and because this inner impulse is equal in all man, art is by definition universal.’

I personally don’t believe in this compelling malleability of art. According to me the creation of art, in all cultures, by different races, in variable circumstances, even as far back as the old prehistoric culture, proves that it is in human nature to be a universal artist or art lover.