I watched a great documentary called “Beautiful Losers” about a group of artists who redefined popular art in the 1990s, including Mike Mills, Shepard Fairey, Harmony Korine, Ed Templeton and Margaret Kilgallen. Their work came out of graffiti and skateboard culture and brought art to the masses in a Do-It-Yourself and independent style as the visual equivalent to the indie scene in music and movies that burgeoned in that period. The interviews with the artists are fascinating, allowing a glimpse into the minds of these incredibly creative people; they discuss their process and evolution of the art world, from being underground outsiders to becoming commercial icons.
Art just is. It exists to enlighten truths that are not easily put into words. When we see or hear great art, our appreciation of life’s mysteries is enhanced, with few answers to the great questions. To hear these artists describe their reasons for creating is inspiring. “It is all nothing” several of them say, “we’re all just dust”; but in the meaningless meantime, they provide themselves and their audience a reason for existence, a colorful spectrum representing the human condition from deep sadness and isolation to beautiful joy and awe.