Is art a mirror of reality?

“We live in a description of reality” –Jean Houston

Reality is the true existence of things. Should something not truly exist, it wouldn’t be part of reality. Art, on the other hand, is the ability and result of creating, therefore an artist has to be able to create things so they can form part of reality or recreate what already is real. So should something not be found in reality, it could be created through art. Art reflects not the accurate reality, not the raw, crude world we all know; it depicts an artist’s point of view. Art does not mirror THE reality but A reality. The reality of a creative visionary, called an artist.

Art can either be considered a part of reality, or a separate reality. It is a reality where possibilities are endless and visions can advance to the stage where they are real. Dreams are part of the reality of art and the freedom found in that world is what’s so attractive and beautiful of art. As George Moore says: “Reality can destroy the dream – why shouldn't the dream destroy reality?”

Frida Kahlo, known for her paintings full of bizarre symbols, deathly visions and constant references to supernatural creatures and objects related to tragic happenings constantly tags herself as a ‘realist painter’. She once mentioned “I never paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my own reality.” Therefore we can conclude art is not an image of common reality, art is a reality. It is the reality the artist lives but expressed in the most comfortable way for the person creating it.