In my opinion, being an artist involves both an innate ability and acquired skills. Some people naturally have a creative mindset or a different way of observing the world, but I think skill development plays an equally important role. However,techniques, materials, and even how to communicate deeper ideas can be learned and improved over time.
What really makes something art, though, isn’t just how beautiful it looks, it’s the meaning and message behind it. For me, a technically perfect image without any concept or emotion behind it feels empty. Art needs to carry some kind of story, emotion, or question to really be art.
As for the role of the artist, I believe it changes depending on cultural and historical context. Artists reflect their time and environment. In one period, their role might be to document religious beliefs or historical events, in another to challenge politics or question social norms. Either way, their work is usually a response to the world they live in, shaped by the issues and values of that society.
