I always thought of art as forms of self-expression so you can expect how shocked I was to read that “equating art with self-expression reveals more a contemporary bias in our thinking that’s an underlying trait of the medium.” I paused for a moment and realized how little I know about the history of art. Although self-expression is unquestionably a fundamental component of artistic creation, it is important to understand that art has a far wider range of meanings and objectives. A catalyst for change, a means of cultural preservation, and a source of inspiration for both individuals and communities, art is a reflection of society. By capturing the essence of a culture it enables people to discover their ancestry, enjoy diversity, and revel in the depth of human experience found in all civilizations. We can genuinely appreciate art’s transforming and transcending qualities if we accept all of its many meanings and intentions. What art means to communities changes with space and time, and we needn’t narrow our vision to serving our ‘current’ community’s standards and ideals for art, but instead look back at past artistic ventures and peer forward to future creative experiments.