Question of the Day: can art change people's lives?

Port Au Prince, Haiti

Can art change people's lives?

Absolutely. The artist JR (from France) made a huge impact without even making the art himself, by encouraging others to create, and they did: thousands of people all over the world participated in his project Inside Out. People made an impact: at Russian embassies all over Europe, their homophobic practices were protested. In Juarez, Mexico, a dangerous border was covered in photos of its peaceful residents. Israelis and Palestinians expressed the desire for resolution between their countries. Haitians showed resilience. The Lakota tribe made their existence known. Even if it doesn't affect the others viewing these images, the subjects of the photographs were given power to make a statement, say something to the world. It changed their lives, and will continue to do so.