Lately, I’ve been a little obsessed with the questions :
Why do we need to make art? Why do we have this deep desire to make things beautiful?
And why is it that one person finds something breathtaking while another walks right past it?
Have you ever wondered why people care so much about how things look—whether it’s the clothes they wear, the color of a room, or the kind of mug they drink from?
Animals don’t seem to care about aesthetics in the same way. So maybe this longing for beauty is something deeply human.
A History Written in Pattern
As a child I was taught not to value beauty and was taught strongly that it was all vanity and all objects needed function rather than beauty. The need to look good goes far beyond skin deep. It reaches all the way back through history.
Symmetry, patterns, and harmony are everywhere in nature—and over time, our brains have come to recognize these as signs of health, safety, and survival. We trust these cues almost without thinking. They offer what’s called cognitive ease—our brain finds these habits easier and allows for effiient processing and decision-making. This is the way our brain conserves energy.
As an artist and ceramicist, I often wonder why I care so much about the curve of a handle or the blend of colours in a painting. After some reflection (and a little research), I’ve realized this desire for balance and beauty is bound into who we are.
Beauty as a Mirror
Another way we navigate the world is by expressing who we are—what we like, and what we want to become.
Beauty helps us do that. The clothes we choose, the mug we hold, the objects we surround ourselves with… we’re not just drawn to them because they look nice. We’re drawn to how they make us feel.
Clothes can make you feel powerful or playful, elegant or rebellious. Even if you say you don’t care, that choice—not caring—still carries its own kind of expression: it says “I’m carefree.”
The same goes for handmade objects. The shape of a mug can make you feel cozy, grounded, stylish, or sophisticated. A soft array of colours in a painting can soothe a busy mind. stop you just for a moment or cause a chain of reactions to change your outlook on the whole day. These reactions are deeply personal and don’t always need explanation.
Beauty Speaks Without Words
We respond to beauty with emotion more than logic. That’s why it resonates so strongly—it can speak when words fail.
And it’s not limited to the art world. Even in the most practical professions, design and presentation matter. A neatly organized accounting file tells a client, “I’m careful. I care.” A beautiful car, a thoughtfully wrapped gift, even a styled dinner table—these things all communicate something about who we are and what we value.
Beauty doesn’t just decorate. It communicates. It resonates with us. It talks to our soul.
This is why objects can become companions. Why we hold on to certain belongings so tightly. Why a well-loved mug can carry memories or a childs shoe is treasured by a mother.
Belonging Through Beauty
Beauty is also a way we connect with others. Clothing, for instance, is one of the clearest ways we seek identity and belonging. Teenagers often dress alike—not by accident, but as a way of signaling who they are and where they fit in.
A handmade vase or a piece of art might express your unique style, but it also communicates something to others—your sense of taste, your story, maybe even your status. Beautiful cars, homes, and objects often carry signals about how we want to be seen.
So the next time you’re drawn to something beautiful, pause for a moment. Ask yourself:
What am I feeling? What part of me is this speaking to?
Maybe it’s your longing for community or comfort. Maybe it’s a memory, a desire, a mood, or simply a deep appreciation for symmetry and natural design.
What Does Beauty Look Like to You?
I’d love to know:
What inspired your sense of what’s beautiful?
Send me a photo of something that speaks to you—something that you find beautiful, meaningful, or comforting. It could be anything. A painting, a corner of your home, or even your favourite mug.
Let’s start a conversation about what “pretty” really means.