The value of our creations is not determined by external factors, but can be evaluated relatively based on our own perspective. We should look for the true value of our creations in the satisfaction and joy we feel in the process of creating them, not in external views and evaluations.
In art, value is more than just a way of describing how light illuminates an object; it is a factor that has a profound impact on visual perception and emotional expression. Luminosity determines how light or dark a color is, and how it harmonizes or contrasts. This brightness shapes how we perceive colors, which in turn drives the emotional or psychological response we have to them.
Unlike when only one color is present, when two or more colors of different intensities are placed together, we perceive each color differently. Even the same color can stand out more or be drowned out by another color, depending on which lightness it is placed next to. This means that the lightness itself remains unchanged, but the relative lightness is ultimately determined by the viewer’s perspective. This visual effect goes beyond simple differences in brightness, and can trigger a variety of emotional responses in us.
The same is true for value. Just as we often say that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” value is also in the eye of the beholder. In this article, I’d like to talk about the value of creativity in particular. I’ve long thought about how we can assess the value of a creation and where that value comes from. Is the value of a creation determined by how it was made, what materials were used, or how sophisticated the technology was? Or does it have to do with the price at which it is sold, or does its value depend on the background, schooling, and experience of the creator?
These questions eventually led me to the fundamental question of what value is and how we define it. I concluded that value is not simply determined by external factors, but rather by how we view it, meaning that the value of a creation is relative, not absolute, and can only be evaluated from our own perspective.
In the creative activities we do as part of our classes, I always feel that my work falls short, because the value of a creation is a matter of comparison. I compare myself to others, I compare my expression and even my personality to that of others, but can we determine absolute superiority in such a comparison? Who are we to judge whose painting is better, and whose work is less valuable?
The answers to these questions will have to be sought externally: the world around us determines the value of our creations, and we must acknowledge that the value is not absolute, but derived from our own perspective. But this raises another question. Is this valuation of our creations justified? Creation is an expression of an individual’s unique thoughts and inspiration, so is it fair for us to value it based solely on our personal perspective?
I’ve spent a long time judging other people’s work by my own standards, sometimes feeling superior, sometimes wondering if I could ever be as good as someone else, but now I realize how pointless that is – my work looks best to me when it’s created with thoughts that come from my own perspective, and how silly it is to judge other people’s work based on that.
After all, isn’t the pain and anguish of creating stemming from this valuation, from being conscious of what others think? Instead of immersing myself in the creation itself, I started to care more about how my work would be seen by others. However, as long as everyone has their own point of view, we can’t completely eliminate external views and valuations of our creations, because the point of creating is not to satisfy ourselves alone, but to share and communicate with others, and even more so, we often aim for commercial success of our creations.
But let’s think back to how we felt when we first started creating. If we remember the pure joy and pleasure we felt when we wrote or painted for the first time, we’re more likely to value the satisfaction we get from the creative process. Perhaps the true value of our creations won’t depend on how highly they’re judged, but on how much joy we get from the process.
