Welcome back to our monthly series of BLANK as Art! As a recap, this is where we uncover, rediscover and often redefine what “art” is.

In our recent adventures, we have unearthed a few topics that one does not generally look at as art and exposed the parallels to art so as to see it in a different light. Today we look at relationships.

We can all agree that dancing is a form of art. One of the freest and expressionist forms of art created by the individual and presented to the public for their interpretations or executed as a team and presented for the same reasons. If we take into consideration that relationships are not unlike a dance then we recognize the connection. If “Dancing” is “Art” and “Relationships” are a “Dance” then “Relationships” are “Art”. See how that works?

Let’s then explore the nuances of the art form of relationships.

First of all the longer we work at a relationship, is the longer that we are invested with our hearts and emotion. The purest foundation of art is emotion. We see, or experience a singular act performed within the confines of the relationship and we are moved emotionally. This is not unlike my previous stated experience of being moved to emotion by a Mark Rothko painting. Not only are we moved emotionally, but also we use this emotion to guide us through next steps.

The emotional reaction to a relationship can harvest negative reactions as well. When a relationship takes a turn, be it slight or course changing, we are apt to react with anger, disbelief, sadness or even rage. Think of a piece of traditional art that has had the same effect on you. Perhaps a painting depicting injustice or abuse, a song that pushes the lyrics past your own personal point of comfort or any attack senses that your body goes into natural defense mode. How is this different than the issues that arise to test the strength of a relationship? The answer is, it is not.

Finally, Relationships are complex. The more that we work at it, the more hours that we put into building and learning, is the more impossible it is to duplicate the results. Layers of complexity are stacked on top the other with every team decision you make. Each layer can prove to strengthen the piece or be the deciding factor in the demise of what once was a masterpiece.

Not everybody can do traditional forms of art and are just as happy witnessing the work of others and the same goes for relationships. However, anybody can learn to do either with time, patience and flexibility of their previous conceptions and definition of art and relationships respectively.