By Pooneh Nik

The Importance of Arts, Culture & The Creative Process

Art is more than a form of expression, it is a language beyond words. It allows us to communicate what cannot be explained directly, bridging the gap between what we see and what we feel. Art is essential because it preserves identity, yet inspires change. It is a reflection of who we are and what we value.

Culture shapes the foundation of societies, and art is its voice. Without art, culture loses its depth, and without culture, art loses its roots. One cannot exist without the other.

The creative process is where personal vision meets collective awareness. It is where ideas take shape, and the unseen is made visible. As an artist, I see this process as both an exploration and a responsibility, to capture what is vanishing, and to imagine what is possible. True creativity is not just about creating something beautiful; it is about creating something meaningful.

Art does not exist to provide answers, it exists to ask the right questions. And that, to me, is its greatest power.

What was the inspiration for your creative work?

Elegy is a visual mourning, a silent lament for what is vanishing. The ocean, personified as a woman, holds a lifeless fish in its hands, cradling it as one would a fading memory. Her hair dissolves into the water. The waves around her do not bring life; they carry echoes of what once was. She is a witness to nature’s quiet collapse, a guardian of what is slipping away unnoticed. This piece is inspired by the fragile and often overlooked relationship between humanity and nature. It speaks to the silent losses, the things that disappear without a sound, without a reckoning. Elegy is not just about the sea; it is about everything that fades without a voice to mourn it.

Tell us something about the natural world that you love and don’t wish to lose. What are your thoughts on the kind of world we are leaving for the next generation?

Nature is the greatest work of art. The wind moving through the trees, the steady rhythm of the sea, the sky shifting colors each day. Everything in nature exists in balance, effortlessly alive. It is raw, untamed, and full of wonder. But with each passing day, we lose a part of it. What was once wild and pure is now fading under the weight of human interference.

There are still endless mysteries in nature waiting to be explored, yet instead of protecting and learning from them, we are erasing what we already have. I value the untouched landscapes, the depth of ancient forests, and the vastness of the ocean. These are not just landscapes; they are the beating heart of our planet, essential to life itself.

However, what we are leaving behind for future generations is more artificial than natural. Planted forests will never hold the wisdom of ancient ones. A tree in the middle of a city cannot replace the richness of a thriving ecosystem. Once nature is lost, it will never return in the same way.

Still, there is time to act. Through awareness, and responsible choices, we can protect what remains. Losing nature isn’t just about losing landscapes, it’s about losing a fundamental part of our world and ourselves.

Pooneh Nik is an Iranian-American artist whose work exists between reality and dream, identity and transformation, the seen and the hidden. Her art is a journey into the subconscious, where symbols, surreal narratives, and emotions intertwine to create a world filled with mystery.
Nik explores inner conflicts and tensions through imagery that feels like a puzzle, inviting the viewer to search, question, and interpret. Her works are like a labyrinth, where each viewer finds their own path. She often draws inspiration from mythology, weaving mythical creatures and ancient stories into her paintings. These elements add layers of symbolism, bridging the past with the present and personal narratives with collective memory. Nature is also a constant presence in her work, sometimes merging with human forms, other times reflecting cycles of change, decay, and rebirth.
Beyond the canvas, Nik has also been involved in activism, using art as a means of raising awareness and challenging societal issues. Her work has been deeply influenced by themes of identity, resilience, and freedom, often reflecting personal experiences as well as broader social movements. Through both traditional and digital mediums, she amplifies untold stories, creating art that resonates with cultural memory and contemporary struggles.
Nik’s work has been exhibited in various galleries and platforms, attracting those drawn to hidden meanings and deeper emotional experiences. Her paintings do not aim to provide answers but rather invite exploration, introspection, and discovery, allowing each viewer to find their own meaning within the layers of her art.