Art is a medium of communication; it can do much more than looking good on a gallery wall. Rarely is this truer than with the art created by Jibin George and through his work through his Art For Good Cause initiative.

Social Awareness Through Art

The Art For Good Cause initiative was founded by Jibin George in2019. The first campaign was to increase awareness of the dangers of tobacco use. The core of the project was an international art competition aimed at youngsters. Global artists were challenged to create art on the topic of 'Protect Kids from Tobacco'.In 2020, he has initiated another international art competition based on the topic 'Global Warming'.

As Jibin George says, 'A great artwork can make people stop, if even for just a couple of minutes, to have an emotional and inspiring experience. The amazing thing about this experience is that these emotions are re-lived every time we see that artwork again.' This means that art has a powerful voice to make us think about the world around us and our place within it.

George has a powerful voice, visible in all of his 400+pieces. He is undoubtedly correct in his thinking. By encouraging other people, particularly the young, to communicate powerful messages through their own art creations, we learn that important messages can be transmitted more easily and powerfully. More minds and their spirits can be influenced through joint efforts toward the same goal when there is a mass of voices singing together rather than just one!

George understood that a mass effort should not only come from young people creating art that conveyed their personal messages and protection from the dangers of tobacco. George understood that he would need help to make his own voice loud enough. He worked with Art Impact International Organization, directed by Carolyn Goodridge. The Art Impact International website at https://www.artimpactinternational.org/protect-kids-from-tobacco is host to the 55 entries and the winning piece from Anna Wang of Canada. Also witness the artworks received for Global warming international art competition in 2020.

The Artist's Background

Jibin George is an Indian artist now living in Texas, USA. Originally from Kerala state in India, he is a self-taught artist who began his serious creative journey in 2012. Not content with having painted over 400 portraits and other artworks, he aims to give back to the artistic community and society. Jibin's own website is at https://jibingeorgefineart.com/. He has published his second book 'Let Us Learn Figure Drawing in 2020 and is available in Amazon.

Jibin passionately believes that art can, and should, communicate about serious issues and social problems, which is at the core of much of his artistic efforts. He is not content just to do so through his own artistic endeavors but puts a lot of effortinto encouraging others to do the same as him. This was the driving force behind his Art For Good Cause initiative, which is featured at https://artforgoodcause.com/ where his anti-tobacco and environmental campaign work can be seen.

Why Is Art So Important As a Means Of Communication?

There are a multitude of forms of art we are familiar with poetry, novels, music, sculpture, painting, architecture, and more. Each piece of art we encounter has the opportunity to create an impression upon anyone who comes into contact with it. Much of the time, we do not even notice or think about how these artworks impact us emotionally. Every time we stop to take time to enjoy or reflect upon what we are looking at, reading, or listening to, we are opening a pathway from the creator's mind and soul to our own mind! This is the space in which art can have its influence upon us. In effect, we allow ourselves to be changed, to alter the way we look at the world. In the case of Jibin's Anti-Tobacco initiative, we were given a chance to see the young artists' minds and understand how they see the dangers of tobacco. Surely a much more potent message than any amount of labeling on cigarette packages or health awareness posters. We were allowed to see the issue through the eyes of future generations of people. These people otherwise would not have a voice for many years to come!

Art is so vital because it is the most universal of mediums. When we look upon the work of the winner of Jibin George's anti-tobacco art competition, we do not need toshare the same spoken or written language. Likewise, for the talented young artists from Canada, Czechia, Germany, India, Poland, Romania, Trinidad & Tobago, The USA or Venezuela. We need to look at their work to understand what they are saying; no need for words! Similarly, when we hear music from around the world, we are moved emotionally without understanding a word of a language; the notes, rhythms, and pace all convey a message from the artist to those who listen.

What Can You Do To Be A Part Of Art As A Social Movement?

You know that art can have an effect on how you feel, about how you think. Art For Good Cause is a great place to start exploring the idea of art as a social movement, a means to improve our world. That statement is true whether you are an artist, want to become an artist, or are a part of the audience for artists.

When you visit https://artforgoodcause.com/, you will see initiatives that Jibin is working on and events in the future and those that have already taken place. Right now, you can see artworks from the Anti-Tobacco campaign and the winners from the Global warming campaign. Check out one of my favorites: Forged By Fire by Luke Agada!

As well as previous and current campaigns, you will see details of upcoming events such as the Nurses Are Angels On Earth (NAAOE) global artist call. Here you can take the opportunity to participate as an artist.

Jibin George has started the ball rolling. Now you, your friends, and family can participate as audience and contributors in something worthwhile - changing how humanity sees the world. That is more worthwhile today than it has ever been!