Art is a way for artists to tell stories. It brings memories of the past that come from personal experiences, historical events and ancient civilizations. It is a way for an artist's audience to learn, relive and share memories of the past through their artwork. Both modern and contemporary art have relevance in today's world as it explores an artist's timeline and his or her view on personal issues, social issues, popular culture, or historical events. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayFor example, the artwork The Minotauromachy of Pablo Picasso expresses Picasso's personal problems and his relationship with his wife and his pregnant lover. Picasso uses Greek mythology to express his vision within the work and is composed of human bodies with bull heads who are Minotaurs. In Greek mythology, the Minotaur resides in a labyrinth called a labyrinth and was offered human sacrifices to satisfy his hunger, but was ultimately killed by Theseus, an Athenian hero. The Minotaur appears to represent Picasso himself and the young girl holding the candle and flowers could perhaps represent his wife or lover. Also in this artwork there is a wounded horse, perhaps a Pegasus, carrying a matador and a bearded man up a ladder. There are also two women looking out a window peacefully observing. This artwork expresses themes such as good versus evil and violence versus calm. It also has a heavy symbolic representation of why Picasso chose to use a Minotaur to represent himself. Another example of a work of art is Capricorn, by Robert Carlson. This is a colorfully painted blown glass flame work with different symbols associated with different religions and cultures across time and space that share related bonds with each other. It seems to be the representation of a mysterious power of being. The title Capricorn also refers to a zodiac sign and represents a fish-tailed goat. Astrology dates back to Babylonian and Mesopotamian times. In popular culture, we are assigned a zodiac sign because of our birth date, and we can use it as a tool to tell us what kind of person we are, compatibility, and how our day will go, strictly for entertainment purposes. Included in this work are elements of other animals in the form of a zebra and fish, as well as frontal human faces. There are multiple motifs drawn from Egyptian, Greco-Roman, and Native American cultures and traditions. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The role that the past has in shaping and informing the present is that it can be maintained by others and create a continuous life of different cultures. It can also structure current belief systems. Artists are able to tell stories to subsequent generations and make their work live on throughout the years. As we revisit history, something that was once in the present time is now in the past, but becomes present again as we revisit it. The role of the present is to pay homage to the past. Without such works we would have no idea what life was like in the past. A work of art carries with it symbolism along with the colors and materials used to create a certain work, which you can learn about the artist along with the culture that has been replicated in the work. It is important for artists to care about the past because of its historical and cultural insight. Others may learn about the past and revisit it several times while learning to appreciate it. The past also helps a society to evolve and to..