In some philosophical realms, they attribute art as meaningless. It is not worth one's focus, time and effort. Why "waste time on art" when you can focus on being productive in society? Why spend time on something subjective when you can add to the culture or society you are in?
Art is important and meaningful. Art is a focus of one's own emotions. A way to express that emotion.
People go through the experience of life from the moment they are born. Not all go through the same life events but they all have experienced the same thing - emotions. Simple human emotions. A primal function of a human being. To deny yourself of your own emotions is to deny yourself a part of humanity. People through experiences and trauma react, either by repressing or expressing it. Before the first language. The first things humans did was communicate through non-verbal medium.
Emotions are always valid
Emotions are always valid through a subjective experience. It is a deep personal and human experience everyone has, it is a reaction. Yet, it is important to keep in mind that the actions or interpretations of said emotions are valid. If you've ever had someone or yourself mistaken or misunderstood a situation. The emotions are valid, but the misunderstanding is not.
Art is expressive
All people have some form of creativity within, it's human nature. Art is a channel through which they can express those emotions above. The medium doesn't matter, only to express themselves through. They express and react to the society they're in. Current news, events, environmental experiences. They unpack what they're experiencing through art to show to others how they feel.
Why would someone spend time on expressing themselves about an event that may not last?
Some believe that everyone should put their efforts towards fixing the world issues. Artists shouldn't spend time expressing themselves through art and help. The masses help drive change, as long as the masses have or can get in the power to change the circumstances. So let the artists be until otherwise.
Obtaining these artworks is a piece of history, a snapshot of a moment that has changed society. Doomed not learning from history, makes history repeat itself.
The pitfall of art
Like anything else in a person's life, they need to work on it. Every person has a need to learn to function in the world. Learning skills is a need to be a part of it.
Why spend time learning art instead of something productive towards society?
Some world cultures also believe in this. We should not waste time on creating things that only convey beauty. It leads us down the vanity path.
“He who seeks truth shall find beauty. He who seeks beauty shall find vanity. He who seeks order shall find gratification. He who seeks gratification shall be disappointed. He who considers himself the servant of his fellow beings shall find the joy of self-expression. He who seeks self-expression shall fall into the pit of arrogance.” - Moshe Safdie
People dedicate themselves to practicing and learning the skills required to be able to express themselves. To produce an art piece that can tell the audience the expression or narrative the artist wishes to portray. This can lead down a difficult path for the artist - seeing their skills not good enough, never getting the artwork right to tell the right emotion.
Naturally talented people can express an emotion or have a skillset before ever trying it. Some don't - and may never will. Others take advantage of these people and spend as little time on work and call themselves artists. Cheating and cheapening out on the human emotion and experience. For some this is meaningless.
Why go to this effort only to fail?
Because we're human and we have the desire to express ourselves.
Art is beauty
People have different opinions of beauty. Beauty is the raw portrayal of truth. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - because they can see what the artist is trying to say in that moment. The clearer the truth is - the more beautiful it becomes. Beauty is not cosmetic or superfluous in the sense of visual and visceral means.
The art of...
People have often referred to certain things having with the prefix 'the art of'. They see this as the truth of something. The best way through it all to get the most optimal route or goal - 'The art of photography', 'the art of motorsports', or 'the art of war'. People understand the truth of the subject to get the most out of that matter. The more truth shown, the more beautiful it becomes. It becomes more real, more emotional, more experienced. Getting to the heart of the matter. Even though these topics change and can no longer applicable. They are a snapshot in time, they're a history lesson of that moment. Like the artwork in the museums and galleries.
Art is meaningless
To those who don't take time unpacking their surroundings and even themselves. To those who don't see the truth at the heart.