What a great topic!

I definitely think art can exist for its own sake. An artist gives life to a piece of art through a creative or creating process. Any form that is given life through this process and is brought out of the void and manifested in the universe is a completely new entity that must exist unto itself. The only purpose it has is to be.

However, once it has been created it can then be transformed by each and every individual's perceptions, judgments, interpretations, misinterpretations and so on. And as with all things there is an inherent duality: that which it is and that which it is perceived to be.

While discussing certain abstract pieces such as the white dot on a black canvas many people use the old standby, well I could have done that. Ah, but that is the key. You didn't create it, the artist did. For me the creating is just as important if not more important than the creation as the real magic and wonder exists in the creating. To bring forth something from nothing. Now that is truly amazing no matter what the something may be.