Introduction to ART Introduction to ART Art is one of the most tangible types of intellectual property. Therefore it is relatively easy to copyright, and thereby protect. Even so, art is currently being stolen and smuggled out of indigenous societies at an alarming rate. This cultural drain creates an enormous problem because art serves to promote cultural integrity, identity, and a sense of community.
Art is a huge part of most indigenous peoples' lives.
It reflects their history and serves as a common bond to connect the people of the community. It ties people together either by creating the art as a family, passing on the style of art from generation to generation, or by using the art during religious ritual. Therefore, when art is stolen from a society, the culture begins to break down. For example, every year more and more Nepalese Buddhist art arrives in galleries in the United States and other Western countries. From this it can be inferred that this art is no longer in the Buddhist temples of Nepal, where it serves a cultural function.