"Unreal exigence is a term I created to capture the importance I feel about making art. Though some art serves merely a cosmetic or even a functional purpose, there is something particularly powerful about the storytelling ability art has. Perhaps it is the way visuals and emotional expression can have a visceral grip on us that draws us in, providing an easier platform to convey a message. In any case, there is something very important about that storytelling ability that supports proper societal function. Some say that art is not important or vital for survival. In terms of an individual basis, maybe that's true, but for a society to exist and thrive, it needs a healthy and thriving art. If we didn't have meaningful stories and purposeful expressions through art, whether it be painting, film, writing and more, we would never understand each other, thus leading to our own self destruction. "