The phrase “mother art” is often used to refer to architecture. In this sense, it is saying that architecture is the most important form of art. Without architecture for our own culture, it is as if our culture does not have its own soul or identity. This is because architecture plays a role in establishing the look, feel and purpose of a culture. For example, a culture might have certain types of buildings that are seen as unique to them, like a church or temple. These distinctive elements of a culture are part of what gives it its own identity, and without them, the culture may have difficulty expressing its own spirit, character and values.