I think the real reason we create Art and Beauty is to elevate ourselves to a higher state of humanity. And this process is not limited to figurative art, but also to other ways of expressing art, such as Philosophy, Science, Music, etc. After all, I think the only thing that defines us as human beings and superior to any other race on the planet, is precisely that of creating culture.
Indeed @cryptomavro! In fact I think we create art because we can't help it, because there's a sort of culture inside us and around us, even with cave art, possibly even the beginning of language might have been artistic. Expression rather than function. Some creature said "FUCCK!!" And that was the spark. So for me in fact it's a bit of a chicken and egg question. Art or culture, which came first? :)
Mmmmhh hard to tell, i think that culture came and comes from a creation of art, and also other things. So, maybe i will say, art is what makes culture :)