Art: What is it?

[michael]

After many years of debating this subject, with Artists of different medium. I have come to understanding, of not being able to understand it. Art like love is abstract in it's definition. An continues to be defined by me.

I have defined art as the creation or invention of linked and sequential pattern which extends over all aspects of the composed field. This definition builds a strong link between the concepts of art and composition.


This is a very procedural sounding definition. Art is performed by humans and as such much reflect the complexity of our human interaction with living.. We humans exist as conscious entities switching between the binary states of mortality (limited possibilities) and immortality (unlimited possibilities). Art is a language and as such must be capable of reflecting this human dialectic.

Many terms have been used to describe art, eg., representational; classical; neoclassical; expressionistic; impressionistic abstract etc., but there is only one high art and that art reflects the human dialectic. Decorative art is one side of limited possibilities. -writings of Keith O'Connor

I like this definition, it is to the point without a lot of jargon. Especially "but there is only one high art....".
Personally I relate art to "a religion of one". It has sustained and feed my spirit for a number of years. I have recently returned to the making of art, to be pleasantly surprised with "the picking it up where I left off"

My question to you is, Art: What does it mean to you?
Michael

[vajramukti]

Well, of course my perspective is going to jump right to martial art. I practice martial arts, and occasionally, what I am practicing becomes art. Most of what I practice was created by other people, and I am just repeating. However, there are skills that have become "mine" and I have added to them or modified them, even if ever so slightly, into something created by me. Often because I can't actually do it the way it was created, and occasionally because I am better.

So, to me, art begins with creation.

[George the 3rd]

Art is the act of exercising our god-ness. The first "act" of God was to create. "In the beginning . . . ."

An artistic act, be it physical or nonphysical, is one that creates a new reality. That reality is not only in the mind and soul of the artist but is in the mind and soul of the individual or group that perceives that new reality as well.

What makes the "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci or "David" by Michelangelo timeless is that over the years when observed or experienced, a new reality is created within the observer.

The same may be said about a Shakespearean play or a musical score by Mozart or a recording by Paul Robeson or a poem by Robert Frost.

Art is not the intent nor is it the medium it is the effect.

[michael]

Well said George...
Art is not the intent nor is it the medium it is the effect.

[vajramukti]

georgethe3rd said:

Art is the act of exercising our god-ness. The first "act" of God was to create. "In the beginning . . . ."

I agree.

What makes the "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci or "David" by Michelangelo timeless is that over the years when observed or experienced, a new reality is created within the observer.

So, art is created once by the artist, then re-created each time it is observed by someone new?

That's an awesome way of looking at it!

[morningstar]

So, art is created once by the artist, then re-created each time it is observed by someone new?

Yes ... so true! Art is a continual process...it touches us all on a soul level...a deep level - according to our own state of being - our own perception which is reflected in the stream of our own existence. It speaks to us. It takes on a life of it's own...becomes a separate entity...a creation of it's own.
How beautiful it is to create...how necessary, it would seem. That "spark" - that need to create is within us all - which is borne of the connection to the Source that created the "creators". Another hall of mirrors in which the connections are endless...

And so we take from within ourselves - and we form our feelings into something that can be viewed/read/perceived by others...we breathe a part of our selves into the creation. Why do we do this? Why are we driven to do this? It is a need - a hunger - a longing - to create - to touch others. We sit alone, encased in our skins and reach out with our art...to connect and share that which has touched us. In so doing we have touched that which we originate from, perhaps.

[Frater G]

Art is not the intent nor is it the medium it is the effect.

I can see that...that would be a relativist position.

[The Rev. Halfdamn Black]

I have no idea what art is...I just make it and in turn it makes me.

Rev. HDB