Art has been a part of our life for as long as humanity has existed. For thousands of years people have been creating, and enjoying art.
How ever, do we actually know what it is? Can it be defined? Human beens have been asking themselves about the meaning of art for centuries.
We, in Solkes, have always tried to be a platform and a space for those who are involved in the arts. It doesn’t really matter the artistic outlet that they choose.
We have tried to support them in any way we can. We do so with our words. We do it to expose and present what they do. Having stated that, we would like to write this final words about art for 2019.
Defining art
According to the Oxford Dictionary, art is noun. It is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.
They define the arts as: the various branches of creative activity, such as painting, music, literature, and dance.
So, we can safely state that art is a diverse range of human activities in creating visual, auditory or performing expressions.
There are three classical branches of art: painting, sculpture and architecture. How ever, in the broader definition we must also include: music, theatre, film, dance, and other performing arts and literature.
Until the 17th century, art meant any skill or mastery and was not differentiated from crafts or sciences. At present moment, fine arts are separated and distinguished from acquired skills in general.
Though the definition of what constitutes art is disputed and has changed over time. Something remains: it stems from an imaginative or technical skill stemming from human agency and creation.
Many ways to understand it
The thing about art is that it’s so diverse that there are as many ways to understand it as there are people.
We want to state that art is not something that you have to study to understand and enjoy.
Art is something that captures our attention, our deepest thoughts and desires.
Art can also be shocking, abrupt, unexpected…something new.
Art is something that inspires people, something that moves us into places that we did not know existed.
We should emphasize that art can inspire and as such it can create an intellectual discourse. We make references to all the artists and their works that question the norms and change the behavior of society.
The artist
On some occasions, art is there simply to reach a person who shares the same thoughts, feelings and experiences as the artist.
What makes the difference a “regular” painting and drawing and an art piece? I really can’t say for sure but maybe the difference resides in the artist and the artist’s objective.
The connection between what the artist means to achieve and what he achieves.
It should be noted that inspire or generate a strong intelectual discourse.
We are refering to those artists and their work that can question norms and change the behaviour of society.
Sometimes, art is simply there to reach out to a person who shares the same thoughts, feelings, and experiences as the artist.
If an artists manages to be understood, to impact at least one person then we classify his or her work as a piece of art.
There is another subcategory… a masterpiece! So, with that train of thought a masterpiece could be when a group understands the artist and not only an individual.
The language
Art can take every and all forms. It could be film, music, theater and dance, among many others. But when they are made for a specific audience or purpose, the art begins to diversify.
So, art is a language of sorts. A form of communication, maybe its not as firect as words but it holds with in itself all of our human experience.
Creativity takes courage – Henri Matisse –
Art has almost no restrictions. That means that it taps into personal experiences. It is an expression of life.
Besides being a form of expression of our inner thoughts. Art has many valuble outcomes.
It is paramount for a childs development helping with fine and gross motor skills. Art activities also help children’s social and emotional development. Children learn about themselves and others through art activities.
The interpretation is unique
Some say art is boring or some don’t understand it. It is al valid. No one opinion holds the absolute truth.
But the fact remains that art has the power to take cultural practices and integrate them into different parts of the world without losing their identity.
Art has played and continues to have an important role in helping fight against intolerance of different cultures, racism, and other forms of unjust societal segregation.
Art is a creation that lets the viewer interpret each piece of art as he or she desires. The interpretation is unique.
We believe that art is at the center of our society and shapes how we live, see, think, and interpret the world. Art is like love in that there are so many definitions and examples for each. Art is not perfection it evolves continously.
