What is art?
Since the dawn of time mankind has created art. Paint, pencil, clay, wood, and metal are just a few of the mediums used by artists over the years. However what do we call art?
Most people are familiar with art. Shown below is the famous Mona Lisa. Although the majority of people appreciate it as a fine work of art there are few people who would have this style of painting hanging in their home. The reason is it's simply not to our taste.
Like it or not the popularity of a given form of art comes down to one thing; public opinion. If we the public do not like it then we won't be purchasing it. Very few pieces will transcend that and become iconic, such as the Mona Lisa. Take a look at the following three works of art and see if you can guess how much they are worth.
The painting on the left is the classic "No. 5" by Jackson Pollock. "No. 5" was painted in 1948 and is part of the abstract expressionist movement. It has been estimated that it's worth $140 million.
The painting in the middle was also painted in 1948 and is titled "Onement 1". The artist Barnett Newman was a major figure in abstract expressionism. The zip in the middle of it is said to simultaneously divide and unite the painting.
The image on the right I created in a paint program in five minutes. Does that make it any less valid than the other two paintings? If you did not notice any real difference between those three images then that leaves three possibilities.
(1) - I am an undiscovered artistic genius
(2) - The other two paintings are not art
(3) - The majority of the population don't appreciate abstract expressionism
Looking at those three options it is fairly safe to say that the third option is probably true. However how far can we take art? Can we deconstruct it the point of a single color on a blank canvas. Is that truly art or does it need to evoke an emotion. At the other end of the spectrum can art evoke too much emotion? What happens when art crosses acceptable boundaries to make a social or political statement. Can it still be called art?
Take for example an exhibit that was displayed some years ago at one of New Zealand's museums. It was basically a statuette of the Virgin Mary with a condom pulled over it. Needless to say it resulted in an uproar. From an artistic point of view a lot can be said about the Catholic Church and its views on sex and contraception. However although it could be argued that this was a work of art it was done more to evoke a response from the public.
Art can even be taken further. Graffiti is abhorred by most but admired by a few. If we ignore the property damage can graffiti be considered an art form? Or is it just mindless defacing of private property?
So in the end is it even possible to say what art is? For some people it might provoke interest and discussion, others may be offended by it while some may dismiss it as a publicity stunt. As beauty is in the eye of the beholder so is art. If someone truly believes something is a work of art then who are we to argue?
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