What makes something ‘art’? According to Encyclopedia Britannica ‘A visual object or experience consciously created through an expression of skill or imagination.
The various visual arts exist within a continuum that ranges from purely aesthetic purposes at one end to purely utilitarian purposes at the other. Such a polarity of purpose is reflected in the commonly used terms artist and artisan, the latter understood as one who gives considerable attention to the utilitarian.
This should by no means be taken as a rigid scheme, however. Even within one form of art, motives may vary widely; thus a potter or a weaver may create a highly functional work that is at the same time beautiful—a salad bowl, for example, or a blanket—or may create works that have no purpose beyond being admired.
In cultures such as those of Africa and Oceania, a definition of art that encompasses this continuum has existed for centuries. In the West, however, by the mid-18th century the development of academies for painting and sculpture established a sense that these media were “art” and therefore separate from more utilitarian media.
This separation of art forms continued among art institutions until the late 20th century, when such rigid distinctions began to be questioned.’
What do I think is art? Well that’s tailored by the years I have spent looking at art, deciding what I thought was good, feeling what resonated with me, and reading, from Diego Velázquez to Richard Diebenkorn to Barbara Hepworth to David Smith to Lynn Chadwick to Isamu Noguchi to Hossein Valamanesh to Bronwyn Oliver to Patricia Piccinini to Emily Kame Kngwarreye to Tony Tuckson to Rover Thomas… I could go on, but the point is that my education and taste is predominantly ‘western’. I respond to a modern aesthetic that has it’s core in Europe and America. Cultural cringe? Maybe. Maybe it is ingrained in my DNA to be drawn to western ideas and forms. Who knows.
Anyway my point is that our view of art is shaped by our culture, education, taste, ethnicity, politics, even religion. With some arts and cultural education I think that most can agree on what is good art, even if it does not appeal to our taste.
Whats’ the cut-off point? When do we say ‘that’s rubbish’? Well to a degree its subjective. That old hack “my four-year-old could paint that” ignores the years of study and hard work that has allowed someone to reduce their painting to an essence. So the back story is as relevant as the picture on the wall.
AI?. Well that’s a whole other debate really, but every fibre in my soul rebels against the idea. But what about someone creating using Photoshop? It’s just a tool, as is the paint brush. Or spray cans, labelled as graffiti by the masses?
And there is ‘art’ that can be bought at designer homewares stores or even ‘cheap-as-chips’ outlets. Lounge art, buy it to match your sofa. It’s safe, and easier to change for the new season’s look. Or on Facebook marketplace…
But is it art?
I’ve been looking at some of the posts by Jerry Saltz in reference to art fairs. There is discussion around the value of art and how collectors are only buying art they can be assured will grow in value. It’s a commodity. So distasteful really, despite being a possible metric for what is good.
Just for reference, recent art sales (October 2024) include:
Ria by Lucian Freud, US$15,443,964
L’Arbois, Sainte-Maxime by David Hockney, US$17,196,286
Balloon Monkey (Blue) by Jeff Koons, US$9,879,691
Jeff Koons brings up another aspect. He didn’t make Balloon Monkey (Blue) on his own, alone in his studio. He would have employed sheet metal fabricators, welders and other industry professionals to make to his design. So the skill required to create the sculpture rests in the hands of others. And he is not alone – many sculptors need help with larger work, just because of size.
‘Cave’ art – paintings and figurines from maybe 30,000 years ago. Was it art as we understand art today or something more pragmatic? A noticeboard saying ‘there are bears and horses on this plain’. I think it was art regardless of the reason. The depictions of animals are superb.
It’s interesting that there are no depictions of humans (other than ‘stick figures’). Some carved figurines, mostly depicting mother figures – creating new life must have been like magic, and was worshipped perhaps. But no cave paintings of ‘my brother Thog’.
But I digress. Recognising good art comes with a willingness to engage and practice, just like being good at sports or maths.
Smarter people than me have thought about this, so to finish here are a few of their thoughts:
‘Art is probably one of the only things left, the only true things left, which exists for it’s own sake and nothing else, because it’s a pure thing, art is a pure thing, that comes from a realm of which we are not completely sure about. That’s why we like artists, that’s why we love art, that’s why we think it’s special.
That’s why millions of people go to stare at the Mona Lisa every day, because they are affected by the gaze of this special thing. The Turin Shroud wouldn’t be the Turin Shroud if people didn’t go to see it. And art is like that, it has an alchemy with those that take part in looking at it, at the gaze of it. So if you’re going to be responsible for that as an artist you have to be totally honest, as well.’ – Tracey Emin
‘Art and love are the same thing: it’s the process of seeing yourself in things that are not you.’ – Chuck Klosterman
‘Art is not a handicraft, it is the transmission of feeling the artists has experienced.’ – Leo Tolstoy
‘A work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art.’ – Paul Cezanne
‘Art has to move you and design does not, unless it’s a good design for a bus.’ – David Hockney
‘The object of art is not to reproduce reality, but to create a reality of the same intensity.’ – Alberto Giacometti
‘People need art in their houses. They don’t need Bed Bath and Beyond dentist-office art. They need weird stuff.’ – Ezra Croft
‘I want so much that is not here. And I do not know where to go.’ – Charles Bukowski
So what is art, really? You make up your own mind, and let your heart lead you.