What a question right? What is art? Can it even be defined?

I am no expert art historian nor am I a philosopher, but I am a creative and I am learning to think of myself as an artist too.

Over the years that I have been writing my books, it’s been a real challenge for me to think of myself as an author. I’m so excited to publish my book and really make that dream a reality, but it’s been a long process in the making. Strangely enough, during this time, thinking of myself as an artist was somehow easier than thinking of myself as an author. So today I wanted to think more about what art actually is, and why it is so important.

After a little research, I have found only one definition of art that all people seem to agree upon: art is ‘open, subjective, debatable’ (Maraviglia 2010). Great start.

If art is subjective and open to the interpretation of each person, then how can it be defined? Should it be defined? If so, who gets to define it?

Most importantly, how can you create it?

These are all questions that I’ve wrestled with over the years, so I have found a few features that I’d like to share that I think may help us narrow the field. This is hardly exhaustive, nor is it research-backed necessarily, these are just my own ideas about what constitutes art.

Intentional creation

For art to be considered ‘art’ in any form, I believe there must be an intentionality to it. I agree that there are some spur of the moment creations, but there is also intention in writing down your poem or lyrics, in picking up the pencil to draw, in opening a new page to write down your latest scene idea.

Physical proof

I also agree that art must be physical in some way, and I don’t just mean something you can hold in your hand. I’m also referring to things that can be seen or heard, like film and music. Even nowadays with streaming platforms, where artists no longer need to create physical records or CD albums, I am still able to click play, maybe view a photo, and hear the incredible song the artist has painstakingly created.

Of course, physical copies of art such as paintings, novels, sculptures, and poetry are already considered art, though that makes them no less impressive.

I suppose by that metric you could also extend ‘art’ to encompass other senses of taste and smell. One could certainly argue that fragrances are a form of art, and I’m sure any chef would be able to tell you the ‘artistic’ process that they used to create their dishes.

Beautiful

Beauty is an interesting feature for art to have, because it too is just as subjective as art. Yet, I think that is what makes it the perfect way to describe art.

A beautiful piece of art does not necessarily have to be visually or sonically pleasing, though these are certainly the most common and most effective ways. Some people enjoy horror and darker themes, and the art they like reflects that.

Even so, I do think that there must be a level at which you consider the piece of art beautiful in some way, so you want return to it.

Emotional

I can practically feel the emotionally-repressed people quaking in their boots as I type this, but I do believe that good art makes you feel something. Perhaps it is as simple as joy when you look at a painting, or a comforting relief as you open up your favourite book again. Art is so powerful in that it can make us empathise with a range of characters and situations that we might never be in. We are able to vicariously experience so many different things, and be excited, terrified, angry, despairing, or hopeful accordingly. The best art in my opinion, moves you.

Entertainment

This was perhaps the only feature that I hesitated on writing about, but I am going to stick with it. I believe art should entertain you, but not always in the sense that it is funny or gripping like a film or good book. Of course those things do entertain, but I believe there are other possibilities too.

Art that invites you to stay a while is some of the most interesting to me. It could be a painting with visual illusions, or so many little elements to it that you’ll find something new anywhere you look. I love novels that have cross references, or which have puzzles and mysteries, taking me along for the adventure with the characters. Poetry is like this too, where each line can be taken apart and understood alone, as part of the stanza, the poem, or the collection as a whole.

In conclusion…

There is also something rather special about seeing the world through this lens, wherein anything can be considered art. As I see interesting cars with their modifications and paint jobs, I can also see an artist who used passion and hard work to create something beautiful. Unique hair colours, chalk drawings on the side of the road, sculptures of mermaid tails made out of sand on the beach, and every single book you come across are all pieces of art.

Art is so wonderful because everyone can find something that they like, and there will always be artists out there willing to create.

Isn’t that something? A whole world of art and artists, I wonder how many of each I’ll see today…

References:

Maraviglia, Marilina. 2010. “About Art – What Do We Really Mean — Smashing Magazine.” Smashing Magazine. July 23, 2010. https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/what-do-we-really-mean-by-art/.