Qn: What is Art?
Ans: Art is the indirect conveyance of altered realities.
When an artist creates a material art form, he has the intention to re-create his state of emotions and thoughts that make up his reality, into matter. True objective reality is altered by a person’s subjective perception, even more so when the mediums of art present a further distortion of the artist’s sense of reality as he creates it.
Reality is generated from flow and non-flow of energy and vibrations in different matter and colors. Beauty is created using lots of flowing qualities in information and ugliness is created using lots of blockages in flow of information. An artist skillfully manipulates the two qualities to re-create his sense of reality that is intended to be conveyed into his artwork. The skill of the artist would affect how well he can convey his intentions into the manipulation of his art.
Art is man-made, artificial and intentional. Forms that are not intentional are natural.
The language of art is indirect as it uses a non-spoken, non-written language to bring the observer into the artist’s perceived reality. It uses form, color, texture, light etc to re-create the intended reality and intended messages that were conceived in the mind of the artist.
Qn: How can I spot true art from non-art?
Ans: True art has intended messages and brings the observer into an altered reality shared by the artist. If an art form does not satisfy this criteria, then it generates little interests to its observers. There is little meaning if artists would use lots of time to create something that conveys little. Art that has little meaning or aesthetic value would risk being called fake and boring.
The artist creates art to convey an altered reality. Art uses no spoken language. It is an indirect conveyance of altered realities. The more an art form can convey such, the more it has the substance to be called art.
Functional purposes of art forms can be found in cars, clothes, jewelery, crafts and food. However, the functional aspects would dilute or sacrifice the artistic quality and distract the observer from the messages and feelings the artist intended to convey. Pure art should contain as much observable qualities and the least amount of functional purposes.
Qn: Why do some art pieces cost so much?
Ans: Art is judged by its ability to convey the historic reality and messages of the artist. If an artwork can satisfy this criteria and brings the observer a meaningful and satisfying experience, then it is a worthy piece of art. Such art is priceless and cannot be bought simply with money.
Some artwork are seemingly simplistic yet they represent great historical value. Then it is the history, and not the aesthetic value of the artwork that would affect its value and price.
- Timothy Tang
Author of Real Answers to The Meaning of Life and Finding Happiness
http://ultimatemeaningoflife.blogspot.com
Statements submitted to What Isn’t Art in email, 2008