WHAT IS ART? By Natacha
Art is a centre point of culture; it surrounds, connects and deeply affects us in many forms. In fact, it is hard to imagine a world without paintings, literature and music, as they have such an impact on both our history and our current society. However, what makes art ‘art’? Where do the boundaries lie? Who decides what qualifies as art? Is there a true answer to these simple questions? Even limited to the visual arts, paintings, sculptures, ceramics and subsets of that same area, the definition of art is not firm or precise. Although analysed and discussed for years, there is yet to be an agreed upon definition of art. However, the most common theme within the range of possible answers is that art is an expression or application of human creativity and imagination that evokes emotion. This theme notably focuses on the activity, or rather the meaning of art rather than its products. As the art critic and author Sir E.H. Gombrich stated, ‘There is no such thing as art. There are only artists.’ Yet we can only stand before the products, sometimes centuries after their completion with no access to the techniques and inspirations that gave rise to them. When we look upon a painting or sculpture and feel moved, or inspired, or confused then the medium is having an impact on us.
REFERENCES E.H. Gombrich’s The Story of Art https://imagejournal.org/article/empty-bed-tracey-eminpersistent-self/ www.britannica.com/art/visual-arts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_(Duchamp)
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THE CHRONICLE
2021/2022
