Black paint splashes across the painting to form three bold, strong, and crass oval shapes; the ink dripping down as if there was no time or patience to paint in the lines. The messy yet well planned chaos stares at the viewer challenging him to uncover the secrets, demanding, "Look at me, figure me out!"
Is this art?
A small oil portrait of an anonymous African man stares out from its frame. His eyes bulging with intensity, pain, sorrow and immense strength. His clenched jaw screams tension and yells oppression and difficulty. His creased forehead expresses concern for what lies ahead. This small oil portrait of just a face emanates a strong determination and an iron will to surge forth.
Is this art?
A blurry video shows a group of Africans sitting cross-legged around a huge piece of cloth, each person garnering their own little bowl of paint, contributing to the masterpiece that will display their people's journey and history. They effortlessly, yet delicately and thoughtfully dab away at the cloth garnishing it with their unique flavor and style. Their voices sporadically sing out in jubilation and prayer transforming this task into its own historical moment.
Is this art?
Blocks of ash, hangers, little dresses and shirts ridden with dirt and sand stand strong on this gargantuan piece that protrudes from the wall yet is not invasive. It exists in silence and in passivity as a feeling of hopeless stillness pervades the air around it. The messy and brusque gray, white, and cream strokes provide a background for this memory with deliberate holes and scratches abrasively placed to display the broken lives and chaos. The artist is a German man who lived during World War II.
Is this art?
The fiery sun is setting on a glorious lake, its light casting a magnificent glimmer on the calm, smooth water. The details of the scene are exquisite as even the faces of the fisherman docking their little boats are etched out and visible. It looks like a wonderland as the day is coming to a close. There is no abstraction in this piece-everything is crystal clear.
Is this what we consider to be fine art?
While perusing through the Seattle Art Museum today I had the opportunity to feast my eyes on a diverse array of what someone considers art. There was African art, contemporary art, political art, Mediterranean art, Muslim art, Christian art, realist, impressionist, surrealist and any of the above combinations, masks, dishes and quilts- all of which someone has deemed art.
BUT
How DO we define art?
AND
Who decides if it is good art or bad art?
I have heard people say about an art piece, "Pssshh, my 4 year old could have done that; in fact he HAS drawn pictures better than that."
Or, "They call that art?!?!"
But who made them the judge?
Art is a form of self-expression. Every single stroke of paint and every dot on a page is the artist telling a story. The colors, the materials, the type of paint, the perspective, the size; every single nuance of the piece was handpicked by the artist to evoke an emotion and portray a concept or philosophy.
Art is the creation of a vision by an artist. Art is art regardless of its viewers. But it is only acknowledged as a piece of art when someone else connects to and appreciates the artist's self-expression.
Van Gogh is the story of an artist who created magnificent art, but no one appreciated his messages and therefore disregarded and discarded his works. He was an artist and his works pieces of art before anyone knew his name.
Van Gogh was a visionary who thought ahead of his time and as soon as the world caught up with him they saw the uniqueness and genius of his self-expression.
This is the story of art in every decade.
Because art is by definition personal; it stems from an individual's self-expression. It evolves from existential questions and each person's experience in this world, of which no two are the same.
Walking through the galleries I noticed that everyone was drawn to different areas, and lingered at different exhibits. There were certain pieces that I stood in front of for five minutes absorbing every detail, while other glanced at them and moved on. Some pieces drew me in and others repulsed me. Some left me indifferent while others elicited strong emotion. Some made me smile, while others left me pained.
Art is about what grabs you.
Art is about connecting to the experience of the artist.
Art is about awakening and feeling the joy, the pain, the sadness, the tragedy, the love, the sorrow, the challenge, the strength, the bond, the tears, the unity, the oppression, the freedom, the bliss, the struggle, the confusion that is portrayed in the art.
Art is about seeing the world through another's eyes.
Art is about experiencing a moment of someones life.
Art is about hearing another's voice.
And
Art is also about uncovering and listening to a part of yourself that you may have forgotten about or never known.
Art is about stirring up what is inside you and forcing it to the surface.
Art is about taking a deeper look inside yourself and getting to know the real you.
