WHAT IS ART?
“Break”
Sometimes
you get caught up in a film or tv show. You read a book or article that really gets your gears turning. You find yourself in a moment that you don’t want to or will never forget. Life is full of these moments. It’s because we are emotional creatures. Sure there is half of our brain full of logic trying to keep us alive, but that other half— the right half — is what makes life interesting. It’s why at the end of a long day curling up on the couch and putting on a familiar show feels so good. We crave to be in environments that fuel our personalities. Whether we know we are doing it or not.
So, to the big question. What is art?
Many of us in the creative field like to answer that question with another question, because as artists we are all about intrigue. We almost don't even care what the answer is. We honestly just want the answer to surprise us. It's more fun that way. What we would ask, in hopes of sparking a juicy convo, would be "Is anything art?" We find this a delightful question to ask because it's rhetorical, because to us the answer is clearly yes.
The skeptics may argue that if everything is art, then nothing is. This assertion holds both truth and falsehood simultaneously. They likely recall wandering through contemporary art museums, perplexed by a ball of trash that an "artist" carried around New York for 7 days, only to later place it beneath a poem addressing "...the weight the world carries." While they may feel inconvenienced and resentful for being led there, or perturbed that someone could profit from such work (though not always the case), it embodies a crucial realization. Disliking something does not nullify its value to others. Certainly, one may find it distasteful or unsettling, but another individual might derive profound meaning from it. Such art has the capacity to provoke introspection, evoke memories, or arouse emotions—irrespective of whether they are positive or negative. The essence of art lies in eliciting the emotions that one seeks to experience.
Now, when it comes down to it, our visual boundaries are a significant aspect of our living spaces, most notably our homes where we spend the majority of our time. While a few may appreciate the concept of having a substantial heap of rubbish with a poetic inscription above it in our living room (Yes, I understand, the garbage analogy is quite extreme and will not be dwelled upon further), the majority of us prefer relatively practical living arrangements. From bedrooms to living rooms, kitchens, and the like, the layout of our homes is crucial. Some individuals have a significant say in shaping their living environments, while others are barely scraping by. Regardless of the circumstances, the seemingly simple act of hanging a piece of art on the wall can profoundly alter the ambiance of a place. It's no surprise that painting and photography came into existence. People strive to sustain the essence of what they desire, even when they're physically apart from it. This is the essence of art's power. It possesses the ability to instantaneously transport you to a particular state of mind, a location, or a feeling. That's the incredible strength of art.
For me, I crave rest and adventure. Which for some those are on opposite ends of a spectrum, but for me when I am rolling down the street on a skateboard, or reaching through the crux of a climb, or finding my flow state on the drums I am at peace. At rest. So when it comes to art, I want it to be about those things and want to feel how I feel when I’m doing them— even if I’m not there.
