Art is a broad subject that encompasses many things such as perception, message, emotions, and etc. When people look at art they are immediately drawn to artwork. The artwork sparks different reactions in different people. For example, when people look at the painting “Many Mansions” it sparks different reactions in the art world. Some people viewed this piece as art since it depicts people working hard working people inside a vibrant setting. Other would think of it as racial satire. These people only perceive the black men working inside the housing project.
The emotion that is sparked helps the audience member to distinguish between good art and bad art. Good art sparks a positive feeling in a person. The person is able to relate and connect to artwork. The idea of bad art is that an audience member may not be able to connect or relate to the artwork at all. The audience member may feel that there is a complete gap between them and the artwork shown.
This thinking leads me to a question, Who decides what art is? The person who decides what art is the sole audience member. Since artwork is perceptional the audience member determines if the artwork they are viewing is art. This interpretation is solely only for themselves to believe. The audience member is able to voice his opinion on the artwork but people should know that it is not based on fact. The issue that arises is who is this single person to tell others to view something as art? What he views as art someone else may not.
The thing that may have lead to his perception of art is his interpretation of the rules of art. “Artists were bound to certain rules, 'rules of art'. Art theorists laid down the rules in their publications, academies taught students what to paint and how to paint. Even in classical antiquity there were texts describing the rules of art. ……..History painting was to remain the highest form of art for centuries”[1]. These rules are ever prevalent in today’s society. The thing people generally judge as art are works that follow the rules of art such as texture, color, symmetrical, and etc. There is also another issue that arise is what to consider works that do not follow rules such as sculptures, carvings, metallic pieces, large pieces, and etc.
Art mean different things to different people. These perceptions on what art is can lead into chaos. For example, Whistler’s libel suit against Rushkin is an excellent example. “But the artist is born to pick, and choose, and group with science, these elements, that the result may be beautiful--as the musician gathers his notes, and forms his chords, until he bring forth from chaos glorious harmony.[2]” The artist is simply creating something he feels to be art. Since Rushkin could not perceive Whistler’s work as art he decided to slander it. Another issue that arise is that who are art critics to judge someone’s art? Art is not something that should be judge. Art should be experienced by one viewer. The viewer should determine if something that they are viewing is art for themselves.
Art also relays messages to people. When art is created there is a message inside it. For those who consider themselves to paint just to paint are not true. There is something that they want relayed or why else would they create an image that depicts that thing. “But when I come to look at my own work in the museum, I come essentially to analyze it, to check and see if it still works or holds up the way I thought it held up when I finished it. So I come in to take a critical and analytical view of my own work.”[3] When people look at it they receive different messages. They also may have their opinion set in stone. It is the artist statement that changes the mold and helps relay the message better to people. A viewer would learn the true message that an artist intends to have.
Art also comes in many different forms. These different forms of art play with the rules of art. Graffiti is an art form that is considered art. Graffiti plays on the rules of art and change them so art can be experienced by every person. “The drawings are designed to provoke people to think and use their own imagination. They don’t have exact definitions but challenge the viewer to assert his or her own ideas and interpretation”[4]. When people look at this art form they may regard it as sheer vandalism. Others who truly look at it may see something different. They may see it as relaying a message to the world. It is relaying a message since the drawings are simple enough that everyone can read it (tags or symbols). This then gets the audience to start to think about current events that may have happened or something that everyone has in common such as the pursuit of life.
In conclusion, art comes in many forms. Art can also be interpreted, perceived, and relayed in different ways. It is what we perceive as art that truly makes something art. We are free thinking individuals who are able to distinguish between our idea of good art and bad art.
[1] Rules of Art, Rijks Museum http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/aria/aria_encyclopedia/00047791?page=0&lang=en&context_space=aria_encyclopedia&context_id=00047791
[2] Ten O’ Clock Lecture, Whistler
[3] Kerry James Marshall, Art 21: Interview about Many Mansions http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/marshall/clip1.html
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