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Over the past year, the art on “Feel Art Again” has ranged from the traditional masters (Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent Van Gogh, both shown above) to the highly controversial (DuanPen, Marcel Duchamp, both shown below).
Pablo Picasso believed, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Everyone has a different idea about what exactly is and isn’t art and who can and can’t be classified as artists.
So today, I ask all of you:
What is art?
What is good art?
Who qualifies as an artist and who doesn’t?
Some things to consider:
The mediocre Dutch artist who pulled “the greatest art hoax of the 20th century.”
Wim Delvoye’s tattooed pigs banned from SHContemporary.
The proposed “abortion art” by a Yale art student that was declared a hoax by Yale.
The toddler whose ketchup paintings have fooled some collectors.
“Feel Art Again” appears every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. You can e-mail us at feelartagain@gmail.com with artist suggestions or details of current exhibitions.
Comments (15)
Comment
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I believe that art is a creation in which a person can find beauty and personal meaning. The meaning could be good or bad.
Good art is in the eye of the beholder. Generally speaking, however, good art would be described as art that many people and critics describe as such.
Who qualifies as an artist? An intelligent being who purposefully creates a painting/drawing/sculpture…I don’t believe animals or even the toddler count as artist because I am not 100% convinced that they have created something with a purpose.
posted by Sarah on 9-13-2008 at 4:54 pm
Art is any sound, sight, smell, or taste not created by God. Music, paintings, perfume, and delicious food are works art.
What is good art? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
An artist is anyone who creates something.
People create works of art everyday and don’t even realize it.
The way you stack some books, the way you organize your fridge, the way you set up your living room so it’s pleasing to the eye: all examples of art.
Some other works of art: growing a moustache, beard, or goatee; cutting hair, picking out clothes that match; gardening, carefully vacuuming the carpet to leave straight lines, ect.
posted by CJ on 9-13-2008 at 7:32 pm
I believe Paul Bloom’s book “Descartes’ Baby” answers the question of What is Art? I can’t seem to remember it, though. Something about intention.
posted by Xavier on 9-13-2008 at 8:18 pm
I do have to say, that toddler actually made some interesting pieces. Little kid playing with paints or not, he does have an eye for color and balance. What? Just look at “The Best Elephant”.
Art is anything made consciously to be meaningful in some way. There’s this trigger that goes off in the back of your brain when you’re really into the work. If that trigger goes off, you’re making art. Sure, there are techniques they teach you in art school that play on psychology to purposefully make a piece interesting, but those can be played with quite a bit.
I’m an art student, so my definition of art is a bit loose, considering I’m on the same level of thinking as some of those loons.
In all, it’s up to the viewer. Some people buy Banksy for 500,000 pounds, others paint over his work. My mother and I always debate over the validity of modern art (she says Pollock’s work looks like child’s drawings…bah), so it is still debatable.
posted by NicoNicoNico on 9-13-2008 at 8:30 pm
Yay! No bashing of artists (yet).
To me -a receiver of art- it’s tough to call everything that someone made with an intention to be meaningful, art. And not all artists continue to produce art, which is akin to Picasso’s statement. But art is indeed everywhere, sometimes unintentionally. e.g. the sometimes ironic recaptchas in the comment section.
I was just thumbing through an old bio of H.R. Giger. Fascinating span of work, within a defined theme. That’s kinda what I mean by continuing to produce.
posted by Johnny Cat on 9-13-2008 at 9:21 pm
I’ve always thought that art is a reflection of life as seen by the artist. Some few are lucky enough to have a great number of outside observers recognize what the artist saw or felt. (I think animals and children can easily be artists. If what they made affects you emotionally or intellectually, etc., then it’s art to you. I’ve welled up looking at paintings by the gorilla, Michael – specificly “apple chase” and “me myself good”. http://www.koko.org/friends/kokomart_art.koko.html )
Of course, in the spirit of the old cliche, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”, I’m also rather fond of MOBA.
http://www.museumofbadart.org
posted by steph on 9-13-2008 at 10:45 pm
This spring I took a class on visual aesthetics in which we read mountains of art philosophy and debated these very questions the entire semester. We did not come to a consensus.
posted by Kelsey on 9-14-2008 at 1:13 am
What is art? I feel that art is anything that causes a strong reaction in the viewer. However, that said there is a lot of what would be considered art, by many, that does not cause a strong emotional response.
What is good art? I think good art is art that took time and consideration. Whatever it is that is done, if it is done intentionally it can be good art. And once more there is art that doesn’t take too long to do, but seems that the intention is there to make art.
Who qualifies as an artist and who doesn’t? I believe anyone that creates is an artist. Whatever degree and whatever talent is not relevant to this question. Anyone can be a an artist.
In closing I would like to add: The beautiful thing about art is no one can say that it isn’t. It’s in the eye of the beholder. I have many conversations with people discussing the merits of certain ‘art’ and the drawbacks of others. Just because it doesn’t always appeal to me or you, doesn’t mean it is not art. A deep appreciation for creation is all that is necessary to ‘get’ art.
posted by Tiffany on 9-14-2008 at 10:22 am
I think CJ’s is the best answer
posted by kat on 9-14-2008 at 12:56 pm
So I am in a class called form and expression and we have been trying to decide on these questions for 4 week now. Needless to say the arguement has gone in circles..
My answer is you can’t define art for it is constantly being redefined. Or as that one Supreme Court judge said “I know it when I see it”
posted by Cara on 9-14-2008 at 4:50 pm
I would never define art for you.
BUT: While the abortion thing was (apparently) a hoax, the tattooed pigs is real, perverse, and cruel.
posted by BassMan on 9-15-2008 at 8:46 am
I include in my “art” collection a little brooch made by my (then 7-year-old?) daughter out of toothpicks, lace, and pink glue; a tiny sample of quilling done by my son when he was very young; a Nativity set made of Sculpi clay by another daughter; and various cards and pictures the kids have given me. Art takes on a very different meaning when one becomes a parent!
posted by Therese on 9-15-2008 at 1:01 pm
“Art is an experience, not an object.”
-Robert Motherwell
posted by Florida on 9-15-2008 at 1:20 pm
I agree with Therese.
My 7 year-old daughter is a very prolific artist and I am running out of places for all of her creations!
I think it’s fascinating watching her experiment. I’ve tried to encourage her by telling her there are no mistakes in art. It means something to her (and me) and that’s what matters.
And animal cruelty (real or staged) for the sake of “art” is most definately not.
posted by Nerak on 9-15-2008 at 2:02 pm
“Art is a tool for communication, it is how we define our own human experiences and try to help others living in our time and beyond understand what it was like to be us, and maybe inspire them to be more and do more in their own lives.”
Great definition.
I was also looking at the abortion art girl and the pig tattoo guy. They should both be punished for unethical behavior. I think it says that the SKINS are sold? Disgusting.
posted by GTT on 9-15-2008 at 5:39 pm