Art is a medium for communication. It has the power to move people and make us question our own assumptions. Art is unique in its ability to challenge and excite our emotions and thoughts, sparking curiosity, excitement, and even outrage. It is often a tool for protest, whether against injustices in our world or in our own lives, or against unsustainable economic practices by governments and corporations. Art also serves a spiritual purpose in that it can be used to communicate ideas and concepts that are not possible to convey through words or actions alone.
While there is no definitive list of what constitutes art, a general definition might include the following:
Sense of Place
How does the artwork engage with space in and around it? Is it self-contained, enclosed or open? How do the artist use the space to create a sense of depth or distance? Do you feel a sense of foreboding, calm, excitement or serenity?
Does the artwork show a formal system of arrangement or mathematical proportion (i.e. one point perspective; rule of thirds; golden ratio or spiral; grid format; geometric; dominant triangle; abstracted) or is the organisation more fluid, asymmetrical and irregular? How does this affect the way your eyes move across the composition? Does the work explore dynamic viewpoints and serial vision (read more about Gordon Cullen’s concept of serial vision here)?
Are the objects, landscapes or scenes recognisable and if so, how have these been presented? Is this a representational piece that depicts a realistic scene or does it use distortion or illusion to portray something else (i.e. impressionistic; stylised; illustrative)? Do any recognisable figures appear in the work? If so, how are they presented (i.e. idealized; realistic; indistinct; distorted; concealed; exaggerated or simplified form); and what does this suggest about the character of the subject?
Do any elements of the work demonstrate expressive mark-making or textural qualities that could be interpreted as poetic, literary or metaphorical? Is the mark-making or textural quality patterned, repetitive or rhythmic? How does this contribute to the mood or feeling of the work?
Art has always played a vital role in human culture, creating awareness of different identities and cultures. It can entertain, inspire and educate and it can also help to fight intolerance of other cultures, racism and xenophobia. In a highly globalised world, art can help to foster understanding and tolerance of other cultures, allowing all humans to live together in peace and mutual respect.
Ultimately, it is up to individuals to decide what they think about the world in which they live and how they want to communicate that through art. However, it is important to remember that art has a long history of being used for political, religious and social purposes, so it is unlikely that we will ever stop making it or stopping the questioning of what it really is.