Art (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain what art is, its origin, characteristics and its disciplines. Also, its importance and its relationship with culture.

contemporary art — Social and technological changes modify art forms.
(Yayoi Kusama. *Life is the heart of a rainbow*2018)

What is art?

Art is a expression of human creativity which manifests itself in works that can be appreciated by the senses. The concept of art has several meanings and, for centuries, artists, philosophers, critics and thinkers from various disciplines have offered very different definitions.

Some of the objectives of art are to imitate or represent nature and reality; express thought or feelings, emotions and perceptions; live an aesthetic experience, play or have fun. It can also be at the service of social, religion, education, morality or politics.

Art is one of the most important elements of a culture. Through different artistic disciplines, through multiple linguistic, plastic, sound or performance practices and techniques, you can express what you are and what you feel.

For years now, The definition of art is controversial and subject to debate. Not only because each society, each era and each individual perspective are different, but because art is approached from very diverse perspectives (technical, aesthetic, sociological, philosophical, spiritual, archaeological, ethnographic, anthropological, materialist and others) and each one offers a particular point of view.

In the past, only some disciplines such as painting, drawing, music, literature and dance were considered art. Today the concept of art encompasses many more practices and manifestations and can include everything from the manipulation of biological matter (bioart) to interventions in political life (political art).

Inventions, discoveries, social and technological transformations in various areas of knowledge shape the way in which human beings relate to themselves and their environment. This also affects the way they create and develop new forms of art.

Artist or craftsman?
The distinction between the terms “artist” and “craftsman” has also been controversial. This differentiation comes from the Renaissance, when the figure of the individual artist became relevant and, on the one hand, the mastery of the craft (technical skill) and, on the other, the creative “genius” (a special virtue to create unique works, which They were considered the product of “divine inspiration”).

According to this differentiation, which in some way still persists, an “artisan” is a person, generally anonymous, who masters the technique related to a trade. The “artist,” on the other hand, is the mastermind or the genius behind a work, beyond its technical capabilities. Mastery of technique was a necessary condition for the training of an artist until the rupture caused by the avant-garde of the 20th century, which disrupted all traditional concepts of art.

Origin of art

art origin parietal prehistory — Prehistoric human beings painted scenes of their daily lives and their environment.
(Cave painting from Thailand).

The first artistic representations date back to prehistory. It was thought that during the period from the beginning of human evolution to 3000 BC. C. (that is, from the Stone Age to the Metal Age), the first works of art had appeared.

However, the recent discovery of paintings prior to the appearance of the Homo sapiens suggests that rock art was initiated by Neanderthal that inhabited the earth more than 40,000 years ago.

One of the artistic manifestations of which there is the greatest quantity and quality of record is cave painting, which appeared when nomadic human beings who lived in prehistory began to live in caves.

Natural pigments, such as clay and rust, were used to make drawings on the stone in the caves. In them, prehistoric humans represented their lifestyle and environment. They painted animals (lions, hyenas, horses and rhinos) and hunting scenes. There are cave paintings on all five continents, and these first artistic representations were part of what is called prehistoric art.

Prehistoric art also includes the so-called “Paleolithic Venuses”, small statues of female figures carved in stone, wood, bone or clay that are believed to have been used in fertilization rites. Early civilizations also made tools and utensils from stone, wood, and bone, although these objects are considered more utilitarian than artistic.

The invention of writing marked the end of the prehistoric era. Later, great civilizations emerged in Egypt and Mesopotamia that developed an important artistic identity.

Characteristics of art

art features — Art is produced in all cultures and societies.
(Traditional Kathakali dance from India)

Some characteristics of art are:

It's dynamic. It is in constant transformation. Artistic representations vary over time and according to different societies or cultures.
It's subjective. The artistic representations are unique. Each culture translates, interprets and represents the world according to a particular point of view, and within each culture, each artist does it in their own way.
It is universal. The ability to produce art is inherent to human beings. Artistic expressions are carried out by individuals and groups of all cultures and backgrounds.
It is a means of expression. Art as a means of expression was born with the human being. Throughout history, humanity created and found various ways to transmit and express emotions, opinions, thoughts and values through different artistic languages.
It is a creative activity. Through different artistic disciplines, human beings use their potential and abilities to create.
It is multidisciplinary. It uses a multiplicity of tools and methods. Sound, writing, drawing, acting and digital media are some of the most used resources in art.

What are the artistic disciplines?

Art is manifested through different artistic disciplines, which transform over time. Among the most relevant are the visual arts, the performing arts, the musical arts and the literary arts.

visual arts

The visual arts are artistic expressions that can be appreciated with sight. The main ones are painting, architecture, drawing, sculpture, photography, video art, installation and digital art.

Paint. It is an artistic discipline in which images are created using color pigments on a wide variety of surfaces such as canvas, wood, paper or metal.
Architecture. It is a set of techniques that are used to plan and carry out the construction of houses and buildings. It covers the design of structures such as homes, schools, institutions or hospitals. The processes, materials and methods of architecture have changed significantly throughout history.
Drawing. It is an artistic technique that is based on the graphic representation of any type of element. It is also a resource that serves as a basis for other forms of art.
Sculpture. It is an artistic technique that is based on the creation of works modeled with the hands. Use materials such as cement, clay, wood or metal.
Photograph. It is the art and technique of capturing images that are made durable by the action of light. In recent years this technique has become rapidly popular.
Video art. It is a discipline that uses audio and video tools as artistic forms. It emerged in the 1960s and has had a very important impact on contemporary art. It can be both analog and digital.
Facility. It is an artistic form that is characterized by creating areas or spaces that involve the participation of the public (with actions such as walking around the place or following instructions). It can be temporary or permanent.
digital art. It is an artistic form that uses digital technology as a support for the creation of images, sounds, texts and other forms of expression. In recent years it has acquired great relevance.

See also: Visual arts

performing arts

The performing arts are the set of artistic disciplines that are created to be presented live, in front of an audience. The most common are dance, theater and performance. Opera, circus, ballet, and live musical performance are also performing arts.

Dance. It is an artistic discipline in which body movement is used, generally accompanied by music. It has been a widespread cultural expression throughout history.
Theater. It is an artistic discipline in which a group of people (actors and actresses) represent a dramatic work on a stage.
Performance. It is a form of expression that is characterized by the direct action of the artist. It can have improvised elements or strictly follow a previous plan. It emerged as an artistic discipline with the avant-garde of the 20th century and is also considered a visual art.

Performing arts

musical arts

The musical arts or music are the artistic expressions that arrange sounds in time through tone, harmony, melody, rhythm, dynamics and texture. The type of music that is made only with the voice is called singing.

Singing. It is a form of artistic expression that consists of using the voice to create music.
Music. It is an artistic discipline in which the voice or any type of sound instrument is used to generate rhythm, harmony and melody.

literary arts

Literary arts or literature are artistic expressions that use words as a means of expression. The most common are poetry, narrative and drama.

Poetry. It is the art of making literary compositions in verse or prose that express ideas, feelings and emotions.
Narrative. It is the art of writing literary texts (usually prose) that tell a story through a narrator. Among the most common forms are stories and novels.
Drama. Drama is a literary genre that tells stories through dialogue and the action of characters. It is generally intended for representation on stage.

Art and culture

The concept of art is often associated with that of culture. The concept of culture is broad and encompasses all individual and collective manifestations of a society. This means that culture includes art and also the beliefs, traditions, values and customs of a community.

Culture is made up of knowledge, material and immaterial goods that transmit from generation to generation the identity, history and way of seeing the world of a social group. It includes language, religion, clothing, gastronomy or historical sites. Art is a fundamental component of every culture.

Importance of art

The question about the importance of art is as old as the concept of art itself, which comes from Ancient Greece. Just as each civilization or era produces a concept and an art form, it also defines where its importance lies.

Art is an inseparable part of the human being and is directly related to the development of human societies. It is a means of creative expansion and the channel of expression par excellence of the human being. Through different artistic disciplines, communities and individuals can know themselves, relate to each other and connect with the world.

Artistic productions offer an important testimony about civilizations. Through art it is possible to know the customs and identity of societies, cultures, tribes and communities. Artistic expressions transmit values, culture and ways of seeing the world.

References

Ansede, M. (February 23, 2018). The oldest work of rock art was made by a Neanderthal. The Country. https://elpais.com/
Gombrich, E. H. (1997). The history of art. Phaidon.
Wladyslaw Tatarkiewicz. (2001). History of six ideas. Tecnos Editorial.‌