Necessity of Creation
15th Nov. 2010
Art Writer
Mumbai, India
Though
the overarching theme for this issue is Necessity of Creation, Discerning
Dialogue seeks to present a labyrinth of opinions and expressions instead of
one single message; an intricate combination of plurality of thoughts and
world-views. As the theme of this issue inquires into the artistic processes it
also raises questions about how this particular openness affects the process,
the artwork and eventually the contemporary art practice as a whole.
Furthermore, it also investigates what kind of decisions the artists and art
writers have made in order to translate their ideas into a work of art with an
overgrowing influence of the art market, current styles, ‘trends’ in art field.
All
the articles might not fit within the framework of a particular argument or
topic but we, the Discerning Dialogue team members, feel that it is important
to create a platform for people to voice their opinions transparently and
confrontationally. Some
of these are straightforward explanations of their experiences as young artists
in the art field where one could feel the urge to do something new and the
angst about the prevalent art practices. The fear or the worry comes from the
sense of being excluded or being unnoticed as they long for the acceptance from
the greater art community. These are practical as well as philosophical issues
that these young artists and writers are touching upon, rather grappling with.
If we take the
center- periphery nomenclature seriously then these are the artists/ and
writers from the periphery who have expressed their views on the current
situation of contemporary art. They position themselves as contemporary artists
though they are on the boundaries of the (so-called) contemporary art practices
breeding in the cities like Mumbai, Baroda, Kolkata and Delhi. To take it
further, we had also called for write-ups from Hindi speaking regions, which
unfortunately did not receive any response. The reasons might be that the
complexes that the regional art writers and artists live with all their lives
as well as an inert idleness that seeps in along with it. One cannot blame it
by calling it small-town parochialism; the issues these artists and writers
deal with are much deeper as there is a paucity of art historical or
theoretical writings in Hindi and other Indian languages.
To
come back to the theme for this issue, the contributors surely deliberate upon
the critical artistic engagements and interventions through their own
subjective understanding of the reality while exploring their ideas, thoughts,
opinions and visions. It can be appreciated that some artist and art writers
have submitted their articles to make this happening a successful moment and we
wish open heartedly those who have supported us.
Nov 14, 2010
Article By: Vinaykumar Rudraswamimath
Printmaker
Baroda, India
Necessity of creation does not
mean that only giving birth and feeding a baby, but also educating it ……
We usually historicize problems we face with art and artists; it is true
as everyone knows it has become tough profession to be an artist and to work
with his feelings for butter and bread. But it’s also a time to educate our selves
with our thought and hard work. This implies realizing our interventions with
art practice to create a painting or an artwork, why it has become a necessity?
Every artwork has a complicated process behind it through which we can raise
our questions…
Are we thinking about the basic necessity? Yes, with interpretation to
collected thoughts where we some time miss it, the fact that motivates us is to
create. We would realize our notion of creativity in sense to distinguishing
different feathers’ of art practice so that it helps us build a new vision.
So we would realize our intervention that why we are creating, it has
become necessary to make debate on this topic, which is a usually base for all
creative aspects as I think,
I paint on the sheet, I paint
on the sheet.. I walk on the road, I paint on the sheet, I drink water by hand,
I paint on the sheet, I eat food by hand, So I paint on the sheet..
Creativity is a pleasing act that rises with basic instinct of existence.
It can be created in any space or time; if we create then we talk who it can be
created? In more beautiful and efficient manner, analyzing the aspect of
creativity is the thing, after creating an artwork and its side effects to
realize the notion of creativity; it should approach over positive-ness for
being creative.
Nov 12, 2010
Article by: Anne Sassoon
Artist, Reviewer and Curator Of Exhibitions
Jerusalem, Israel
Creativity is as necessary for adults as play is for
children. Perhaps all creativity, whatever form it takes, is play - a serious and all-engrossing form of play in which we
express what it is to be human. All children are natural artists, which is the
clearest evidence that we are creative creatures at heart. Those who as adults
have put playing behind them can be nourished by the creativity of others.
Art is “as if” real. It plays with questions like
“what if?” and makes up its own language to create answers, or add to the
questions. Art makes the world
seem not only richer and more meaningful, but actually more expansive: it seems
to add space and depth to the world. Like pioneers discovering new, habitable
lands, artists seem to increase the volume of space, adding to the map new
areas of experience. It’s hard to believe that the worlds created by Van Gogh
or Hokusai, Dostoevsky, Bach or Walt Disney did not always exist, but now they
are established as firmly in our minds as Holland, Japan, Russia, Germany,
America...
Art isn’t connected with morality, kindness or basic
human decency. Being honest and passionate artists didn’t prevent Jean Genet
from being a thief or Picasso a callous husband and father. Great works of art
outstrip the flawed individuals who make them. Being a good artist requires
hard work and vision, but not necessarily talent. Talent is a gift that can
land on anyone - a free gift, not earned and often wasted. Artists can be
misled by their talent, or facility, and become superficial show-offs. The
British painter Lucien Freud has said that he never had a natural talent for
art and has always relied on careful observation and constant hard work – which
may add gravitas to his life’s work. It is interesting to compare this (without
judging) with two of his most talented friends – R B Kitaj and David Hockney.
Although looking at art doesn’t change the reality of
our lives, it can put a new perspective on our reality and make it seem more
meaningful. It can give us the
feeling that we are not alone. Art can echo, clarify and pre-empt what we think
of as reality. Twenty-five years before scientists split the atom, Cubism had
already shown us a fractured world. And in 1986, the end of apartheid in South
Africa was anticipated by ‘Tributaries’, an exhibition that for the first time
placed fine art, township art and traditional craft side by side under one
roof. If this sounds like a minor achievement, it heralded a new philosophy of
art curatorship later adopted by the SA National Gallery and the Sainsbury
Africa collection at the British Museum - among others.
Making art – unless it makes you a fortune (which
these days it might) – doesn’t help the problems of life, but it does add its
own extra dimension of interest and pleasure. Old artists, even those with lots
of difficulties, little money and bad health, can usually be spotted as artists
because of their open curiosity and capacity for fun. Making art can give you
the feeling you are living in another, ever-developing world as well as this
one – like living two parallel lives at once. And it can feel like one of those
dreams when you discover to your amazement the entrance to a new, unknown room
in your house, which opens up wonderful possibilities for you. Being
productively engaged with painting feels like travelling with energy, optimism
and a sense of purpose. When I am not successfully engaging with it – however
successfully I may be engaging with other aspects of life – it is as if a good
part of me is slumped aimlessly in an armchair. As a painter, I relate to part
of the Rumpelstiltskin story, where a girl is put into a room with a heap of
straw that somehow, against all odds, she has to spin into gold - which is exactly
what artists do, when it is well-timed…
Article by: Abhijit Kondhalkar
Architect and Urban Designer
New Delhi/Bangalore, India
The muddy matter
is kept on the center of a wooden wheel. The wooden wheel is rotating; the
forms are slowly taking formations out of the muddy matter. As the hands move on, the matter is changing
its shape. A continuous rhythmic process is allowing the matter to move up and
down, it comes back to its original shape and again spring up seamlessly into
another shape. The process is moving on without any preconceived thoughts or
corrections.
Can we
specifically mark any beginning or end of this process? What shall we say; is
the matter bringing these shapes into existence or is it the hand movements
because of which a seamless process is occurring? Or is it the energy of the
form itself is making it a continuous thematic process? And finally, is there
any meaning to these formations?
The muddy matter
is the basic ingredient which itself do not change but supports the change to
occur. The rotating wheel not only brings about the change in the matter but
also helps to sustain the process. The hand movements give the change a
specific form. The form also develops by itself by bringing, sucking in
positive and negative energies. The entire process is bound by space and time,
like a world is coming into existence. Even though it is taking shapes we do
not know why. From this what we
surely know is the act of becoming, the change in space and time. It is an
appearance, an act of becoming, ‘a creation’!
Many philosophies
including Hindu Philosophy believe on this act as mere illusion. It contends
that progress is unreal because progress is change, and change is unreal since
time in which change occurs is unreal (S Radhakrishnan, Indian Philosophy
Volume I, 2008). If we avoid the philosophical debate of the nature of
existence, what we are left with is a simple demonstration of overflow of forms
one into another, emerging, glowing, going back to the origin and springing
again into another.
Whenever light
falls on the leaf, it absorbs all the colors other than green. Then which one
should we believe is the true color of a leaf? It is debatable, isn’t it? Such
is the nature of absolute necessity of creation – debatable. But the
existential necessity of creation is something to experience. As every object
sucks in positive and negative energies, the human energies are filled with Prana
(Life). The Prana gives us tremendous power to experience the nature
of existence. We can not see Prana, but we can sense it and that’s why
we believe on it. The Prana
allow us to experience the creation.
One of the modern
philosophers in India, Rajnish Osho has said - "I am not a logician. I
am an existentialist. I believe in this meaningless, beautiful chaos of
existence, and I am ready to go with it wherever it leads. I don't have a goal,
because existence has no goal. It simply is, flowering, blossoming, dancing -
but don't ask why. Just an overflow of energy, for no reason at all. I am with
existence."
Article by: Asif Upadhye
Entrepreneur @ Never Grow Up Workshops
Mumbai, India
Every time I touch
a brush a strange feeling comes over me. A nice, warm feeling... a feeling of
being able to express what lies within. Off late though, have been riddled by
what our purpose becomes when we paint? It cannot be a mere making of a piece
of art. Not just a painting but a creation. If you ask me how an abstract
painting evolves, I could give you all sorts of explanations and
interpretations but must add at that sometimes, it is the brush takes the lead.
When your body and the canvas are one, we create.
This raises a
point on what does it mean to be creative? [Cre·a·tive (kre-a'tiv) adj. Having
the ability or power to create: Human beings are creative animals. Productive;
creating. Characterized by originality and expressiveness; imaginative:
creative writing. n. One who displays productive originality] But, before you
jump to any conclusions and say this is not for me, would urge you to re-look
at the core definition of being creative. It means to be original in your
expressions and solutions which, could also translate into the fact that each
and every one of us, knowingly or unknowingly is creative! Yes, it’s true. Each
and everyone in our special ways is c-r-e-a-t-I-v-e. Being creative means being
able to come up with simple, practical and executable solutions to common day
problems, that way the carpenter who works with raw material is more creative
than the interior designer who designs the room on a comp in CAD. The Indian
postal system is creative for being able to use their network of people to send
hand delivered birthday cards. The farmers in Punjab are truly creative because
they use washing machines to make lassi.
Why is it
necessary to create art? Besides aesthetics, creations in art do one thing that
is extremely important for our existence on this planet i.e. they broaden our
horizons, letting us be free and in doing so; they push the human race forward.
As we expand our horizons and transcend boundaries, we let of our greatest
fears. This, leads to wider levels of acceptance amongst the human race. Who
knows... art creations one day might lead to world peace.
So you see, the
purpose of making a piece of art is not just to adorn a room, or invest in it
like it was an unorganized asset class... the purpose of making a painting ...
the way I see it is to create. For in the necessity for creation can we find
our salvation?
Article by: Janet Botes
Artist
Cape Town, South Africa
As an artist we create because we have to. Because it
makes sense to express and represent the world around us with images, words,
movements, lines, shapes, colours and sound. To comment and declare in a non
verbal and often subtle form in order to reach people’s subconscious or the
feelings that they choose to mask and hide. We create because we feel
incomplete as individuals without sharing our vision and perception. We create
because we will stop growing without as creator and a viewer.
Article by: Shiladitya Verma
Artist
Bhopal, India
“The Beauty of
the Kriya of Srijun”
Everywhere in this Universe or any Universe
for that matter, there exists points, many points, in different shapes and
sizes, each having an individuality of its own, each co-existing and trying to
find its own space in the this vast space called Universe.
In a tiny space, ‘I’ am made with innumerous
points and in a much bigger space I am myself a single point. And in a space
much bigger than this existing bigger space, this space is it self a point.
They all are laid out randomly across many imaginary lines called Dreams. These
imaginary lines called dreams are also made of innumerous points. And
conversion of these dreams into non-dreams is called ‘Art’.
Although these points move randomly on these
lines, moving in any direction as the please, but nature wise are very stable
and calm. Nevertheless, when they try to move out of these lines, they become
very unstable, and when the un-stability reaches its maximum threshold where it
has to decide whether to stay on the line or move away from it, the existing
dreams stop it from its mitosis into non-dreams. If the mitosis succeeds, an
artiste is born within. The artiste develops the power to convert the dreams
into non-dreams. To break away from stability of points and stops being in
lines and moves away from it, to the vast spaces in between these imaginary lines.
Here the points which had been lying till
now dormant in his mind, in dreams, come alive, seeking there own nature at
their own free will to break out from the never-ending dreaming state to become
non-dreams and when they finally become what they were actually intended for,
when the points which had been lying dormant for a very long time become
actively active, these points start moving in all direction without the aid of
any line and start developing the dreams in to non-dreams, these non-dreams are
now called abstract forms.
These abstract forms are nothing but
imprints of dreams, dreams which have been running haywire in us for a long
time, but when they find a way to get out of the defined system into the
indefinite, they become art of abstraction or simply become non-dreams…
Article by: Hemant Panjabi
One of the basic and important human resources of all is
“creation”, an original product of
the mind, imaginative and artistic work. With creativity, the work gets
progressive and non-repetitive. Seeing something that doesn’t really exist and
to find out, how to bring it in existence is “creativity”. Now, we know that
imaginative thoughts of our mind, when come in existence, or get framed in a subtle
form hence called as creation. To be innovative, genius and progressive, creation is a basic as well as
important factor. Certain aspects of life came through process of creating.
Like bearing risks, making mistakes, experimenting and having fun.
“When we
talk about necessity of creation”
then to keep up great work is the inspiration we get, as said the greatest play
isn’t written, greatest painting yet to be painted, and greatest act yet to be
done. Trying as best as possible with innovation, experiments, creative
thoughts and hard work leads us to great work with which we are enjoying
life. In 21st century
asking necessity of creation is like asking necessity of breathing. Nowadays
for the survival only, creating is a
compulsion. As said in commercial
sector that this is a century of cut throat competition. It is no longer enough
to do the same thing better, in fact now we have to create new ways to do work.
Curiosity leads us down new ways as well as new paths; because of being curious,
rather than looking back or following same old formats or patterns, we look
forward searching and creating new formats or patterns. To create we have to
reach where no one has ever been, for that we have to come out from shell of
comfort and have to go to the intuitions wilderness. Thing that comes out,
going to be really wonderful. Finally on a nicer note I must say that to be
creative consistently running mind is very important as Michelangelo said,
“A man paints with his brains and not with his hands”
Article by: Harish Kumar Sejekan
Gallery In-charge
Pune, India
Gallery In-charge
Pune, India
Creation in art is in itself a very diverse topic. When we are
discussing ‘Creation in art and its Necessity’, that means we are pondering
upon the question why is art become more of a commercial game play.
It’s such a catastrophe.
There are many reasons why an artist’s creation hampers.
If one would go to Baroda and have a reality check on some of the artists and
students and the conditions in which they stay and find even basic necessities
of food hard to bear. Having heard a lot of trash talk by people saying that
art is such a tough profession in our country, it is disheartening to see why
talented artists are not given a worth while chance to portray their art and
are generally lured to sell their paintings at a lower price, hence the buyer
makes money and the artist is left being happy with the money he has got.
Then the artist is left in complete chaos. Pain and
pathos engulf him. Some stand the storm and somehow try to make ends meet; the
other talented ones have no option other than to retire from the pain. Why
don’t we as an art fraternity stand together and form an organization to make
sure that these fantastic talents don’t go waste. It is this pain and a harsh
reality that makes these artists lose their creativity and drive them to
commercially work for the same of bread and butter.
I feel that every artist deserves the right to
distinguish himself and his artwork and this can be done by raising a voice
against the people/systems that are exploiting them and their artworks.
Today when we talk of creation, we generally come across
similar artworks in exhibitions. The same realistic feel, the same
photo-realistic works, I think time has come to ponder on the thought as to why
Indian art hasn’t yet retained the awe across Art markets in Europe. There is a
need of trendsetters who rather would like to take the creativity of Indian
art across the globe rather than await another exhibition that would fetch them
money through auctions.
Time has come to revolutionize creativity in artists
and take their art across continents and use art as a message to spread certain
issues. We as artists claim to do artworks but how much are we using art as a
medium to reach to the masses is a strange question. We need to use our
artworks to do something for our society. That is when art would be realized as
a medium to reciprocate to certain sensitive issues.
I think Art India and the thought of artists and curators
as well as buyers needs a complete revamp. Out must go the old school Razas and
Souzas and in must be talented fresh artists who have an eye for creation. Who
think different and think beyond the fantasies. It must be a mix of
Installations that actually evoke a meaning, Sculptures that are larger than
life and Paintings which evoke a sense of understanding among each and every
viewer who comes across it. I always feel there is a constant need of a new
breed of artists, young, maverick and headstrong who are set to defy the odds
and set new standards for Indian art. Enough money has been made by the greats.
Its about time we as galleries and Art lovers step up and give the Young
Bravehearts a chance to disclose their raw talent. I feel these artists must be
given a platform to portray their uniqueness and not one but many galleries
must step up and form a movement. It’s not written in history books that You
need to be a 50 year old to achieve success in Art. Success as an artist comes
with a weird but Creative perception, the will to break the shackles and to try
something new towards art. Creation in itself is a very small and simple word
with a wide boundary. Creation can only happen when we have a broad mind and
let the Young breed to think and portray their talent to the world. Creation
must e the new generation of artists. Let us stop boasting of the greats now.
How long are we going to sit on their works? Come on! let us all create a
movement that gives Art a fresh look, a look that will make us compete with
artists abroad. Let us move ahead for the future and let us facilitate creation
by Creative artists. Let us CREATE.
Article by: Arti Paliwal
Artist
Bhopal, India
Artist
Bhopal, India
Throughout the ages art has
played a crucial role in life. Art is universal and because art is omnipresent,
we experience it on a daily basis. From the houses we live in (architecture) to
the movies we see (theater) to the books that we read (literature). Even in
ancient culture art has played a crucial role. In prehistoric times cave
dwellers drew on the wall of caves to record history. In biblical times
paintings recorded the life and death of Christ. Throughout time art has
recorded history. Most art is created for a specific reason or purpose, it has
a way of expressing ideas and beliefs, and it can record the experiences of all
people.
Art has the ability to transport us to a different time and space. It allows us to gain historical perspective and understanding. Art allows us to appreciate different periods in history and their impact and significance in our world. Most art has some sort of reason or purpose behind it. It might be religious, symbolic, literal, traditional, customary, or just a preference by the artist. Most African art has a symbolic reason. Masks, pottery, figures, portraits, jewelry, baskets and clothing reflect the religious beliefs of different tribes. Africans believed that everything in nature is alive. For example: rocks, grass, plants, trees, rivers and mountains. In Nigeria, people were tattooed as a test of courage.
When we think about necessity of anything we use to think about its purpose or its use, but when the matter comes about creativity of art, I think it is for satisfaction and refinement of our mind. It is necessary to transfer our thoughts in art forms (those forms which make images in our inherent). Art can be in any medium - it can be painting, sculpture, music, performing dance or any other performance, or it could even take the form of writing. Writing can be expressed in various forms too, like poetry, short stories, articles, journals, literary articles, etc. Sometimes art provides pure delint from the present world in a funny way by the way of such tools as cartoons and comics. Other art allows us to view fantasy in conjunction with reality, thereby creating a world in which the artist wished we lived.
It is to take pleasure of our creation and the more we create the more we get new ideas, new thoughts and even new vision towards art, towards this beautiful world. We make our eyes see what other commoners cannot see. It is a step of progress of thoughts and new creation. One creation opens the door for other new thoughts and creations. It is necessary for an artist to step towards progressive thoughts from time to time. So, it is very important for an artist to keep creating. Art brings beauty into our world. It is especially important because it promises to make our world a better place. It also brings a sense of enjoyment and pleasure in our otherwise boring and moribund lives.
Art allows for the expression of truth and beliefs. Some art challenges our beliefs. Other works affirm our faith. Art is an important tool in causing us to examine our beliefs in light of an artist’s rendition or perception of truth. Art immortalizes people, places, and events. Artists create visual records of life experiences commemorating the memorable and challenging social injustices, such as slavery and abuses, in time. Artists serve as historians in this role, documenting life on canvass, photography, or sculpture.
Art may be used to express chaos and misunderstanding, or to establish order from what appears to be chaos. Art helps us organize our world. It is one means by which we understand our society and culture, and the society and cultures of others. A good artist advances culture and civilization by provoking thought, introspection, and discussion of its audience.
Art triggers emotions. Subject, color, and texture are used by artist to evoke feelings. In this way art can serve as a catharsis, or help us uncover feelings of which we were previously unaware. It also has the intrinsic ability to lift its viewer beyond the confines of reality and into another world, such as the use of art to express our self and even our fantasy.
Different art forms help us develop the verbal and nonverbal abilities necessary for lifelong learning. The intellectual demands of the arts help us develop problem-solving abilities and such powerful thinking skills as analyzing and evaluating. Numerous studies point toward a consistent and positive comparison between concrete education in the arts and student achievement in other subjects.
We use the Arts as a means of touching that part of us that we cannot reach with Science, Social Science, or any of the Humanities. The arts allow us to be as specific or as abstract as we please. It helps us become closer to ourselves and to others around us. Though there has been a lot of confusion as to what the true definition of "good art" is, how we show others what is going on in our minds and inner souls cannot be judged, graded, criticized or revised by anyone other than ourselves.
Gesture has played a very crucial role in the development of modern art. The gestures alone can tell us which time period a painting is from. In such paintings like, The Night Cafe and The Scream, gesture shows us what kind of message we should be getting when observing the paintings. The gesture shows us how we are supposed to be feeling, agitated and having a sense of isolation and fear. In many other works of art gesture has played a very important role. It tells us what the artist was feeling at that time and what type of message we are supposed to be getting.
As funding for education is decreased in certain areas and put to other uses, classes such as art and music have been put on the back shelf. The idea is that they are not quite as important to a child's education as English, history, math, and science. Not only art teachers who feel that their jobs are important to the learning and development of the children that they work with, but others are also quickly realizing the importance of arts in all aspects of human interaction. Crayola, a brand of artistry supplies, best known for its crayons, has recently released an ad campaign claiming that, "Today's Crayola kid is tomorrow's self confident adult" ("Crayola"). They say, "studies show that children who participate in the arts are more likely to say they feel good about themselves." As the importance of art becomes more evident it might be necessary to view it in new perspective.
Finally, art communicates across all cultures, tells the stories of the past and present, and inspires minds, both young and old.
Art has the ability to transport us to a different time and space. It allows us to gain historical perspective and understanding. Art allows us to appreciate different periods in history and their impact and significance in our world. Most art has some sort of reason or purpose behind it. It might be religious, symbolic, literal, traditional, customary, or just a preference by the artist. Most African art has a symbolic reason. Masks, pottery, figures, portraits, jewelry, baskets and clothing reflect the religious beliefs of different tribes. Africans believed that everything in nature is alive. For example: rocks, grass, plants, trees, rivers and mountains. In Nigeria, people were tattooed as a test of courage.
When we think about necessity of anything we use to think about its purpose or its use, but when the matter comes about creativity of art, I think it is for satisfaction and refinement of our mind. It is necessary to transfer our thoughts in art forms (those forms which make images in our inherent). Art can be in any medium - it can be painting, sculpture, music, performing dance or any other performance, or it could even take the form of writing. Writing can be expressed in various forms too, like poetry, short stories, articles, journals, literary articles, etc. Sometimes art provides pure delint from the present world in a funny way by the way of such tools as cartoons and comics. Other art allows us to view fantasy in conjunction with reality, thereby creating a world in which the artist wished we lived.
It is to take pleasure of our creation and the more we create the more we get new ideas, new thoughts and even new vision towards art, towards this beautiful world. We make our eyes see what other commoners cannot see. It is a step of progress of thoughts and new creation. One creation opens the door for other new thoughts and creations. It is necessary for an artist to step towards progressive thoughts from time to time. So, it is very important for an artist to keep creating. Art brings beauty into our world. It is especially important because it promises to make our world a better place. It also brings a sense of enjoyment and pleasure in our otherwise boring and moribund lives.
Art allows for the expression of truth and beliefs. Some art challenges our beliefs. Other works affirm our faith. Art is an important tool in causing us to examine our beliefs in light of an artist’s rendition or perception of truth. Art immortalizes people, places, and events. Artists create visual records of life experiences commemorating the memorable and challenging social injustices, such as slavery and abuses, in time. Artists serve as historians in this role, documenting life on canvass, photography, or sculpture.
Art may be used to express chaos and misunderstanding, or to establish order from what appears to be chaos. Art helps us organize our world. It is one means by which we understand our society and culture, and the society and cultures of others. A good artist advances culture and civilization by provoking thought, introspection, and discussion of its audience.
Art triggers emotions. Subject, color, and texture are used by artist to evoke feelings. In this way art can serve as a catharsis, or help us uncover feelings of which we were previously unaware. It also has the intrinsic ability to lift its viewer beyond the confines of reality and into another world, such as the use of art to express our self and even our fantasy.
Different art forms help us develop the verbal and nonverbal abilities necessary for lifelong learning. The intellectual demands of the arts help us develop problem-solving abilities and such powerful thinking skills as analyzing and evaluating. Numerous studies point toward a consistent and positive comparison between concrete education in the arts and student achievement in other subjects.
We use the Arts as a means of touching that part of us that we cannot reach with Science, Social Science, or any of the Humanities. The arts allow us to be as specific or as abstract as we please. It helps us become closer to ourselves and to others around us. Though there has been a lot of confusion as to what the true definition of "good art" is, how we show others what is going on in our minds and inner souls cannot be judged, graded, criticized or revised by anyone other than ourselves.
Gesture has played a very crucial role in the development of modern art. The gestures alone can tell us which time period a painting is from. In such paintings like, The Night Cafe and The Scream, gesture shows us what kind of message we should be getting when observing the paintings. The gesture shows us how we are supposed to be feeling, agitated and having a sense of isolation and fear. In many other works of art gesture has played a very important role. It tells us what the artist was feeling at that time and what type of message we are supposed to be getting.
As funding for education is decreased in certain areas and put to other uses, classes such as art and music have been put on the back shelf. The idea is that they are not quite as important to a child's education as English, history, math, and science. Not only art teachers who feel that their jobs are important to the learning and development of the children that they work with, but others are also quickly realizing the importance of arts in all aspects of human interaction. Crayola, a brand of artistry supplies, best known for its crayons, has recently released an ad campaign claiming that, "Today's Crayola kid is tomorrow's self confident adult" ("Crayola"). They say, "studies show that children who participate in the arts are more likely to say they feel good about themselves." As the importance of art becomes more evident it might be necessary to view it in new perspective.
Finally, art communicates across all cultures, tells the stories of the past and present, and inspires minds, both young and old.
