Is it essential for us to embody our thoughts, emotions, and imaginings in physical expressions? Must we use gestures, dance, drawing, speech, song, writing, carving, painting, and construction? It seems that to be truly human, we are compelled to do so.
The drive to create and value what we now recognize as art has significantly influenced human history. Every advancing phase is characterized by crafting objects and images designed to uphold and memorialize life. Even as the methods and aims of art change, humans continue to take pleasure in utilizing perception, intellect, emotion, and manual skill to produce and appreciate a limitless variety of forms, enriching our shared experience.
A natural inclination exists within most of us to share our experiences with others. When an idea or experience holds personal significance, successfully conveying it to another person provides a sense of affirmation and strength. Conversely, if we are unsuccessful in conveying the idea, a feeling of frustration and diminishment ensues.
Appreciating art doesn't hinge on a full understanding; it can be savored through direct experience, mirroring the way we embrace life. However, a deeper understanding of what art can provide enhances and enriches our overall experience of it.
The essence of art resides in the initial spark of insight and the excitement of discovery, first experienced by the artist, then integrated into and conveyed through the artwork, and finally, appreciated by the receptive viewer. In this context, the art object acts as a vessel for the transmission of meaningful experiences. The ability to recognize images as art is contingent upon both the quality of the image and the viewer's aptitude for genuine perception.
Sources:
ARTFORMS Duande and Sarah Preble