What is Art?
The word “art” usually references something to look at—a visual spectacle in forms such as painting, sculpture, photography… With a bit more consideration this extends to things like music and films which clearly have an artful essence with any such enjoyment accompanied by palpable passion.
But these things can be done in ways that are not considered artful and there are countless other focuses which, upon seeing someone practice in such a way, inspires to say that there is “an art” to what they do: the way someone dances with graceful elegance, the way race car pitstop mechanics change wheels with utmost efficiency, the way a group of people engineer a technological device to accommodate tasks with seamless intuition… When someone does something masterfully and creatively, they are considered an artist. Is there really anything that cannot be done in an artful way?
In a sense, art is in the way someone views something—it could be any abstraction which the viewer somehow resembles a metaphor with insight. This aspect is the sole support beam of artwork which attempts to push the boundaries of what can be considered art—to the point of displaying the most plain, unassuming, apparently meaningless objects. In a way of playfully acknowledging everything has some sort of meaning just as much as everything is meaningless.
Developing meaning is a skill, and an art form in itself.
Noticing…
An element of artistry is the practice of noticing deeper details—inspecting how things work—how each aspect functions interdependently with everything else. Exploring anything far enough, sees how it connects to other things, ultimately acknowledging how everything is interconnected.
Art is not an isolated division of existence.
Someone who is very picky about the way something is, has some awareness of how significant the difference is. This can be a nuisance to others who don’t recognize the same significance. It can be a meticulous tendency. Sometimes the difference doesn’t really matter depending on the context, the intention… Sometimes a significant difference with far reaching consequences goes unnoticed.
I AM ART
In wondering of the common, underlying thread through each of my creative interests, I am realizing that the creation beyond myself is only part of it. The aspect that I am often more attentive to is the sculpting of my being, the lessons I learn through these practices, and the deepening of sense.
Someone may be an artist in certain contexts—in relation to certain practices—certain focuses in life… but not approach other aspects of life with such artistry.
{where can I practice more artful approach in my life?}
{What is the opposite of doing something artfully?}
Not inspecting details to understand how something functions. Acting carelessly. Being passive in the sense of not acknowledging how each decision and each aspect forms the whole—not considering how it affects experience.