What is art, really?
As my partner kindly once said to me, “there is a reason why there are Masters and PhD degrees for this”. I couldn’t agree more.
There’s a lot of discussion on what art is. You’ve probably had this discussion with a friend or family member. This NYTimes article is an example of the extent to which conversations can go. I like the quote from Richard Prince, “I don’t think art has a consensus”. Individual understanding art takes time and some due diligence. Art can also be viewed as inaccessible, isolated to the “1%ers” and the privileged. Desirable by the masses, but neither understood nor attainable.
So where does one start? It depends on the objective. But regardless, if you’re interested in art, just curious, or want to evolve to a full time collector, I recommend you start the journey by taking the time to learn more about its history as a basis. This can be no doubt daunting. You can start with a specific artwork, period or movement and build on from there. For those not in the art world (like me) and who want to really learn, treat this journey as a marathon, not a sprint.
To get started on that marathon, here are a few thought starters to help you on your way:
- Art can be traced back to 35000 B.C. That’s a lot of historical ground to cover.
- Art can be broken down by time period, region or country, historical markers (events), group movements, and the individual artists and artworks themselves.
- According to Google’s Art & Culture Institute, there are over 100 art movements documented in history and across western and eastern civilization. This translates into hundreds upon hundreds of artists. With the internet and social media, this looks more like thousands of artists today.
- Art in the most tactical sense is the result of a creative process to express one’s own idea or emotion. Here are more points of view, if you want more views on its definition.
- Exposure to art usually starts with a single piece or individual artist. Most likely if you are drawn to a specific type of artwork or artist, the movement to which the artists belong to and artworks from that time period may peak your visual senses and interests.
I started to unpack art history at the highest level a few weeks ago. Without an art degree or experience in the field, here is where I landed. There doesn’t seem to be a single source of truth so I did my best to digest what I came across. My own art history outline to help starters like myself.
Part 1 of a framework I am starting to build in my head:
As for my own personal journey, I’m voluntarily stuck between modern and contemporary art with a desire to explore more of the “transitional” art period.
I would also like to share other great visuals that I found along the way that helped me map some of this out:
Through the feedback I’ve received and the discussions I’ve been having, it’s clear that there is a need to strip art down to make it more accessible and understood by all. I had a recent conversation with an japanese-american artist and art educator, Dane Nakama who inspired me even more to continue my journey and the conversation. More to come on that soon.
