Art or not really? Who's to say.

Many hours spent in discussion of what makes something art never produced a convincing answer in my mind. And a recent visit to the AGO only intensified the question. What makes a drawing a ‘piece of art’? Even more importantly, what makes it special, sets it aside from other art and worthy of a space in an Art Gallery? Here are some of the criteria suggested to me by a variety of people:
- Creativity and novelty. Art is supposed to be original, creative, pushing the lines of familiarity. Art is reactionary to what is known; a step ahead of the present. But in that case the phrase ‘art is timeless’ seems to lose its meaning.
- The statement. For example the Group of Seven art. I don’t really like it (I know that I am running a risk of being stoned for these blasphemous words since I am on Canadian soil, but I had to get this of my chest). But I do appreciate the statement, a search for the meaning of a distinctively Canadian artistic identity.
- Perfection of technique. DaVinci focused on the smallest details of both the technique and the content of his paintings. Defining art by such criteria would mean putting to shame many of the new artists who consider gluing a BigMac to an art stand and signing it to be the next step in art history. Basically, a great portion of Data Art (sp?) is sent down the drain.
- Being a means of communication. Baroque art: a painting is a means of expressing emotions through everything from the size of the piece to the amount of light used to facial expressions of the personages.
- Aesthetic appeal. But isn’t beauty in the eye of the beholder? For some the art of Monet may be defining the aesthetically pleasing (I may or may not be one of those people), but some don’t find it all that beautiful. Does it therefore diminish its artistic value?
- Art becomes art when somebody says it is. Well, no comment.

And that is just visual art, painting. The sculpture, theatre, music, etc. can make for a whole different discussion. The question of Christian art stands on its own as well.

I have to admit that choosing what I personally call good art I usually go with simple beauty of a piece and/or the depth of its statement (arrogantly assuming that I am ‘reading’ it right). So if anybody has a better insight or suggestions on where to look, please share.