The Passage of Time

One thing we never get back is time, we can't hold on to it, we can't make more of it, and yet it still dictates almost all of our activities while we're alive. Art is something that captures the essence of time and how time relates to the manner in which we live our life. With the increased availability of  cameras on our phone we have become a generation starkly aware that life is only a future memory and to relive the precious moments in our life, we need to find a way to capture them, through photographs, paintings, etc. Stewart (2012) describes art as a component in artwork, "while it is easy to overlook a force that we cannot see, the effects of time are critically important in all areas of art and design".

Art as Thought

What intrigues me most about being human is our ability to transform our thoughts into tangible reality. Computers, architecture, furniture, etc., are all testament to this unique human ability. However, in most forms of design the idea has been formulated, discussed with others, redesigned and finally implemented in order to create a functional object. Art, however, embodies the tangible form of our abstract thoughts, the creative aspect of our psyche. Stewart (2012) says, "the combination of tangible material and aesthetic complexity gives sculpture a unique power. (. . .) Through a miracle of invention, the best sculptures simultaneously embrace and transcend their physical nature". While functional objects may be helpful in a physical sense, art is beneficial to the mind and spirit by tapping into the abstract part of our mental nature.

Art as Storytelling

The one creative talent I've always possessed is storytelling. I never considered myself an artist though, because this was the extent of both my creative passion and talent. I can't draw, design, sculpt, or really apply creativity in a meaningful way using any other medium. However, throughout this semester I've discovered a pivotal component of art. Art is storytelling. It may not necessarily use words, but it perpetuates the aspect of humanity that not only craves, but requires, storytelling. Through visual aesthetics it allows the viewer to create a story of their own, a mythology that falls somewhere between the two contrasting dimensions of truth and lie, that conveys the essence of what it means to be human. And to me, as a writer, that is what is so beautiful. I am an artist. And really, every person is because we all have a story to tell that connects to the meaning of life, and an ultimate purpose underlying the triviality of everyday life. We are all connected at some fundamental level and storytelling, through any medium, assists us in reaching this realization.

Expanding Perspective: The Use of Expansion in Artwork

Expansion as it applies to art is intended to exaggerate the meaning the artist wants to convey to the viewers. When expanding upon a component of art, it is trying to draw in the audience to suggest a concept that is, no pun intended, expansive in our world/society/mind/etc. Stewart (2012) explains this concept: "the contradiction between the materials and the meaning suggests a new definition of nature". Consider the below piece. A child is pointing towards a mass of technology as if exemplifying his desire to have one of the pieces of technology that is essentially part of a pile of what appears to be discarded, useless junk. This is intended to illustrate the relationship between society (particularly younger generations) and technology. We are constantly lusting after gadgets, devices, and the newest and best form of technology, but in the end it only contributes to our excessive waste that has become the prevalent norm in the 21st century.

Defying Gravity

A powerful element in art is the act of defying what we consider normal, natural laws of nature. One of the most obvious laws of nature that we use to construct our perception of reality is gravity. Stewart (2012) describes gravity as "the most immediately noticeable when we begin to construct a three-dimensional structure. Lines, spaces, and volumes must be organized according to the laws of physics while simultaneously meeting our aesthetic objectives". However, when artists realize that gravity can be used as more of a malleable tool than a concrete rule, their artwork becomes liberated on a fundamental level. Stewart (2012) recognizes this by stating, "when we begin to analyze the uses of gravity in sculpture, we soon find that it is an asset rather than a liability". The below artwork illustrates this realization perfectly. After all, gravity is simply an elemental aspect of our Earth. In space, and ultimately in the Universe, gravity is no more than an elemental component, rather than an absolute constant. The image below makes the audience question what our world might look like if gravity simply ceased to exist.

The Paradoxical Nature of Art

I have to share Jason Silva's YouTube video "The Paradoxical Nature of Art", because it encapsulates some very important aspects of what makes art so attractive to us as viewers. Primarily this video touches on the concept mentioned in class that "Art is a Lie that Makes us Realize the Truth". I would go further than this by saying that it simply expands our perspective by dragging us into the mind of the artist, revealing a new world and perspective that we perhaps wouldn't have considered otherwise. If you enjoy the video, you might want to visit Jason Silva's YouTube channel called "Shots of Awe". Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl0A7Jl6_GU&list=UUlYb9NpXnRemxYoWbcYANsA

In the Line of Sight

A sight line takes advantage of different perspectives based on angles. (Stewart 2012) This idea is based on the premise that depending on the perspective a viewer takes, a different image will be seen. This is a bit like how we as human observers experience life itself. Although the same situation may happen to many different people, depending on each unique perspective everyone will view it differently. This does not mean that any one perspective is necessarily right or wrong, merely different. "In the Line of Sight" is an art piece in France which utilizes this concept to project images made from flashlights onto a wall. Depending on where in the room the person views the artwork, they will see a different conglomeration of shapes projected onto the wall.