What Makes Art Beautiful?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The more I’m involved with art, the more I see the truth of this statement. I grew up in an area that was a mix of heavy industrial architecture, and fields with farms and animals. I spent days by the Canal, which, even now, flits from urban to rural. I’ve learned to find beauty in both the wonders of nature, and the scarred landscapes of man. Truth is, you can find beauty anywhere, if you look for it. Sometimes even when you don’t.
Voyages of Discovery
Sometimes, you need to do something different. After Lock down I was looking for new experiences and learnt about the Art Bus which began near Portobello Market. and run by the Galleries Association .
Transport lines was the result of one of my trips on the art bus. A Route master Bus tour of galleries and studios in London. This collection of cables and framework against a decaying brick wall was one of many photos, I took on the trip. I chose a cropped down view which results in an abstract view. It could be anywhere by the railway, or possibly the underground.
The curve to the right feels very “railway line” to me, with a characteristic look which is not hard to define and instantly recognizable. A set of equidistant metal rails, curving together, with wooden cross bracing to keep the distances constant. Lovers of railways will recognize the style, a more specialized version of industrial architecture, merging with urban functionality. As paintings go, it’s an image that will either appeal or repel. That’s the joy of art though. It’s all down to personal taste and isn’t that great?
How should you engage with Art?
At exhibitions I often hear people say “I don’t know much about Art, but I know what I like.” It often feels like an apology, and sometimes it’s a belligerent challenge. Art can and should be divisive, just as long as it’s not dull. Beauty is subjective and the debates sparked by daring paintings, are less about the painting themselves and more about the viewers. Art has a life of it’s own. You either delight in it or walk on by, it’s not for you.
Gift that Keeps on Giving
The other great thing about art, is that it keeps on giving.
Once the artist has shared it with the world. It adds to the richness of our human experience for like the saying “It’s not about what happens to you, but how you respond”. So it’s not about the art we see, but how we respond to it.
Do we learn or understand ourselves better for having experienced it?
And that my friends is the role of art and the artist.
Once a piece of art exists in the world, people engage with it. Whether through love or hate, the best art will speak to some part of the viewers story and when they share it with others, the art becomes coloured with that new experience. Even for artists, after a painting is viewed as complete, it will still inspire.
The Value of Spending Time with Art
My studio practice for nearly 8 years involves sitting with a painting for 10 minutes and then free write the thoughts that emerge. Sometimes they’re descriptive, and other times my mind takes me on a tangent, a fantastical journey or into a deeper thought. I’ll return to them later when I edit the writings until I have something like this post, but it doesn’t end there. Sometimes something else will emerge from the depths of unconscious thoughts. Like happened with this painting, which has also inspired a Poem. You can read it in the link below.
