I recently had a life changing revelation about art that I wish to share.
What I have discovered is that art is a paradox, but this paradox is beautiful because in a strange way it goes some way in defining what it is to be human and unique creatures in this universe. It is a serious thing but at the same time the artist must never take him/her-self too seriously otherwise one loses sight of what art creation is really about. For art puts meaning into the meaningless and then laughs about it at the same time. In order to explain what I mean we need to look at some questions in order to put ourselves into the frame of mind outside of what we would call "normal daily life". First, what exactly is art for, does it actually have any practical use in our daily existence? And I don´t mean "design" as in designing a house or a car or a bridge, those are all practical uses of being able to draw and use one´s creative imagination. No, I am talking about just someone creating something that someone calls "art" and it has no practical use at all. OK so perhaps someone paints a picture of a landscape, does that have a practical use other than you can hang it on a wall? So then it has some practical use in that it is a form of decoration for your house or office. So does that mean all painting and sculpture is merely decoration? And what about things that capture our attention and fascination for a short period time such as a popular toy at Christmas.
Of course what I am talking about is novelty. Is art merely just novelty, something that captures our attention for while until we get bored of it? Is art based upon its novelty value then? Picasso once said "Novelty is the curse of modern art". What did he mean by this? Well he meant that art is exactly the opposite of novelty. For art must stand for something and fill us with wonder every time we see and never lose its power of curiosity. Like a great oak tree, it is magnificent in its wonder, or a tiny flower hiding in the grass, it captures our attention so much that we have to stop and look closer at its intricate beautiful secrets. Of course it is easy to see the wonder and curiosity in nature, this is why nature programs have some of the highest viewing figures on TV. We can explain nature in terms of evolution but just because we know how it came into being does not detract from its magnificence nor stop us from admiring it. But nature too has a function. It has a delicate balance upon which all living things, including humans, rely on to exist.
But can you honestly tell me there is any function for art? I mean when you really look at it, the whole idea is nonsense. Art serves no purpose. The idea of making an object that has no practical function at all and for no other reason than one particular type of human-being, "we", call an "artist", wishes to create something that has no practical use but that we just might find interesting or some meaning in it. It is utterly ridiculous. But you see that is the point. It is the very fact that we (human-beings) do this that makes art the fundamental activity that defines us as unique creatures. Remove this activity of human-beings making "non-practical creations of wonder" (art) and what kind of human race would we be? Could we still class ourselves as human. Well let´s look at that for a moment. Well we certainly would still be a clever race in that we still build houses, bridges, cars, aeroplanes, shopping centers etc. And that means we can have a job/income and make procreation a more easier and more pleasant experience. We would certainly be a practical race and perhaps a somewhat machine like one. But wait! I hear you say, I can still enjoy life without art because I can enjoy the occasional activity of swimming in the ocean whilst on holiday or driving a sports car fast down an open road. Yes that is true, but now it is my turn to say back to you, but wait! - what is practical about making a sports car, and why would someone want to drive fast down an open road?
Is it an ego thing? Perhaps it is but surely it is more than that. Isnt it also something to do with the feeling that it gives someone? I mean what is the purpose or function of a game of football?
22 people kicking a ball shape around a specific area with the intention of putting that ball into a shape that has netting behind it. It is utter nonsense yet millions watch it every week end. But is football practical? Ah yes of course now we come to the idea of entertainment. Yes yes entertainment. Is that what art is then, is that its function, its purpose, to entertain us? Perhaps in one way , but I suggest singing and theater does that far better. "Non-practical creations of wonder" (art) do not always entertain us. For example, what about Picasso and his painting/mural Guernica, is that entertaining?
Well it is and it isnt. Guernica is tragic, horrific and even comical. And that is the vital distinction between entertainment and art. For we can all agree on what entertainment is but art can never truly be placed into that category . In that sense perhaps Opera is more closer to art and art more closer to opera than it is to entertainment.
Ok perhaps it is time I came to the point. What I am trying to say here is that the very idea of creating "non-practical creations of wonder" is a really really special activity that human-beings do that lifts us higher, way higher than merely being creatures existing for the sake of making living conditions better for our descendants to make procreation easier.
Now here is the twist, the paradox. Art should never take itself too seriously. In fact, if an artist ever comes to believe that they are some kind of "profit" - meaning someone who has some secret knowledge of the cosmos and that their art is some kind of message that they need to share with us, thus making them of fundamental importance in society, if they ever believe that of themselves, then that is the moment they no longer are artists but "assholes"or perhaps "piss artist" who create NOT objects of art but objects we can confidently call, "bullshit".
And here is the crux of the matter and why I call it a "delicious" paradox. For an object, or performance, to be called "art" it has to make us give meaning to something that is utterly meaningless and, for some unexplainable reason, find it so hypnotically fascinating that we simply can not stop ourselves from looking at it. Such a creation might shock us, inspire us, make us smile or make us laugh or cry, or it might do all those things at the same time. You see it is this very ridiculous notion that we can find meaning, as well as fascination within a creation or a performance, that we (human-beings) have made ourselves (rather than God or nature) that transcends us into, for want of a better word, "divine" creatures in the universe. But, and here is the vital point, for at the same time we can do that, we also have the ability to laugh at ourselves for the same reason. Literally, a delicious paradox....Now if you have managed to take that all in then I have a wonderful reward for your patience for reading this, for I have found a wonderful performance that I believe fits all of what I have been saying. It is entertaining but it defies what we would normally call entertainment. Perhaps it is performance art Im not sure, whatever, watch this and tell me it is not hypnotically hysterical and fascinating at the same time, or at least perhaps it brings a smile to your face. And yet just look how serious people take it, even using binoculars in order to see more detail. They take it seriously because the artist does and yet can anyone tell me that the "artist" takes himself too seriously? and yet he works hard on every detail of his performance right up until the very end (watch his eyes), also imagine the effort that went into creating his "look" his costume and the entire set just for one single performance. Therefore it is a "non-practical creation of wonder" that has no function other than for us to share in, and possibly find, some bizarre meaning, (finding sense in the nonsense) and at the same time laughs the hell out of itself. Welcome to the wonderful crazy meaningful nonsense world of art.
What the fck was that about?