The Nature of Art

Art is defined as the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination,

typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated

primarily for their beauty or emotional power or it can also be defined as subjects of study

primarily concerned with the processes and products of human creativity and social life, such as

languages, literature, and history (as contrasted with scientific or technical subjects). Art is one

of the ways of how the artist expresses their feelings. Art is a tool for them of how they want to

depict the things they want to share to the masses. Art does not only intent to show beauty or

expressions but it also creates communication that shares views, opinions, and interpretations by

historians, critics, experts and even individuals.

Art is created in a sense to make interaction and contemplation on a wide lens such as the

thoughts, feelings, and ideas. There are different purposes of art that includes the main intention

of the artists and the interpretations given to the work. The following is the overview of the

purposes of art from A to Z.

Art for Art’s Sake, simply means that the art itself reference itself it does not rely on its

environment or society it means that the art must be appreciated base on how it is represented

and the qualities it shows.

Art as Biography, usually arts from the past are documentation of artists about their

professions and personal interest in portraits or self-portraits. In today’s generation, artists

considered environmental aspects such as private issues or things that most of the people might

be involved with.
 Art as Commentary on Contemporary Times and Issues, in the modern era artists made

use of art to express their views and concern regarding contemporary issues during their time.

Art was also use to raise awareness about issues regarding diseases.

Art as Commentary on the Past, art was mostly use to capture history that nowadays is

use to critique those previous artistic and cultural practices. It was also essential for the lat

eighteenth-century Neoclaassical period.

Art Commenting about Art, artists have their own meaning and purposes on their work.

The art itself give impressions that creates norms, and the importance of authorship and

originality.

Art and the Community/Public Art, Arts were mostly created to share and for public

viewing that shows different purposes to show awareness that are displayed publicly. Those arts

may also be a way to give benefits for chosen charities.

Art for Commemorative Purposes, one of the important function of art is to

commemorate individuals and events. Most works like this are usually commissioned by the

state and officials and use for public display. With this it mostly gives benefits in the nation

because those arts is used to show political, historical, and cultural figures to give recognition of

their contributions.

Art as Decoration, some arts were used to give decoration in some places, there are also

some arts that are being auction and will be bought by people who would gladly pay for a

maximum price that was offered.

 Art as Documentation, there are arts that was created to document what happened in the

past and are now valued and used for visual documentation. With this it gives information

regarding what happened in a specific period in which the art was created.

Art and Emotions, art would be mainly defined as what the artist wants to express and

creates emotional responses from viewers.

Art as Enjoyment, there are works that are created base for entertainment that was rooted

solely by the artist for enjoyment.

Art and Everyday Life, there are arts especially from the past that shows what is the

reality up until now there are still some practices of which for example a family picture could be

view from a work of art.

Art for Functional Purposes, there are arts that have a functional used by many cultures.

In the western tradition art, it is believed that art must not be touched and is only considered to

be looked at.

Art and History, as what is the most popular purpose of art that are known by many is

that arts are used to display what happened in the past, it is also to consider why the artists

created that work in which by studying those art we may learn why it was created like that base

from the period it was created then will lead to knowing the history.

Art and Human Nature/Psychology, there are arts tha are linked into scientific, social, and

sociological issues or changes.

 Art as Ideas and Thought Process, there are some that think arts are created for

conceptual and not only on visual presentation, this is widely being debated by some experts and

viewers.

Art and Ideals, there are so many arts that are created to depict the ideals of the society

from time to time, also to show differences of ideals of cultures.

Art as Information, this is basically what people do to arts they find information from it

that tells what are the different events, perspectives and such.

Art and Knowledge, art is also used to gain knowledge of the things that matter while the art was

being created that may still have significance until the very present time. It also shows the

studies of nature, anatomy, optics, medical practices, engineering, and astronomy.

Art and Life/Nature, art may be used to reflect on life to bring and give peace of mind to

the viewers.

Art as Memory, art can be considered as a record from the past, a memory of the artist

who created the specific art, a part of the history that are being preserved with the use of works

from the past.

Art and Philosophy, it is considered that art and philosophy have always been

interconnected. From the history, it is known that people are mostly influenced by philosophers

with philosophical views, and some artists are also philosophers who put their ideas by

presenting visuals.

Art and Politics, from past until the modern world, art is highly used for propaganda

purposes. Some also used art to express their political views through their works.
 Art and Reality, arts nowadays are being used to confirm reality, such as films,

photography, and many images that are captured from reality without removing any parts of it.

Art and Religion and Spirituality, there are art that is created for religious purposes. Such

works are displayed to also give awareness that are reflected from religious and spiritual from

personal angle.

Art as Self-Expression and Personal Statement, the most common belief and usage of art

is to express oneself. With the freedom given, it is use to express perspectives regarding issues

and norms that an individual might not always able to properly express by the use of words and

by art it may give clarity to what an individual want to really express.

Art as Social Statement, again, art is being used to show social issues to spread social

awareness.

Art as “Truth”, there are conflicts about the inconstant meanings of an art but with

science it made art to be also considered as truth.

There are different purposes art. Art is evidence from the past, present and possibly

future. But art’s purpose and meaning may be interchangeable since the only constant in this

world is change, whereas art is like an open book, it continuously create chapters of different

phases in the world. Art therefore is connected to life.