Art :Art :• Derived from the “Latin” - Ars Derived from the “Latin” - Ars • Refers to any object, thing or procedure, which express Refers to any object, thing or procedure, which express

feelings and sentiments, ideas, imaginationfeelings and sentiments, ideas, imagination• Anything which shows skills in using materials, Anything which shows skills in using materials,

techniques & procedurestechniques & procedures• Activities that express aesthetic ideas by use of skill and Activities that express aesthetic ideas by use of skill and

imagination in its creationimagination in its creation

• Something produced with the Something produced with the INTENTION INTENTION of of giving it the capacity to giving it the capacity to SATISFYSATISFY the the AESTHETICAESTHETIC interestinterest

• INTENTION = a combination of DESIRE and INTENTION = a combination of DESIRE and BELIEF to create something (artwork) for a BELIEF to create something (artwork) for a purpose (that purpose is to satisfy the aesthetic purpose (that purpose is to satisfy the aesthetic interest)interest)

• Artist not same with ArtisanArtist not same with Artisan

• Art is the most important means of Art is the most important means of expressionexpression

• The study of art is the study of The study of art is the study of mankind mankind

• Art is a potent cultural forceArt is a potent cultural force• Art cultivates self-expression, Art cultivates self-expression,

imagination, creativity and critical imagination, creativity and critical thinkingthinking

• The Value of Art lies in its The Value of Art lies in its contribution:contribution:

• Source of InspirationSource of Inspiration• Influence to change our lifeInfluence to change our life• Change societyChange society

• Commercial ArtCommercial Art• Art for art sakeArt for art sake

• Primary Language (innate Primary Language (innate language of art)language of art)

• Secondary Language Secondary Language (conventional terms)(conventional terms)

• Third Language Third Language (Interpretations/Criticisms(Interpretations/Criticisms

• The object or event is made by an artistThe object or event is made by an artist• The object or event is intended to be a The object or event is intended to be a

work of art by its makerwork of art by its maker• Experts agree that it is a work of artExperts agree that it is a work of art• ((NOTENOTE: : one can not always determine these one can not always determine these

criteria only by perceiving the workcriteria only by perceiving the work))

““shovel”shovel”

Jim DineJim Dine19621962

““Fussion”Fussion”

Frank MorrisonFrank Morrison20112011

http://thepaintednote.com/tag/painting/

Perception:Perception: what we can observe what we can observeConceptionConception: what we know we think we : what we know we think we

knowknowWe perceive:We perceive:Artistic FormArtistic FormContentContentSubject MatterSubject MatterParticipationParticipation

Implies that the parts or elements Implies that the parts or elements we perceive, such as line, color, we perceive, such as line, color, and shape in a painting have been and shape in a painting have been organized in the most profound organized in the most profound effect possibleeffect possible

““Composition no. 10”Composition no. 10”

Piet MondrianPiet Mondrian1939-42, oil on canvas, 80 x 73

cm, private collection.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formalism_%28art%29

Artistic form as distinct from non-Artistic form as distinct from non-artistic form, involves a high artistic form, involves a high degree of perceptible unitydegree of perceptible unity

(But how can we determine what is (But how can we determine what is a high degree?)a high degree?)Artistic form (significant form) Artistic form (significant form) means – the interrelationships of means – the interrelationships of elementselements

http://twistedsifter.com/2009/06/stunning-open-concept-house-six-ramsgate-singapore-real-estates/

Left Figure:Left Figure:Execution in SaigonExecution in SaigonBy: Eddie Adams, 1968By: Eddie Adams, 1968

Right Figure:Right Figure:May 2, 1808May 2, 1808(Dos De (Dos De

Mayo)Mayo) By:Francisco GoyaBy:Francisco Goya

http://twistedsifter.com/2009/06/stunning-open-concept-house-six-ramsgate-singapore-real-estates/

Mont Sainte VictorieMont Sainte VictoriePhotographPhotograph

Mont Sainte VictoirieMont Sainte VictoirieOil on CanvassOil on CanvassPaul Cezanne, 1886-1887Paul Cezanne, 1886-1887

The ultimate test for recognizing a The ultimate test for recognizing a work of art is how it works in uswork of art is how it works in us

Participative experiences of works of Participative experiences of works of art communionsart communions

Participation involves undivided and Participation involves undivided and sustained attention sustained attention (not spectator’s (not spectator’s attention)attention)

Artistic form is a pre-requisite if Artistic form is a pre-requisite if our attention is to be grasped and our attention is to be grasped and heldheld

Artistic form makes our Artistic form makes our participation possibleparticipation possible

Clive Bell Clive Bell – “to appreciate artwork – “to appreciate artwork - we need to bring with us nothing - we need to bring with us nothing fArtistic form asrom life, no fArtistic form asrom life, no knowledge of its ideas and affairs, knowledge of its ideas and affairs, no familiarity with its emotions”no familiarity with its emotions”Robert Fry Robert Fry – “The presence of – “The presence of artistic form is all that is needed to artistic form is all that is needed to identify a work of art”identify a work of art”

Unless a work has content – meaning fused or embodied with its Unless a work has content – meaning fused or embodied with its form, a work is not artform, a work is not art

Artistic form always informs – it has meaning or contentArtistic form always informs – it has meaning or content

Content – as we experience it when we participate, is always Content – as we experience it when we participate, is always ingrained in the artistic formingrained in the artistic form

We do not perceive an artistic form, then later its content- we We do not perceive an artistic form, then later its content- we perceive them as inseparable (we can separate them analytically)perceive them as inseparable (we can separate them analytically)

If the form and content are perceived separately, it is a weak art, less If the form and content are perceived separately, it is a weak art, less articticartictic

The content is the meaning of a work of The content is the meaning of a work of art – the content is embedded in the art – the content is embedded in the artistic formartistic form

But what does the content interpret? – We But what does the content interpret? – We shall call it the subject mattershall call it the subject matter

Content is the interpretation by means of Content is the interpretation by means of an artistic form – subject matteran artistic form – subject matter

Female nude constitutes a subject matter Female nude constitutes a subject matter fundamental to Western Artfundamental to Western Art

Most of these artworks (with nudity as Most of these artworks (with nudity as subject matter) are “Masterpieces” subject matter) are “Masterpieces” because they are highly valuedbecause they are highly valued

Their value is because of the powerful Their value is because of the powerful interpretations of their subject matter, not interpretations of their subject matter, not just rendering of the human bodyjust rendering of the human body