Thursday, March 20, 2014
An Introduction To The Power Of Art
By Jaclyn Hurley
People can be cynical about art. However there is a lot of great artwork out there in the world. Whether it is a hand crafted sculpture or a watercolour there are many ways in which a work of art can have an effect on people. In short it is worth knowing the power of art and how it can affect us in a number of ways.
The fact is that what people describe as art can be very diverse. There are of course the classic masters such as Van Gogh or Renaissance painters such as Michelangelo. These are the pieces that are famous around the world. Some may sell for millions while others are iconic and because of where they are based it is impossible to put a price on them.
The power often comes from the message within the art. In the case of Michelangelo a lot of his works have been associated with religious fervour as shown with the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel or an iconic representation of form such as his stature of David. The Sistine Chapel is something that is difficult to convey if you do not see in person because the way it has been painted has an almost three dimensional quality that is not easy to show in prints or in image searches on the internet.
The best way to describe is that the images seem to loom over you. They almost feel three dimensional, like you could reach up and touch the images. This feeling may or may not be tied to the romantic nature of Rome itself but the history and grandeur of the city may well have an effect on the art as well.
The reaction of a person to a work of art can be different to another. With performance pieces and modern art there tends to be more ambiguity. Therefore the message one person takes from a piece may be different from another. For example while one person may see a violent image another may see something as a representation of the psyche of the artist.
Another positive aspect of how art can be powerful is in how it can change lives. Art therapy is often used by therapists in order to help people express themselves. Often things that people can have difficulty saying in words can find it a lot to easier to communicate their feelings via art.
Banksy is of course one in a long line of artists using art as a way of making statements. Arguably he is the descendant of the modern art methods of Andy Warhol. His approach was very much about how art had become commercialised and used commercial methods such as print making to create his work.
Ultimately the best way to engage in the debate about what type of art is powerful is to see as much as you can. You do not necessarily have to go to the Louvre or the Sistine Chapel. There are numerous exhibitions and pieces available all over the world. Use your regular search engine for more information and about artists and exhibitions in your local area.
The fact is that what people describe as art can be very diverse. There are of course the classic masters such as Van Gogh or Renaissance painters such as Michelangelo. These are the pieces that are famous around the world. Some may sell for millions while others are iconic and because of where they are based it is impossible to put a price on them.
The power often comes from the message within the art. In the case of Michelangelo a lot of his works have been associated with religious fervour as shown with the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel or an iconic representation of form such as his stature of David. The Sistine Chapel is something that is difficult to convey if you do not see in person because the way it has been painted has an almost three dimensional quality that is not easy to show in prints or in image searches on the internet.
The best way to describe is that the images seem to loom over you. They almost feel three dimensional, like you could reach up and touch the images. This feeling may or may not be tied to the romantic nature of Rome itself but the history and grandeur of the city may well have an effect on the art as well.
The reaction of a person to a work of art can be different to another. With performance pieces and modern art there tends to be more ambiguity. Therefore the message one person takes from a piece may be different from another. For example while one person may see a violent image another may see something as a representation of the psyche of the artist.
Another positive aspect of how art can be powerful is in how it can change lives. Art therapy is often used by therapists in order to help people express themselves. Often things that people can have difficulty saying in words can find it a lot to easier to communicate their feelings via art.
Banksy is of course one in a long line of artists using art as a way of making statements. Arguably he is the descendant of the modern art methods of Andy Warhol. His approach was very much about how art had become commercialised and used commercial methods such as print making to create his work.
Ultimately the best way to engage in the debate about what type of art is powerful is to see as much as you can. You do not necessarily have to go to the Louvre or the Sistine Chapel. There are numerous exhibitions and pieces available all over the world. Use your regular search engine for more information and about artists and exhibitions in your local area.
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