Art is any form of expression that elevates the mundane, everyday reality of a society by making it more beautiful, inspiring or awe-inducing. It is a concept that has been contested throughout history with many artists being criticized, threatened, censored and even killed for their work. Some have argued that only certain cultures have the right to define what is or is not art. Others have argued that the definition of art changes over time, as new techniques and media are introduced. Finally, some have asserted that the concept of art is an elusive one that can only be grasped through the imagination and is not objectively measurable.
Whether or not an artwork is considered to be art has always been a personal decision, with each individual reacting differently. For example, three different people can look at the same painting and have wildly different reactions. The first might think it’s the most beautiful thing they’ve ever seen, the second might hate it and the third might not feel anything at all. All of them would be right, as they’d all be interpreting the work differently based on their unique histories and experiences.
Visually, there are seven basic elements that can be manipulated in order to create artistic expressions: line, shape, form, space, texture, value and color. These can be used to create anything from a pencil sketch on a piece of paper to the 200-year-old painting at the Louvre. However, it is important to remember that art does not have to follow any particular rules or guidelines. Rather, it’s the artist’s responsibility to make sure that their work is considered to be art in spite of not fitting into any particular genre or movement.
When it comes to music or writing, the underlying concept of art is much easier to pin down. The composition of musical pieces or written words are created to convey a specific emotional state to the reader. This is accomplished through various techniques and styles such as lyrical content, the use of metaphors, symbols, imagery, rhyme or cadence, rhythm and harmony, among other things.
In addition, these concepts are further manipulated through the application of various technical skills such as tonal modeling; the use of one point perspective (learn more about this technique here); dynamic viewpoints and serial vision; spatial distortions or optical illusions; and the manipulation of scale of objects within the picture plane.
While most visual arts are created for aesthetic purposes, they can also serve other functional purposes such as promoting activism and encouraging constructive discussion surrounding social issues. This is especially true in modern times, as contemporary artists have embraced the idea that their work can be used as a platform for change.
Furthermore, the purpose of a work can also be reflected in how it’s framed or installed in a particular space, such as using a diptych or triptych; placing images on the surface of water or glass; or how the artwork is lit or positioned in a room.