Regarding Art & Beauty
An attempt to touch on two of the most elusive subjects of all time
“Art is the path of the creator to his work.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
“The content of this world is the beautiful, and the true beautiful is spiritual being in concrete shape, the Ideal.” (G.W.F. Hegel)
[As I’m dealing with quite abstract concepts, I would like to clarify my take on these two terms before I proceed with the Figure Skating series.]
Both ART and BEAUTY are such vast subjects of the mind that have consequently become so ambiguous in meaning, making them too difficult to discuss both in themselves or together, and incorporated into some other concept. Both tackled in many philosophical discourses, written about in literature, presented in every medium possible; yet remain as profound, if not more, over time.
Delving into this subject is perhaps just a futile act of trying to encapsulate one’s own thoughts and beliefs into something as limited as words. Yet while this is all that’s attainable, we take it on in the hope that somehow, in between these letters, we get our vision across to whomever has the receptivity for it. Here, giving even the slightest glimpse is fulfillment enough to the bearer of this urge to express.
Some years ago, our Art Studies Professor asked for our own definition of Art, to which I answered, “Art is anything that makes us think.” Think, meaning, it must be a subject of intelligent inquiry, given that its primary goal is to convey an abstract idea, even when the form is not necessarily pleasing. In a way, it was in accordance with the modernist view that Art has to change with the times; away from the traditional when form and other visual elements are of utmost importance. That it doesn't have to be visually appeasing, so long as it invokes scrutiny. I believed it then, was able to give a decent justification, to which she agreed with.
After I have gone through a very critical stage in life however, that definition has lost its meaning to me. Because if that really is how it is, then Art becomes a thing of reason, which is somewhat counter-intuitive; and to a degree, this then reduces the idea of it into a trend, a fashion, which I can no longer come to terms with. Retrospecting on what I believed then, it felt as if I learned about someone only through others’ words, took them as mine, and molded this person in my head without actually knowing her.
In these recent years, however, I feel like I have finally made personal acquaintance with Art. Every time, like an unexpectant witness, I could only stand still mesmerized by its presence. Humbled drastically, that I could no longer talk about it with authority as I did when I was a student.
Given the question now, I would feel terribly inadequate to make sense out of, more so to convey in organized words, how I deem it. Though to use my old definition as a crutch for a start, I’d likely say, “Art is something that makes us know.” That is, contrary to what I believed before, it must be able to carry us over and beyond the part of our mind which inquires. It must override our intellect, and reach a place where there is no ‘thought’, just plain knowing.
And when there’s genuine knowing, there is Truth. And Truth is one, and the same with Beauty. In a derivation therefore, one may be able to say,
Art is something that makes us experience Beauty.
‘Beauty is truth, truth beauty,’ – that is all / Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know. (John Keats)
Yet, one can argue, that everything then can be considered artistic; that everything is inherently beautiful, because after all, Truth/Beauty is the only thing that exists. Yes, to a certain extent, it must be so.
Beauty though, does not exist in the physical. Because physical reality is an illusion, born of individual perspective, therefore relative, and appears in countless forms. While absolute reality, or Truth, is singular. Formless.
Now Art can have a form, so can exist in the physical reality. Which is why I have come to believe that its goal is to be a portal to the Absolute; and its success is dependent on the transparency of the artist, and his/her attunement with artistry.
BEAUTY: Absolute/Truth/Creator (Formless)
ARTIST: Instrument; ARTISTRY: Process
ART: Product (Form)
To illustrate further, let’s try to look at things as in a SPECTRUM. Like that of COLOR SATURATION. A saturated color is intense; a pure hue. The level of its saturation can be maintained so long as we’re looking through something transparent, while it becomes dull when its view is clouded.
We could compare BEAUTY then to the FULL INTENSITY, or true hue of a color. The LEVEL OF ARTISTRY, meanwhile, corresponds to the CLOSENESS OF SEMBLANCE of the end form with its original hue/state.
Let us see it through nature. Nature, in its majority, seems the most transparent of forms. Maybe because it is the least rationalized, thus experienced most openly.
I have yet to meet someone who can gaze at a star-filled night sky and not be moved by it. Even space geeks who know every single constellation, identify every named galaxy cluster and nebula, and measure its intensity, flux density, and luminosity. I bet they don’t look at it and instantly in their heads think of mass, distances, and other labels. It may come later, but for that first glimpse, just be mesmerized by it, without a word, without a thought. And in that moment, become the artist, and in his mind canvas, paint a masterpiece.
Now, if there would be works of Art which we (as a consensus) could look at and feel the same way as when we look at nature (or even just close to it), then they must be considered most genuine. I think this is what draws the line between the tons of work that parade themselves proudly as art, and the rare pieces of gem that can be unassuming for its quiet existence.
To reiterate and finalize then—
ART is a physical manifestation of BEAUTY, that is projected by the pure mind of an artist, through an occult process called artistry.
To have works of Art as constant companion therefore, is a marvelous gift, or a conscious choice to continuously experience the Beauty that is our birthright. To craft these works, or more, BE THE WORK, is a mission to connect with Beauty Itself. Dissolve in It. BE ONE WITH IT.
“If you get simple beauty and naught else, you get about the best thing God invents.” (Robert Browning)
[This is not a formal discourse and in no way argumentative; but merely a statement of personal opinion. Feel free to comment and make suggestions on how I can write better. I request mild use of language if you wish to express disagreement, and consideration if you find my style of writing and esl inadequate.☺]
