What is the purpose of Art?

What is the purpose of art?

I have different answers to this question. It all depends on how you are relate to the art. 

In a class I took at SAIC, every day we started with philosophical discussion. The conversation I remember most was about what qualifies an image as art. We found many sticking points. Advertisements are created by someone for aesthetics and communication, but we don’t perceive them as art. But what about old portraits? Many were essentially marriage adds, but are now undoubtedly art. So, does the lack of practical purpose that makes something art? I think this is what happens; without practical purpose, it becomes a choice to experience a piece for its own value and for personal enrichment. In this regard, the purpose of art is to give the viewer something they lack: aesthetics, emotion, a viewpoint or idea.

For me, and other artists, its purpose is different. We're often creating, or thinking about creating, when look at art. To me, a painting is a cumulative record of thoughts and observations. Each brushstroke is a thought that someone had about the world and I can almost see something about the artist in it. So, it becomes about communication. But not of concrete ideas. It's like it gives me a peek at what another artist is seeing and how they understand it.

Without that personal connection to the medium, there needs to be something else for the viewer to connect with. This is why subject and concept are important. It’s a nonverbal communication, a combination of sensation, symbols, color, etc. that only other humans can read. So, that's the answer, I’ve decided. Connection is the purpose of art. At its core, art is a uniquely human form of communication that relies on the similarities we share to create meaning. Being able to enjoy art, feel something from color, lines, twisted forms, means you and the artist are similar and neither is alone.

That got very meta. I’m not sure it’s useful though. What is useful is the idea of a painting as a record of observations. Thinking that way might alleviate some pressure to capture something specific. I'm often unsure what my art should communicate, but I can always observe.

Yours, 

Lena