"It’s not the opposite of survival—it’s the expression of it." Such a beautiful description! Every culture's way of life is an expression of each struggle for survival that has come before them.
I think it is easy to forget that art is not just a commodity or a fun hobby because it has been made a thing to do or a subject to study. Language is learned and the ability to read and write is taught. Art is a visual langauge that also needs to be taught, nurtured, not as a commodity, but as a natural part of our culture (as you point out with those briliant cave drawings). It is a natural part of all of us. To dimiss it is to dismiss part of our own nature.
When I teach art history, modern and contemporary art in particular, almost all the students expect me to explain the artwork in words. However many don’t expect a piece of music without lyrics even, to be explained. It is like we cannot live with objects that cannot be explained in words. With sound it seems we’re fine.
"It’s not the opposite of survival—it’s the expression of it." Such a beautiful description! Every culture's way of life is an expression of each struggle for survival that has come before them.
Thank you. 🙌
I think it is easy to forget that art is not just a commodity or a fun hobby because it has been made a thing to do or a subject to study. Language is learned and the ability to read and write is taught. Art is a visual langauge that also needs to be taught, nurtured, not as a commodity, but as a natural part of our culture (as you point out with those briliant cave drawings). It is a natural part of all of us. To dimiss it is to dismiss part of our own nature.
When I teach art history, modern and contemporary art in particular, almost all the students expect me to explain the artwork in words. However many don’t expect a piece of music without lyrics even, to be explained. It is like we cannot live with objects that cannot be explained in words. With sound it seems we’re fine.