Last month, a friend and I went to the Guggenheim museum in NY to look at their exhibit, “NO COUNTRY: CONTEMPORARY ART FOR SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIA.” The promotion promised: “… works by 22 artists and collectives representing some of the most compelling and innovative voices in South and Southeast Asia today.” As we walked through the exhibit and saw “Love Bed” (literally, a bed made of razors) and “Our Children” (2 tables with bent legs and a jug of milk on top), it got me thinking about what is art?
The Webster New Collegiate Dictionary has multiple definitions. The one I think most relevant is: “the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects.” To me, this helps explain why art is viewed, and interpreted, and appreciated differently by people. Some are drawn to multi-dimensional pieces, others like paintings and sketches, and of course there are all different styles within a genre.
In my industry (graphic design and marketing) I often find myself explaining the inspiration or meaning behind a logo or design. While of course there is one, I also tell my clients– “it’s art. Look at it and decide what it means to you.”
I believe there is art around us – everywhere, every day. My goal in this blog is to help you see it, appreciate
it, and support it your community.
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?
