Interpretation of Art
Art is the process, or the intentional product with elements that affect our senses, or feelings. It involves a large number of human activities such as music, literature, films, sculpture and painting. The interpretation of art is also examined by a branch of philosophy known as aesthetics.
However a definition of Art has become problematic at the outset of the twentieth century. An object may be characterized by intentions, or their lack by the creators without a clear intention. A vase, an object usually characterized as a house commercial item, may be considered as art if it is used only as a decoration. If however paintings are mass produced, then they are no longer considered as art.
Traditionally the term Art is used to describe any skill or knowledge. This changed during the Romantic art period, when it was considered that the special ability of the human brain ought to be affected by religion and science. The nature of art has been described as a fugitive escape from the traditional problems of human civilization. It has been defined as a means for the expression or communication of feelings and ideas, and a mimicry or performance. A Russian writer defines art as an indirect means of communication of one person with another. Another viewpoint promotes an idealistic opinion that art expresses feelings, and that in fact it exists in the artist’s mind .Art as a mimicry, or performance has its roots in the philosophy of Aristotle. More recently it is interpreted as a means according to which a community develops a personal expression and performance.
Works of universal art may tell stories, or simply express an aesthetic truth, or sentiment. An encyclopedia defines art as “the use of skill and imagination for the creation of aesthetic objects, environment or experiences we may share with others”. With this definition of the word, artistic works of art exist since the dawn of mankind, with the early prehistoric to the modern art. However, some theories restrict its meaning in contemporary societies. An art critic said in 1970 “ it is undeniable that as far as art is concerned, it can no longer be considered as given, not even art itself, or its right to exist”.
The first and broader sense of the definition of art is closer to the older one of the Latin (ars) roughly translated as dexterity. This term is of course much wider as it also includes the medical and military art. Some works of art have more practical use besides being purely decorative. For example a lantern may be used both for lighting and as a decorative object. In the second more recent sense of the term, art is called creative art or good arts. Fine art means the skill of the artist to express his creativity, or to participate in the aesthetic sensitivities of the public or to draw the viewers’ attention to more subtle, fine things. However it is the public that judges the final result, not the artist. Similarly, if this art finds its way in commercial use, then it is considered commercial art instead of fine art. On the other hand handmade craft or designing are considered as applied arts. The two types of art have no specific difference apart from an evaluation purpose. However, even in fine art there are goals further than creativity or self expression. Does art have a political, spiritual or philosophical motive, or its purpose is to create only beauty? Does it try to investigate the nature of perception, or to create intense emotions? Its purpose may be seemingly non- existent.
Art may describe a lot of things. It is an activity, or the echo of a message, a mood, or a symbolism to be transferred to the viewer (art is an experience). It may be interpreted on the basis of pictures or objects, and intends to arouse feelings or thoughts by the viewer, or ideas through his senses. It may take various forms and serve different reasons. The use of scientific knowledge for the creation of something new doesn’t necessarily mean the creation of art.
