Art - what exactly is it?

Over the last couple of days I've heard some interesting comments about art.  A photographer is (justly) complaining that a painter has copied one of his images.  Invitations to the pub have included comments on the art of football.  I used the word 'artist' to mean someone who paints or sketches, offending sculptors, photographers and may other types of artistic endeavour.

My personal definition of art, for what it's worth, is the creation of anything which improves the quality of human life without having any real function.

There are obviously huge grey areas - the streamlining of cars can be both functional and pleasing to the eye.  Purely functional objects such as military tanks can have their own aesthetics.  I have heard the building of flat pack furniture described as a remote branch of sculpture.

There is a trend in much modern art for the artists to want to challenge the viewer of their artistic masterpiece. there is a desire to make the enjoyment of the artefact dependant on thinking about it and maybe creating a story from it.  The artisan aspect, the skill required to create the object, is now taking a very secondary role.  Seems to me if the enjoyment of art is dependant upon the viewer requiring education to think in the same way as the artist, something's going a bit wrong.  Some artists seem to have a very fascist attitude that everyone must agree with their point of view - many implying that anyone not admiring their work must be stupid or artistically stunted.

I work on the fringes of art, and often talk to people who paint for pleasure.  These individuals are mostly determined to increase their technical abilities.  The common view is that if you can't make the paints (or whatever medium) conform to your aims, you'll never produce worthwhile art.  Look at the early works of Picasso - realistic portraits, paintings and sketches - artists need the apprenticeship of producing art from life before they should advance into the abstract and surrealist theatres.

The photographer having a go about an artist copying his work has a very valid outlook.  He'd posed a model, lit them and produced a very imaginative and attractive image.  An artist had come along, liked the image and copied it without adding any value of their own.  A lot of found art, starting with the famous 'fountain' / urinal is much the same in my view.  Turning an object to a different angle doesn't negate the original designers copyright on the form of the object.

The earlier comment about erecting flat pack furniture being a form of sculpture raises interesting thoughts.  Why is art now so separated from everyday living.  We talk about the art of cooking, the art of conversation.  It must be good to inject into everything we do the desire to make it better than functionality demands.

It's why I write these blogs.  My thoughts solidify.  Don't rush and do things cheaply.  Slow down.  Acquire a serene mind and take the time, effort and care to do things in a way that is pleasing to you - and hopefully to others as well.  That's the real art of life.