Artistic expression is multimodal, from literature to speech to photography to music. When drawing, regardless of artistic medium, an individual is expressing themselves through the lines they leave behind . The act of painting is not just about recreating life as is, but also adding your own perspective. Even in realism, the art piece is never just about a person, object, and a place — there is always a deeper purpose to a painting, in the individualistic nature of each stroke, shade of color, and position of objects. In dance, an individual expresses themselves through movement. All steps in choreography, from subtle toe taps to leaps and spins, serve different plot points and are sequenced together to tell a broader story. In musical pieces, each note, instrument, and pauses are combined to speak without words.
“Art is in the eye of the beholder.” Artists utilize their mediums to invite us to get a glimpse of their own vision, as well as give us the opportunity to formulate an interpretation of our own. All these forms of art intentionally leave room for interpretation to the listener or spectator, rather than dictating a certain point of view. This is precisely the way art itself is successful in fostering commentary and shedding light on different perspectives in the modern era. Through this lens, we can appreciate art as a catalyst for dialogue and a medium for meaningful expression in an ever-evolving cultural landscape.
In essence, art’s power lies in its ability to provoke thought and inspire change. It gives power to people whose voices are unheard by giving them tools to express themselves without words. In a time of social media, blunt statements, tweets that are just three sentences, and long and short videos, art initiates conversations that are deeper and more enduring to contemplate.
One exhibit I remember, which opened over the summer in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” which hosted approximately 220 garments and accessories throughout four centuries, all united visually by themes of nature. Beyond highlighting the beauty of the pieces, the exhibit also emphasized the intricate relationship between fashion and the natural world, inviting viewers to reflect on how our environment influences creativity and identity. Each garment had its own personality,evoking different emotions through the usage of distinctive patternings, embroidery, scents, and other interactive elements artists used to complete their piece.
Especially with climate change and recent natural disasters, this intersection between art and nature gives another layer of appreciation for the importance of preserving the beauty and nature of the environment. Art contributes to the conversation by appealing to pathos, stirring one’s emotions in ways differing from straight statistics and facts. Flipping through the exhibit’s book, we see the countless number of ways artists hone their focus on the natural world and how it has inspired their work, through embroidery, beading, and lacework. This promotes an appreciation of the artwork and its natural influences, shedding light on a new perspective regarding environmental issues and the fragility of ecosystems. We see how artists throughout centuries portray their love of nature in diverse and evolving ways.
Artists throughout the modern era have also incorporated the concept of breaking the norms in order to create more diverse conversations. Movements such as surrealism and expressionism broke the boundaries of art in their times because they distorted their own reality and encouraged others to do the same. They also used art to escape reality and explore how human minds think.
Artists such as Salvador Dalí sought to tap into the unconscious mind and the fantastical qualities that make up our dreams. Techniques such as bold brushstrokes, vivid color palettes, texture, and motifs were all deployed to create a bigger story that transcends words. These sparked major shifts from realism to expressionism, the idea of expressing raw emotions rather than physical reality. This broke conventional understandings of the purpose of art, inevitably bringing up criticism —nevertheless, criticism is a form of discussion, and critiques give artists the chance to voice their opinions and inspire a deeper exploration of art.
In addition, contemporary conceptual art has recently been on the rise in the art world. This form of art centers on the concept and symbolism behind the piece rather than the physical appearance of it. The banana taped on to the wall is a notable example of a provocative conceptual artwork, which was actually sold for $120,000 in 2019, enraging many. How can something so mundane and unimaginative be worth so much? Anyone can tape a banana on a canvas. These questions and critiques, irrespective of their validity, can foster productive conversations regarding the nature of art.
As we are evolving culturally and socially as a human race, artists continue to push the boundaries of their work to reflect this continuous change, the past we hold on to, and the future we envision. In doing so, art not only expresses the complexities of human life, but the underlying connections that we share.
