Art that Defies Social Constructs

I am not an art student, so I may not be able to tell you the difference between Impressionism and Baroque styles of art. What I can do, though is appreciate a good piece of art when I see one. From a [cardboard toilet] to [graffiti on the side of a building], (see below) in the last few weeks alone I have seen art that defies the definition of the word and enough to make da Vinci roll in his grave. I don’t know about you, but I don’t recall learning about these art styles when we learned about Van Gogh or Michelangelo. The world of art is always changing. New artists emerge all the time who are constantly creating new styles or combining different styles together.

What makes art good? Can good art only be found in museums? What about bad art? Does bad art even exist?

I don’t believe there is such a thing as bad art, only bad critics. Art is supposed subjective, and at the heart of it, makes you question things you thought you knew. Any art done well evokes in the viewer raw emotion and a sense of wonder. You heard the saying, I’m sure. Art should disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed. Art builds bridges to other worlds and cultures.

The art world today defies social constructs and builds bridges to human connection. Just the other day, while admiring a community graffiti art piece in its final stages of completion, many people had stopped to snap a quick photo and discuss the different colors and tag styles of the featured artists. Some of the people who stopped came from all around the world, yet here they were, in this tiny corner of a major European city. Art has a natural way of bringing people together, even for a moment.

At a festival the following day, I witnessed an artist painting a giant mural on the side of a different building. She had to use a box lift; it was so massive. At first, I thought it was an image of Taylor Swift, but it was just an image of a girl in a sunroom filled with plants, reading a book. Next to it, another piece was already completed by another artist. My guess, both artists were commissioned by the city for their mural work.

Art should be shared with the world, not locked in a closet or attic never to see daylight. Whether its on the side of a building, on display in your home, or a museum even, let world see its beauty through your eyes. (Maybe someday I will be brave enough to show the rest of the world my art, but for now it is just for me and me alone.)

If you are an artist or art lover, let’s connect. I would love to hear your stories and what art means to you.

Until the next Spark,

Korey

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