Visiting the Investec Art Fair, recently, the question popped in my head – “What is art?”. So I decided to do an exercise and ask some of the exhibitors, which are from all over the world, that question. And the response was really interesting. These are some of the answers I got. . .
Art is poetry
Art has a voice let it speak.
Art is an inner need.
Art is an idea that grows.
Art is a conversation, an intention.
Art is experiencing emotion.
Art is life, freedom.
One guy started to explain to me about oracles and a voice you hear – that was interesting but a little bit above me. Another got really irritated and said ‘I am too tired to answer such a question – you need to discuss this over a bottle of wine’. There also was a big piece of art that said art is an investment, which of course is true.
I asked the same question to a friend of mine who collects art and is an art lover in all its different forms. His answer – no I am not going to talk about this, this is an age old question and I find it boring, which I totally accepted.
But of course, art is not just painting but digital, music, poetry ballet, drama, photography and many other mediums. In the end I realised art for me is the ability to feel. We survive in this world where we live within our walls and defences and don’t allow or even know what we feel lots of times. So any form of art opens the door to feeling, both for the artist and the spectator and that is so important, and also so necessary in life. It can change the quality of our lives, our health and how we relate to ourselves, the world and others.
To feel when we engage in art is not just about pleasure, awe, joy, bliss and wellbeing but also about pain, hurt, frustration, fear, anger, disgust and irritation. But it still impacts on us and open doors inside of us.
Hetsie Otto
So, I just love art in all its many forms and ways of expressing!
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