What is Art? by John Webbe

Ask yourself, or even ask the person nearest to you now, what is art all about?

I found a definition on t’internet which informs me that art is “the organisation of sense impressions into pleasurable formal relations that expresses the artist’s sensibility and communicates to his/her audience a sense of values that can transform their lives”. Okay, well, that’s that, then. But what about the definition of art?

My well-thumbed desk-top Collins English Dictionary informs me that art is “human skill as opposed to nature; creative skill in painting, music, etc; any of the works produced thus; profession, craft”. This is all fine too, but I believe that art in all forms is, and has to be, subjective. In other words, art is based on your own personal feelings, and you will clearly have an opinion on that.

You could ask “what do you, Mr Regeneration Manager Person for Touchstone, know about art?” Excellent question, to which I would say, very little, to be honest. But I do know that I love photography, I don’t think I’m any good at it, but that, I would argue, is totally irrelevant. I love simply taking part & trying my best. And to coin parts of two well known phrases, it’s the taking part that counts; and all you can do is your best.

But let’s get back to the original question – what is art all about? Whether you think of art as a painting, sculpture, photograph, performance, literature, music, or creative design, you will no doubt have an opinion. Whether the artwork is in a gallery, in someone’s home, or in the street as public art, again, it is likely you will have an opinion on it. This opinion might be positive, negative, or somewhere in the middle.

But can I ask you this question – does it really matter? I ask this question with total respect for that opinion because whether it’s your own opinion, or someone else’s, I would suggest the fact that people are actually talking about art is in itself what art is all about. Art is there to please, to provoke, to be controversial, to make people think, to get people talking, to encourage people to write letters to Local Edition, to get people visiting galleries and shops, and to open your eyes to your own thoughts. Next time you walk past a piece of art, stop, look at the work, what is it all about, think about it, but most of all enjoy it. Maybe you could even have a go yourself?