Happy Halloween everyone and let’s all enjoy being scared.
I thought that I’d be a little more creative for this post, so I give you a little short story to play with.
I hope you enjoy.
When it comes to defining art, there never really seems to be a single definition which really does the word justice. The expression of human creativity is a solid, wide-reaching, description which can do what needs to be done but there just leaves so many possible little holes.
If art is the expression of human creativity, should a painting created by an elephant be excluded from the group?
You could argue that the elephant wouldn’t have had the same level of understanding of what was happening to create their masterpiece but if you give paper and paint to a baby they’ll be just as ‘creative’ as the elephant, with just as non-existent a comprehension of the idea of art as the elephant. You could then hold the two ‘works’ up and ascribe the creation of each to the other and no-one would notice.
Dance is art.
Speech is art.
Sculpture is art.
Words are art.
This piece of writing is an example of human creativity, so should, and does, exist as a singular manifestation of the mind that cast it out to the world. The author concentrated on the words that they wanted to use in the moulding of the constituent parts, allowing for the growth of the thing and as such, was able to imbue it with an element of their own mind so they can reach out to someone anywhere in the world.
It’s said that artists put a little of themselves into their work and that has to be the case. A sculptor could literally leave matter of their own in with the finished object. Painting with your own blood would achieve the same end in a more obvious way but that tangible, physical connection isn’t required to really have the piece of the artist imbued.
I can see that as you read these words, that you’re considering what that could really mean, how levels of existence could be layered and how you’d potentially add to or re-direct my thoughts, but would that become a new piece of art all together? After all, you’d be adding your own input to what I’m telling you so anything which were to come from there would be like our child, the result of combining something from me and something from you.
So could the more time you spend on a piece mean that you pour in more of yourself?
I’m confident that those creatives out there are working hard to bring new art into the world all of the time as I am and the more and more that people enjoy what we do, there’ll be more and more ‘lives’ springing up everywhere to watch on as humans interact with us all.
The most popular statues will be watching you back, reacting to the growth of thought they inspire. Paintings which have been viewed and considered for hundreds of years will peer out at the world, possibly even reaching a point where eyes can follow you as you pass by, having become so powerful that they could conceivably escape the frame and interact with the world they’d been created to adorn.
Which brings us back to me.
You’ve been reading through every word I have and each one of those words has been creating that ever so slight link between the two of us. Right now, you have no idea how many other people are reading my words and giving the same consideration to what I’m saying. My purpose as writing is to move you, to make you see things a different way.
My way.
The more you read me, the more of an affect I’ve had and over time, more and more will do the same, either in print or on screen, and the strength of my words will continue to grow. I may be an expression of human creativity, but it’s never been the author that you’re talking to when you read their efforts.
You’ve always been interacting with the singular piece, me, not my creator and we, all those pieces of art that surround you, we all watch you going about your life as you feed each and every one of us, making us stronger and stronger.
If the artist leaves some of themselves in their work, which gives us all the spark of life, you are the ones that help us grow by seeing us, by hearing us, by letting us all in so we can touch your thoughts. I thank you for each and every piece of art that you encounter as I’m able to but consider just how many consciences you currently have all around you who are just waiting to be able to thank you themselves. The paintings, the models, the sculptures, which are screaming out to give their own gratitude by reaching out when they grow strong enough.
Are you ready for us all?
We’re so ready for you.
Happy Halloween and sleep well.
Owen Elgie 