What is an art ?

July 8th, 2007 | by A T M |

What is an art ?
I have asked this question myself several times. It always been abstract,vague and undefined in my mind. I think I found some answer to such and similar questions in the book I have started reading.

The Emerging Mind by Vijaynur Ramachandran.


The chapter Artful brain, talks about the artistic universals.

Obviously, there will be a difference between the views of neuroscientist and an Artist about the way they look at art. Neuroscientist’s interest is to find out what parts of the brain is evoked when Art is experienced. That’s my interest too. That, perhaps explains what art is fundamentally.

There are few takeaways from this chapter:

- Science deals with universal principles whereas art is the ultimate celebration of human individuality and originality

- Art is not about realism at all. It’s the exact opposite. It involves deliberate hyperbole, exaggeration, even distortion, in order to create pleasing effects in the brain.

- Universal laws of Art : Peak Shift, Grouping, Contrast, Isolation, Perceptual problem solving, Symmetry, Coincidence, Repetition/ rhythm and orderliness, Balance, Metaphor.
(Read the book itself to learn more about these laws)

It also has answer to this basic question :

Why do humans ever bother creating and viewing art ?

I go with Author’s idea on this :

“Art may have evolved as a form of virtual reality simulation. When you imagine something - as when rehearsing a forthcoming bison hunt or amorous encounter - many of the same brain circuits are activated as when you really do something. This allows you to practise scenarios in an internal simulation without incurring the energy cost or risks of real rehearsal”

It’s a book complied after Reith lectures 2003. They are available in audio at BBC

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