Young Stars at Home in Ancient Cluster — NASA

I think I was wrong, in my earlier post where I wrote that:

I think it is the artist's job to bring the beauty of things not normally seen to others' eyes, let it be through writing, screenplay, dance, etc.

What brought about my doubts was Jacob Geller's most recent video, Art for no one. The video goes through several examples of art that weren't made for people to see — yet are unquestionably forms of art.

So what is art then? That's a difficult question. Artists have always been redefining what art is with their own, unique perspectives. So, one can only do their best.

The crux, I believe, lies in the idea of a "soul". I will define a soul as the conglomeration of experience over time, for lack of a better term than "experience". I will give an example: A favorite item, perhaps a gift of some sort, was given to you as a child. You cherished it, taking it everywhere. As a result, wear-and-tear accumulated on this item — paint chipped off a corner where you were throwing the item about, and it fell onto the concrete; A tear appeared in the fabric, and while you did your best to stich it together, it was never the same. And so on.

Eventually, those blemishes gather to tell its story. That story is its soul. This example is very basic and in reality, that story will be much more subtle. Not subtle in the sense that it is hard to see, but that it will take real analysis and creativity to reveal the full (or at least good part of the) soul of something.

To clarify, "experience" can encompass many things: an item's original utility, the events that brought it about, the history of its manufacturing, where it is stored, the soul of the people and things related to it, and much more. If you wanted, you could extend a soul to way beyond what is normal — say, establishing a connection between this item and the beginning of the universe. Extension in such a matter would render the specific element to contribute a smaller part of the soul, though it is part of it nonetheless.

People have "souls" too, in a different meaning than the theological one. We have our own experiences that shape who we are, our basic genetic information, hopes, dreams, wear-and-tear, and such, that create a story.

The goal of an artist may be the purposeful creation of a soul. For Van Gogh, his paintings weren't just the strokes of brush onto a canvas. His painting's souls also includes the climate of art at the time, Van Gogh's own mental state, and the intent behind his work that he wanted to convey. Its easy to say that you could draw the same thing with practice — but you are missing the entire picture.

Of course, art doesn't just mean painting. It is music, poetry, screenwriting, dance, etc. But, depending on how you create, art can be anything you want. If you are a runner, your art may be the practice and efficiency in the way you run, provided that you are running with the intention of creating a soul. No one needs to see your art — that isn't the point (though it can if you want it to). You need to be creating with the feeling that you are making something, with meaning and intent that you are truly crafting a soul. If you have felt that or a variation of that (the world is big and I haven't experienced it all) then congrats! You are an artist and have made art.

At the end of the day, this is all my own interpretation based on my experiences, thoughts, and perspectives. I want to hear what other people think as well. Email baryonyxpenrose@gmail.com or type in the Guestbook. I want to hear more ideas!

Don't let the bedbugs bite, everyone.

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