What’s Art? What is an Artist?
Art makes you have a reaction. A thought in your head, a question. It can be something complex and philosophical like “what sort of emotion is this painting provoking with this shade of blue?” To something simple or fleeting like “that sculpture looks nice, wonder what tools they used?” It turns people curious, makes them crane their necks to see, to question. It can provoke emotions. Sadness, anger, joy, passion, disgust. Art can be examined for hours longer than it ever took to create. Art makes people want to speak up, tell stories. Say what it reminds them of. Ponder if they could recreate it themselves. Marvel at technical skill and complexity. Question the simplicity. Gawk at the size and ludicrousness of some pieces. Wonder why anyone would create things so strange and alien. Admire a culture. View things from multiple angles. Take pictures. Talk with friends. Place it in their homes.
“Whatever we say, we’re always talking about ourselves.” Alison Bechdel.
Artists may not set out with the idea that their work will provoke a certain emotion, but we make it to satisfy our own. I have to create this. I have to write this story. I need people to see it, to hear it. I have to create art about this topic. To spread the word. To let people know. So we can talk about it, speculate, wonder, scoff, clap, cry, whatever it is. Art brings about reactions in people, even if that is not the intended purpose. Will it always be “good” art? Who is to say.
If your job is to dance, do your dance. If the divine, cockeyed genius assigned to your case decides to let some sort of wonderment be glimpsed, for just one moment through your efforts, then "Olé!" And if not, do your dance anyhow. Elizabeth Gilbert