Wednesday, March 19, 2014

A Guide To The Power Of Art

By Jaclyn Hurley


People can be cynical about art. However there is a lot of great artwork out there in the world. Whether it is a hand crafted sculpture or a watercolour there are many ways in which a work of art can have an effect on people. In short it is worth knowing the power of art and how it can affect us in a number of ways.

The fact is that what people describe as art can be very diverse. There are of course the classic masters such as Van Gogh or Renaissance painters such as Michelangelo. These are the pieces that are famous around the world. Some may sell for millions while others are iconic and because of where they are based it is impossible to put a price on them.

What is clear when you see this piece is its power. Michelangelo is an artist who clearly puts passion into his work. The problem is that it is not easy to describe the effect of the piece if you have not seen it in person. Photographs can capture the detail but they do not really capture the feeling when you see it.

In some cases the power of a work of art can come from its impact on popular culture. For example images from comic books have become symbols in and of themselves. A person can wear the image of a superhero on their T shirt without necessarily being a fan of that comic book.

Naturally art will affect people in different ways. What one person is inspired by a person can also be bemused by. Often the meaning of an artwork can be lost and people may not fully appreciate this on the first viewing of a piece. In other cases it may be that somebody gets the message but does not like the style. A good example of this is Bristol based anonymous graffiti artist Banksy. When his stencil work was first exhibited it was considered a nuisance and was quickly removed. Over time it has since become something that celebrities have spent thousands on at auction.

Another way in which art can be powerful is in how it can change lives. It is often a way for people who would ordinarily have trouble expressing themselves finding ways to communicate their feelings through the artwork. It is often used as a method of therapy especially when people may be shy and resistant to more orthodox methods of therapy.

Of course the individual reaction to a piece can vary. A powerful reaction can equally be one of anger. However this is positive as a mixture of reactions is what creates debate and is what makes the nature of art and the discussion of artwork so fascinating.

The good thing about the internet is that it is now easier to share art with people around the world. Whether you make your own pieces or you want to share your favourite works with other people there are lots of ways to learn more about the diverse styles of artwork available around the world. It is also worth checking to see what exhibitions and pieces are available in your local area.




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