The Simple Question of “What is Art?”

For some time in my life I grappled with the question of “What is Art?”
The question is a short one, which somehow calls for a simple answer.

An official definition of art

The New Oxford American Dictionary, 2nd Edition is defining art as ”the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power”.

Animal art?

Tillamook Cheddar photographed by Dirk Westphal.

Let’s now for a few minutes assume the dictionary’s definition is right.

What a relief, that we two legged longhairs don’t have to fear the competition of Tillie (a Jack Russell Terrier bitch from Brooklyn with the full name Tillamook Cheddar) and other constructive animals. But still, this doesn’t eliminate her works, with such poetic names as “Air Kiss on Mars” to be art: Her undoubtedly human owner Bowman Hastie is might be using the dog like a tool. And to do so is a sure proof of the masters creativity and imagination, isn’t it?

Now it seams that excluding animals and other non-humans from being artists does not really help to answer the question. But still Tillie’s work, or let’s call it the art of Tillamook’s owner, has so far been featured in over twenty solo exhibitions in museums and galleries on two continents.

Art is, what’s displayed in a museum

The example above might support a very common definition of art. It is comfortable to lean back and trust, that literate professionals such as exhibition-makers, gallery owners and curators know what they are doing and that they approve only true art to be exhibited in their holy rooms. But most likely even the pros sometimes are and were mistaken. Errare humanum est.

Fortunately, those responsible in galleries and museums don’t have an exclusive right to determine what’s art – if they are true professionals they just have a good nose for what might sell.

Again, nice to know, that we are able to experience art even outside of dedicated art places.

Art is, what an artist does

As true the saying “Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder” is, we could also say that art lies in the eyes of the beholder and therefore in the eyes of its originator. If a three-year-old builds an adult size tower out of toy bricks, standing on his toes, struggling to put the last piece on it’s top, then moving a step backward, looking at his creation, calling for his mom, shouting: “Look I made art!” – I totally agree.

Is this now good art? Well, certainly for the creator himself: He aimed for his own limits, doing the best he could and being proud of what he achieved. Maybe, it isn’t as exciting for me and you, since we have seen such accomplishments earlier and maybe we’ve even built one or two brick-towers ourselves.

Now, to the question of good art

I hope we somehow got closer to the answer: “Art is quite much everything what humans are doing (or letting animals do) – as long as at least you thinks that it is.”
This is the simple answer I promised.

The more exciting question – and answer – is now: What is good art?
I would not waste my time and more importantly yours, if I couldn’t deliver you anything smarter then I did above. Be assured, I can. But, the following is not to be found in any book, it is just my opinion.

Good art takes ALWAYS place on three different layers: The Advertisement Layer, the Exposure Layer and the Digestion Layer.

The Advertisement Layer

Art can’t exist without being noticed. Or at least we wouldn’t think of it as such, without being aware of it’s existence.
Good art is advertising itself, it is standing out from the crowd and it has to lead us to layer two.

The Exposer Layer

Since we can’t just walk by, look and listen away when we notice good art, we expose us to it. We examine it, react to it or even interact with it. This can take a fraction of a second or few hours.

The Digestion Layer

If we then, a couple of days later, lie in the bathtub or sit in the subway and the piece of art is crossing our minds, then we can say that it is good art. Maybe it is just a question which it has induced, or we suddenly understand something we haven’t before, maybe we feel inspired, we would like to dance or write a letter. Maybe we just would like to expose ourselves to it again.
However – we know then, that it has touched us.