Traditional Art

I don’t get the arrangement art thing. It’s satisfying to see things laid out neatly, but it’s also satisfying to power wash crud off my patio, and I wouldn’t call either one art.

But different strokes for different folks I suppose.

I think intention is a key element when it comes to defining what is and isn't art. From the very little I understand about the field, all something needs to be qualified as art is the existence of a canvas (patio) and an artist (you) and the intention—on your end—to leave an impression of your desire on the canvas.

If you one day decided —for shits and giggles— to power-wash the crud off your patio such that the end-result resembled Monalisa, would that be art? I'd say so, whether people around you say your patio-lisa bears a striking resemblance to the real thing or not depends entirely on how good you are with the power-washer; i.e, whether its good art or bad art is up to interpretation, but it will forever be qualified as art, to the extent that you wanted to make Patio-Lisa in the first place.

Which is what makes this type of art—alongside all abstract art—somewhat exhausting to interpret. You never know if the artist actually meant anything with these squares and lines and blocks of colors or if they're simply yanking your chain and you're risking the prospect of being scammed for believing there is meaning where there is none.

It's like running into a group of friends who's only ever listened to Eminem their entire lives telling you mumble rap is utter garbage before running into a gang of suit wearing rap aficionados telling you it has its place in modern day Hip-hop and you're put in this tough spot where you don't know who to believe...

or at least that's my take on it.