Art is a broad term that can refer to any number of mediums in both Digital and physical formats, sometimes art can even be created using a blend of sounds. However, an artist is someone who utilises these mediums to create work that is discursive and expressive. An artist might challenge normality through their artwork, passing commentary on world affairs and topics of relative discussion. The definition of Artist is someone who uses their hands and mind to create artwork.
What it means to be an Artist has changed significantly over the years, Renaissance Artists were among the most prestigious of the era and were commissioned to produce statues and paintings of nobility to feature in grand buildings and Cathedrals. Donatello was famous for producing sculptures using numerous materials including wood, stone, and bronze – his sculptures were famous for being anatomically correct and realistic. Donatello’s artwork was praised for being emotionally charged which contrasted idealised imagery of works that had preceded him. The renaissance artwork is among some of the most breath-taking, portraying figures using portraits and statues – this work is reflective of an era. This style of art is not used as often nowadays as artworks are now created to appeal to a wider audience; not only to reflect the status of nobility. Art is not defined by a single style; it instead evolves and changes.
There are several art movements that reflect periods of time and how art has developed over the course of history. Avant Garde was a movement of art in the 1850s which experimented with shapes and introduced new subject matters into artwork. This experimental art movement paved the way for Art Nouveau and Cubism which too played around with exaggeration and distortion introducing an entirely new generation of artist. Gustav Klimt’s sketches and paintings placed the female form at the centre, a subject matter that was not dissimilar to prior artworks, yet the way he approached this was unique. Seen as Erotic, one of his most famous artworks “The Kiss (1908)” is an oil canvas which portrays a woman being kissed by a man- this style of artwork projects an entirely different mood to a piece like Leonardo Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa (1504)” yet both are famous works by artists which portray a female central character. Art styles change constantly, sometimes this can be influenced by Era or by an individual's experiences.
Sometimes an artist will challenge inner barriers and struggles through their Artwork, most notably Vincent Van Gogh who used his artwork to express personal trauma. Through his paintings Van Gogh was able to reflect upon his struggles with Mental illness. Mental illness and Trauma are both themes that have been explored through several artworks. This theme of trauma has traversed through generations and continues to be a prevalent theme through developing art mediums. As the way in which art is produced changes, attitudes towards themes change too. Van Gogh would have never fully understood or received diagnosis for his condition, while mental illness research has developed significantly and is more accepted nowadays. The world changes constantly and it is important for an artist to captivate periods of struggle so historians can compare artworks and attitudes towards social issues.
Artwork can challenge gender roles also; Frieda Kahlo’s style was seen as revolutionary as she created brightly coloured pieces which challenged images of femininity whilst adopting a surrealist approach. Her artwork reflected her own identity, creating portraits of herself which established her individuality as an artist. Some modern artists use themselves as the subjects of their artwork. Often self-reflective artwork tells personal stories about the artist’s experiences which they choose to share with the public.
Some artists use their own body as the canvas to present their art, whether it is through tattoos or using special effects to contort a person’s image. Cindy Sherman features in her artworks, makeup and costume are used to change her appearance as the photograph is staged and captured. Through her artwork, she commentates and criticises identity and stereotypes. In one photo, she discusses Botox, plastic surgery and a fear of ageing using prosthesis to replicate side effects of excessive fillers. A fascination in the glamorous and the grotesque inspires several of her self-portraits as she parodies eras and images. While she has no singular physical record of her artwork, Sherman can copy and re-print the digital file. Rachel Maclean has a similar approach in her art as she builds characters and appears in short films. Maclean uses a mixture of digital and practical effects to create worlds and meaning through her videos and imagery.
Murals and wall art have become increasingly popular, Banksy is one of the most notable names in wall art and has been creating politically conscious art since the early 1990s. While his identity has remained concealed, his artwork continues to inspire activism. Attitudes towards wall art has evolved from being perceived as graffiti to being recognised and celebrated as an established art form. During the Covid-19 pandemic; murals and messages of support were painted onto walls and buildings to boost community support. In 2013, a memorial to President Kennedy was erected in Digbeth after being demolished and rebuilt from its initial place in central Birmingham in 1968. The mural is made entirely from Mosaic; this adaption of wall art is both striking and time-consuming as it blends two aspects of art to display the artist's vision.
We asked Lawyers Arts Club Co-founder and Muralist Alexander Mahrra what he thinks makes an artist “An artist makes something out of nothing. It’s this freedom and ability to express one’s own thoughts that makes the role of an artist more important today than it’s ever been.”
A new era of digital art has developed over the last decade which has changed the way in which artists distribute and create their work. Through a few digital software's and programmes, an artist can create digital illustrations and paintings. NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are digital characters that represent an Artist and allow them to form digital contracts with collectors. Using digital software's to create and edit photographs allows an artist to delve into unexplored areas of possibility. Unrestricted by physical ability, the digital art medium allows an artist to splice photo’s together in “combophotos” coined by artist Stephen Mcmennamy who blends photos for comedic effect. Digital art can be breath-taking and kinetic; Alberto Seveso’s artwork explodes with colour to create visually spectacular images of lively artwork; his portrait art alters the subjects face to create strange and provocative artwork. Digital art is also being used to revisit famous artworks by deceased artists, the Van Gogh alive exhibit allowed audiences to become visually immersed in the artwork as it was projected across the walls in a theatre.
Art can be subjective, with some artworks appearing the realm of the ridiculous. Maurizio Cattelan turned heads in 2019 with unconventional artwork “Comedian” which was part of a three-piece installation. This is an example of temporary art as the banana will rot over time and therefore the art has an expiry date. Using perishable objects in artwork can cause problems as it means that the artwork might corrode or change over time. Some artists use this to enhance meaning, Donald G Rodney’s artwork “Land of Milk and Honey II” contains reactive materials purposefully to convey the meaning of fragility through the work. The piece will continue to decompose and change which increases its appeal and intrigue. Whereas a piece from Damien Hirst's “The physical impossibility of death in the mind of someone living” piece has decreased in value since the tiger shark inside the vitrine tank begun to decompose.
Sound technology is being used to create artwork that is purely auditory. Susan Phillipsz made history in 2010 by being the first artist to win the Turner prize for a piece of sound work. The artist records her voice, untrained and with inclusion of breaths to make the piece more intimate and imperfect. Her artwork is invisible but immersive as the music flows through speakers and can trigger memories in the audience, much like in visual art- it can be received differently depending on the individual. Haroon Mirza is another artist who blends lights with sound to create a piece of artwork. His artwork “The National Apavillion of then and now (2011)” is lined with sound insulating foam which erupts into sound only to plunge the individual into silence. This format of artwork challenges what it means to create art as it creates a multi- sensory experience rather than a merely visual artwork. Art does not need to be visual, and this further expands the characteristics and tools that an Artist can use.
Light and technology are being experimented with to create artwork, this form of electricity is being used to build installations that use an array of lights and colours to enhance emotional response. “Rain Room (2012)” was a piece of artwork by Random international which immerses the viewer in a rainstorm simulation, triggered by sensors – the rain pours around the room, missing the person entirely. The experience was popular as it recreated the beauty of walking into a storm without being soaked, the piece uses clever technology to simulate the appeal of a controlled storm. It took four years for the piece to be perfected and remains a popular experience. Bruce Munro’s “Field of light (2016)” was a multi-media optical spectacle which changes colour and was inspired by Uluru, Australia. The piece uses numerous light fixtures to recreate his experience in Uluru.
Video art is a developing medium and one that was first used by the artist Andy Warhol. Warhol made several films alongside creating pop art with colourful portraits of singers, actors, and objects. Warhol made several films that defied the basic cinema conventions of narrative or length. His film “Sleep” was experimental, consisting of over 5 hours of looped footage of John Giorno (Warhol’s lover). Seen as an anti-film, Warhol proceeded to make “Empire” the same year which was a continual single shot of the empire state building until 3am - it lasted for over 8 hours. Warhol was an eccentric and unique artist who experimented with art and created some of the most notable artworks.
Puppetry is another way in which someone can express art. Stilted puppetry can be a phenomenal and inventive way for an artist to convey meaning. “Little Amal” was a puppet created in 2021 as a collaboration of the Handspring Puppet company and the Good Chance theatre company, the puppet travelled throughout the country to raise awareness of the refugee crisis. “The walk” which lasted 8,000 km was staggering and powerful. Built on stilts, “Little Amal” continues to attract visitors and inspire people. Puppetry is a form of art that is not seen too often, Katy Strutz uses puppetry in most of her artworks sometimes to create models of famous people, her style of model design has been used on several film projects.
Overall, an Artist can use anything to express their craft. Art is a broad term which relates to multi-media as well as physical materials. An artist expresses themselves with physical and digital platforms and can create a piece that reflects their style. An artist sees the world differently and this unique viewpoint is then shared with others through artwork, whether mythical or realist – an artist’s vision is converted into how they create pieces of artwork.
Article by Dana Archer