Does Art Need Meaning?

Hi David... I believe it does. If there is no meaning behind it then in my opinion, it's decoration or craft.

Wow..Great portfolio David.. You have some really beautiful images!

David it has to grab the eye of someone. No need to have an intended

meaning. Abstract is something for the viewer to decide what it means...

unless you want it to mean something then that is different.

Nope. Neither does a rose . . . or the color blue.

Thank you Barry.

I assume it had some sort of meaning to the person that created it.

"If there is no meaning behind it then in my opinion, it's just decoration or craft."

Well, considering that most art is sold as a decorating accessory, the better question may be does it have meaning to the buyers?

I think most buyers are more impressed at how well it matches their drapes then what a great piece of art it is.

There is plenty of art that is purely decorative.

"Art" is just pixels, or dabs of paint, or clay put together to look like something.

Our eyes and brains decide WHAT it is, so it can also decide if it has any meaning.

I personally don't ascribe any meaning to my work. Therefore I admit to creating artwork that is mere decoration and craft.

I like the idea that my work is merely a decoration. I don't feel compelled to move people one way or another with my work.

I enjoy a lot of the decorations in my life in all their various forms. When I no longer enjoy the decorations or crafts, they find other homes.

Nothing in my collection is forever.

-YoPedro

Seeing how we seem to be playing with words, then I would submit that if it's not art, but rather a "craft", then would that not make the person who made it a craftsman? (which is a compliment where I come from).

Greg..of course he/she would be a craftsman.. and I hold craftsmen/artisans and artists in the same regard.

I have never considered myself an artist. I have always chosen the label "craftsman". For me, it's more grounded in who I am personally. After all, it's about my level of comfort.
Avoiding the "Artist" label gives me a lot more freedom.

I am a skilled craftsman, and a dreadful artist.

-YoPedro

David, thanks for sharing your wonderful work with us.

I feel art is not hungry of any reason or meaning. Reason or Meaning may have an artistic outburst.

Does Beauty need a beast?

Can you always tell from a landscape if the sun is in the west or in the east?



Seen some pointless landscapes in my time I can tell ye

And the lid is often the first to be thrown from a box of sweets

I think art can have meaning and I think that art does not have to have meaning to be considered art, but my preference is art where the meaning is easily recognizable and universal. I think this aspect of the art makes it much more interesting. I don't feel the same about abstract art with regards to meaning or conceptual art where you almost have to guess what the artist is trying to tell you.

Normally the question 'what does it mean' is really the question 'why did you paint this'. Which subtly eludes to 'why should I (the viewer) want this'. So yes, very valid and artists should actually know this about their professional work.
-- mary ellen anderson

Well, many say that most classical music has no meaning except for its own sake.
Classical literature certainly has meaning. My favorite fiction writer, Isaac Bashevis Singer, thinks so much like I do that I've collected and read over 60 books of his.

To the casual views abstract paintings have no meaning. I mean a black white wall....Yuck...

Poetry has meaning.
Great movies have meaning...

My street images of people working have meaning.

"I don't feel the same about abstract art with regards to meaning or conceptual art where you almost have to guess what the artist is trying to tell you."


why does the artist have to be trying to tell you anything? seems a bit presumptuous of the artist to try to tell you something. Ok really I agree that art can have, and is a great means of expressing something that an artist is trying to convey, but i don't think it's necessary, nor do I subscribe to the mostly pompous BS most art critiques try to feed us. To me the goal of my abstracts is to evoke a response from within the viewer( though sometimes they are sust a release of my feelings. My landscapes are expressions of the impressions or feelings I get from natural scenes. All art is a con game really.

You put it down to canvas, paper or whatever surface it is, so it seems to have a meaning. It is your expression of something you had in mind at that time. Why else did you feel to do what you did?

Putting stuff on paper or canvas is as necessary as breathing or eating to me. It does not have to mean anything.

Learn to be a photographer of meaning

Otherwise you might end up sweeping the streets

there go I

By the grace of God

Among abandoned treats

No, I don't think it has to have meaning. Some people just like to be surrounded by appealing shapes and color without any subtext. I'm one of those people. I like art that has meaning, but I don't usually hang that kind of work in my home.

All art is a con game?
Only if you think all life is a con game.

Some art like abstract painting /classical music does not have any apparent meaning.

But lots of great art has much meaning...Read Shakespeare much?

Just stitch those two together for later reference once I get the time again for Comedy Cat.


Does Beauty need a beast?

Can you always tell from a landscape if the sun is in the west or in the east?



Seen some pointless landscapes in my time I can tell ye

And the lid is often the first to be thrown from a box of sweets

_________


Learn to be a photographer of meaning

Otherwise you might end up sweeping the streets

there go I

By the grace of God

Among abandoned treats

David if conceptual art does not have meaning, what purpose does it have? Of all the art's the one that really needs meaning is conceptual art, all the others can get away with passing as art void of meaning.

My landscapes are expressions of the impressions or feelings I get from natural scenes. All art is a con game really. So then you art has meaning to you and that same meaning can be explained to the viewer of your art, and they may have a higher appreciation of your art, although I don't think is quite the same as art with meaning that requires no explanation, were the explanation is visually clear and easily understood, like in story art. I don't understand why you say all art is a con game.

I think something that simply provides pleasure without a deeper meaning can be art. I like looking at pretty things. I like listening to pretty music. But art that has meaning touches me at a deeper level. My reaction is more profound, whether it's pleasure, anger, sadness or whatever, and it has greater staying power in my mind. I might tire of a pretty picture but something that moves me profoundly will always do so.

Geordie , looks like you have found some material for your new post . :)

"Putting stuff on paper or canvas is as necessary as breathing or eating to me. It does not have to mean anything."

It means you took the time to put it on canvas or paper...just as you are taking the time to breath and eat.
everything has a meaning at some point of its existence. ;)


I try to have art mean $. lol

I used to get a good feeling
From time to time in the woods

Knowing there was no around
As I scraped my backside with some shrubs

Could be Keshava

Could be

Working on the last to fit

But as nature calls

I'll be back after a bit

But then there is a crackling from among the undergrowth

And unlike times before it

That you tend to forget

Be warned that such moments

Can be filled with regret

Because street photographs always have to see

Whatever it is

That stands before him and thee

_______

Possibly take out the street and include it at some point with the avatars of those who agree.

See you all later

I have a lot of Blog building to catch up on

So Fare Thee Well

Barry.. you just made me laugh ;O)

In your first post you said that art has to have meaning otherwise it is not art.. then your next post is showing one of the OP's images as an example of a beautiful image. True that you did not state that it had any meaning, but then you would be saying that the image is not art ;O)

Please don't take the above wrong.... like I said it just made me laugh which just says something about me, not you ;O)

bob

In my opinion a painting does not need meaning. A painting can be created purely for aesthetic and decorative purposes. But "meaning" makes the painting a lot more interesting to people.

--Roz Barron Abellera

I believe Art must either be a Declaration or a Celebration

Ideally,is when Art is both

Doubt you'll ever get a conclusive answer to that one, my personal feeling is that it doesn't but perhaps that's a reaction to hearing a lot of pretentious people discussing meaning, is beauty truth etc. over the years...

If art can elicit even the slightest of responses, either emotional or intellectual, it is because the work carries its meaning, even one the artist did not intend, to the one who experiences it.

It is because this kind of thing can happen, and that I know I can make it happen, that I want to do more art.

Bob...? I'm glad I raised a smile, that's always good..but I don't understand whats funny? I haven't contradicted myself have I??? LOL.. you've got me doubting myself here Bob...that don't happen often :-)

Yeah they're beautiful images regardless of any meaning they may or may not have.....

Nope.

Yes Barry... but do you think they are ART?? ;O)

For me there are times when I like meaning in my work and then there are times when I want to paint a pretty picture. Depends on my mood.

As to the OP question...
Not sure what you mean by meaning ;O)

No it does not have to have any meaning, but I do like an image that tells a story, whether or not a story was intended by the artist, or that the story that I see is the story that the artist intended. As for abstract art I often wonder where the titles come from.

IMO, no...but it sure helps....

Great art has meaning. Mediocre art doesn't need meaning. Lousy art means just that. If your work has intent, meaning, significance, style, stature, it means you're an artist. If your work has none of this, it means you're a craftsperson.

Bob.. that depends on intent.. and I think in these cases(see above) the intent is to produce decorative images.. so No! This is only my opinion of the definition of Art of course.
Tony...I agree 100%.

Here's an example..(only my opinion:-)

This piece seems to sum it up nicely...On the surface it is a pointless but pretty little carving, but with the description and the intent..It becomes ART :-)

This is an original hand carved, bluestone piece. It depicts a jungle scene with a poison dart frog being eyed up as a potential meal by a naive serpent.(they both die in the end;)
folly.. [fol-ee] .
1.
the state or quality of being foolish; lack of understanding or sense.
2.
a foolish action, practice, idea, etc.; absurdity:.
3.
a costly and foolish undertaking; unwise investment or expenditure.
4.
Architecture . a whimsical or extravagant structure built to serve as a conversation piece or lend interest to a view. a building constructed primarily for decoration, but either suggesting by its appearance some other purpose, or merely so extravagant that it transcends the normal range of garden ornaments..

Ahh.. the Ouroboros that is life! The futility of it all. Life devouring itself to stay alive. Pointless really! Absurd and extravagant and foolish and totally pointless!

But isn't it pretty?

Tony, you fleshed out my thoughts.....IF we are just talking art....all kinds of art...including decorative art and stuff created that are happy accidents, no is the answer.
NOW< talking about really great art......think about substance...at some level. It must be present.

Some more thoughts on the matter.... When I was a lad :-).. School always differentiated between art and design... arts and crafts... and on this site..art and photography. I feel the word "art" is overused almost as much as the word love. I'm guilty of this too, but hey..I'm just a victim of social conditioning :-( Apparently there is an art to performing almost any task.. For a while I perfected the art of cleaning windows.. But No.. this isn't art at all. just the overuse of the word!

I see there are many viewpoints on this. I'll throw in my 2cents.

Art conveys. That's it. This may be a feeling, a thought, etc. Something potientially meaningful is conveyed.

The difference between craft and art is that art generally requires craft, but craft may not require art.