I like pretty things and gorgeous views, who doesn’t? But would I like to spend my life surrounded by fluffy kittens and never-ending sunsets on the sea?
God, no! People, at least most of us, have souls which are messy like hell, full of contradictory emotions, half-baked ideas and colors so dark that we don’t dare expose them in public.
These tangled spirits—and the curiosity to see unknown—is what makes us human.
Hiding behind a pretty landscape is fine for a moment, but it is not likely to give one that sneaky view into someone’s, or your own, troubled psyche. Think of Vincent van Gogh, up there in Arles, painting those swirling, starlit nights. His “Starry Night” isn’t just paint on canvas; it’s a piece of his soul, his turmoil, his yearning for something beyond.
This is art, a half-blind attempt to show an emotion, an idea— something that is really not visible. These thoughts might be not so nice… What are you doing to this fluffy kitten?
A momentary dialog between an exhibitionist artist and a voyeuristic observer drags to the surface thoughts and feelings, which until now were safely hiding below a nicely controlled pastel cover of consciousness.
Imagine standing in front of “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon” by Picasso. Now close your eyes. You might feel like you’ve just walked into a dream. How does this small, beautiful chaos play in your soul?
It doesn’t work for you? Try some other art. An artist is a person whose first duty is to experiment, try to find new ways to express ideas, provoke and cajole hidden emotion. This is why the work of new creators are shown in museums, their followers… not so much. Have you ever seen a beautiful picture with a proud label, saying “Masterly copied by Xxxxx Yyyy from Pablo Picasso’s painting?
No, Mr.Artist, go ahead and invent something new!
Craft, on the other hand, is a celebration of something already discovered and steeped in tradition. Here, admiration is gained by skill, precision, and beauty.
Think of the intricate quilts of the Amish or the delicate porcelain of Meissen.
The artisanal quality comes from love in every stitch or stroke and a skill in execution, but the final shape and utility of the object is never in doubt. As much as an innovation is always on an artist’s mind, a tradition drives a craftsman.
The difference between inspired art and great craft maybe very subtle. The Art might say, “Feel this, dream this, question this,” while the Craft might say, “Look at what I can do, how I can make this object beautiful and useful, go ahead, you can touch it.
But art and craft can happily dance around each other.
Consider Frida Kahlo. Her paintings are a profound blend of art and craft. Her self-portraits are emotional canvases, but they also carry Mexican folk craft, the embroidery, the textiles, the vibrant colors.
The interplay between art and craft may brings up something beautiful – community and tradition. Craft often thrives in community settings, like the pottery villages in Japan where the art of the potter is passed down through generations, much like how art schools pass on the wisdom of painting or sculpture.
While art might be the wild, untamed spirit of creativity, craft is its wise, steady companion; both are enriching our lives in ways we sometimes can’t even fathom.
Don’t look for art in galleries only, it may hide in plain view.
A brush or a hammer that created a common object in your home may have an interesting story to tell, an accidental look over your neighbor’s fence may stop you for a moment, pushing the button you never knew you had.
These short perceptions are the heartbeat of our culture, the hands that shape our world, one beautiful piece at a time.
Then there’s the story of Anni Albers, who turned weaving, a craft, into a profound artistic statement at the Bauhaus. Her textiles weren’t just functional; they were explorations of space, texture, and color, much like a painter might explore with oils or watercolors. Here, craft becomes a medium for art, blurring the lines between the two.
Let’s not forget the modern masters like Yayoi Kusama, whose polka dots can be seen in both her paintings (art) and her fashion designs (craft). Her work shows us how one can be an artist with a paintbrush and a craftperson with fabric, yet both endeavors are part of the same creative spirit.
This communal aspect can also be seen in art, where movements like the Harlem Renaissance brought artists together, blending art with the craft of storytelling and music.