Another Photograph > Michael Craig Martin overlooks Triton Square, Euston (1176) January 2006

Michael Craig Martin overlooks Triton Square, Euston (1176) January 2006 | Another
Chromatic illuminated panels designed by Michael Craig Martin overlook Triton Square.

Is This Art
I wonder how useful a question about art or Art is. Who uses this word, and the concept, and for what reason? Is corporate art different from museum art? What does art mean in our everyday life? I suppose the word and concept of 'art' gets used in many different ways, I suspect that it is often used to connote some form of division between people, 'Is it Art, is it not Art?'. But maybe in our everyday life we can see art differently, not as an object, or commodity but as an activity .. like moblogging?

(1176) Posted on 1/18/2006 8:41:13 AM | Comments

1. Posted by Melissa on 1/18/2006 2:59:00 AM
It's too early here for me to think about art, lol. But it is colorful, and makes for a great photo. *will come back to this later, after coffee* :)

2. Posted by stewart on 1/18/2006 3:59:02 AM
I have just had a look through this large Dictionary/Thesaurus of mine to the word Art and it is a very broad subject.I sometimes paint pictures but I don't term myself an artist because I don't think I am good enough, but is there such a thing as good enough in art, (THERE, I have just used the word Art) I think architecture is just as artistic as paintings what with all these beautiful buildings around. As for your blog on the illuminated panels in Euston I think sticks out like a sore thumb. Lets us Nomads talk about this on Thursday.

3. Posted by w|e|s on 1/18/2006 7:54:19 AM
Art is what one makes it to be... It cannot be confined to a single meaning. It cannot be defined by an object. It cannot be refined to be just applied brushstrokes, chiseled rock, massaged clay, welded metals, or captured time by hole in a shoebox. It is what we all make it to be... one man's trash is another's... ART!

Interesting thought there Stewart. "Good enough" where do we draw the line of what defines a good artist from a not good enough artist. In what sense is that "artist" not good? Does Duchamp's ready made art -- ART? It is afterall just a few objects or object rather, put on display. Just as the beautifully painted Starry Night by van Gogh evokes the eye, Duchamp's ready made art can evoke the mind instead of just the eye and in turn can make that bicycle wheel, well -- beautiful art. Or Rachel Whiteread's Embarkment where it is just a stack of white boxes. but it is the meaning behind the boxes that evokes the mind and makes it beautiful art...

4. Posted by w|e|s on 1/18/2006 7:56:21 AM
Even if one is not a good enough artist, one is STILL an artist, no?

Ok rambling on now and will shut up!

Tony, maybe you should ebay your iMac set up and get the new Macbook Pro with the built-in camera and conference call me in on that "Nomads" talk on Thursday using iChat. Sounds like it will be an interesting discussion... ;-)

that is very cool BTW... I would love to have a window infront of thaat... ;-)

5. Posted by skidoo on 1/18/2006 8:12:36 AM
"Chromatic illuminated panels...." Haha! Excellent obfuscation. But definitely sexier than, "Colorful lit sign."

But what about art? Art. Hmmm. Yes, I agree with wes (and stewart). In our postmodern world, we can't even agree on a singular definition for terms like "good" and "evil," much less "art."

For me it's useful to distinguish the artistic from the banal by looking for contrast and dissonance. I've recognized a common denominator among the objets d'art I find appealing: They depict some sort of conflict. Sometimes the conflict is concrete, like an image of a poor beggar panhandling in front of the New York Stock Exchange. Sometimes it's more abstract, like an existential exploration of characters' motivations in a Faulkner novel.

In any case, when I put a value judgement on art, it's always a reflection of how evocative it is. And like the very definition of art, such a judgement is inseperably dependent upon conte

6. Posted by skidoo on 1/18/2006 8:15:37 AM
(No way that was 1000 characters!)

In any case, when I put a value judgement on art, it's always a reflection of how evocative it is. And like the very definition of art, such a judgement is inseperably dependent upon context.

So my answer to your question is "Yes."

7. Posted by w|e|s on 1/18/2006 8:20:35 AM
LOL Skidoo... yes I was cut-off too and I said the same thing but a few chosen 4 letter words added to mine... ;-)

Well said, you did about the subject... :-)

8. Posted by Cindy on 1/18/2006 8:27:12 AM
Art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Nice artsy shot:-)

9. Posted by Maurits on 1/18/2006 12:49:12 PM
does it matter if it's ART or not?
is it nice or not...?

10. Posted by viory on 1/18/2006 1:29:06 PM
you made the chat of the day: http://chat.textamerica.com/?r=4067662

11. Posted by Maurits on 1/18/2006 1:41:26 PM
great chat of the day

12. Posted by (Nameless) on 1/18/2006 3:18:36 PM
Mountain Peaks

Why is it among the most
glacial mountain peaks
I find
the greatest warmth?
http://tinyur

13. Posted by exasperated tiny twig on 1/18/2006 3:19:24 PM
http://tinyurl.com/cdf3w

14. Posted by skidoo on 1/18/2006 3:22:45 PM
@Twig: Put a space after the URL! The TA gods demand a sacrifice of one whitespace character!

15. Posted by twig on 1/18/2006 3:27:08 PM
I put a whole fullgoddamparas (enter) but perhaps that is too much...I am still learning. Thanx Skidoo!

16. Posted by twig on 1/18/2006 3:31:18 PM
I wrote:

I put a whole fullgoddamparaS (enter) but perhaps that is too much...I am still learning. Thanx Skidoo!

Why did it loose the 'SPACE'?... which is really ironic...

17. Posted by skidoo on 1/18/2006 3:32:48 PM
@Twig: No, you know what's ironic? Putting carrots in rabbit stew.

18. Posted by twig on 1/18/2006 3:32:49 PM
It's cutting out bits of the message
'SPACE'
Space...
Aw F*...

19. Posted by twig on 1/18/2006 3:33:52 PM
There are no carrots in rabbit stew...it's the lining of your stomach...alleg

20. Posted by twig on 1/18/2006 3:34:58 PM
...edly!

21. Posted by twig on 1/18/2006 3:36:09 PM
TA 1 ~ Twig 0

22. Posted by stewart on 1/18/2006 4:36:29 PM
Cavemen were scratching art on cave walls long before literature..but maybe literature is a form of art.

23. Posted by Robert K. on 1/18/2006 8:58:47 PM
Wow.... this is a really great shot Tony :-D haha, I agree with Maurits in comment #9 ;-D

24. Posted by tony on 1/19/2006 12:31:44 AM
I have to go to Maldon today, Thursday, be back Sunday .. so will miss this particularly fascinating and thoughtful conversation. Interestingly enough I've just received an email from an 'Arts Workshop' asking me to say something 'about yourself and your art' - which brings up another question: At what moment does a photograph become art? I'll have some breakfast and reflect upon all this. Have a wonderful (and artistic) weekend ;-]

25. Posted by swig on 1/19/2006 3:53:17 AM
This is beautiful, or at least looks that way in this photo. Great set of comments too. A quesntion about art is useful if it generates this kind of response.

@skidoo - interesting that one definition of obfuscation is "to deprive of light or brightness". So while the description does, the object doesn't.

26. Posted by Odon on 1/20/2006 8:01:47 AM
This is like grafitti. Is graffiti art or a crime? The difference (here) is that the panels designed by Michael Craig Martin are legal and not anonymous, looks like pop art from 60's and will have better acceptance than abstract art or expressionism.
(And there are the fact that anyone can make such a big grafitti and live to tell the history.)

27. Posted by Selena on 1/20/2006 8:11:06 AM
This is beautiful! :) ~Sel~

28. Posted by francesco on 1/21/2006 6:48:06 AM
very interesting. I agree with Odon in comment #26

29. Posted by Douglas on 1/21/2006 1:13:43 PM
The artist's role must be to question. To question when others feel tired. Science helps us understand and the artist exposes conflict through a question. And so does this moblog. A strong image drawse us to the flame, we hear the question. 5 seconds of fame - Thanks Tony, Thanks Skidoo and Swig-Stewart. Architecture is a question too, why can't we live like this?

30. Posted by francis on 1/21/2006 1:23:08 PM
I really don't think "art" is about "conflict" -- that's storytelling and it's rare for storytelling to be also art. I suspect, however, that "art" is a rolling consensus rather than a fixed definition. The various academies that elevate and define art are in historical and perpetual disagreement, for example. And so, yes, it can define division by selection. Easier is the issue of what one likes and why.

31. Posted by robert on 1/22/2006 12:38:25 AM
Hello Tony, It's Art if you can sell it - you've heard that before I think! You can only sell it if it's respectable, at least to the buyers, who may be a bit ahead of the rest of us. Van Gogh was not respectable - but was he an artist--??? And why is it that the latest art is not respectable today, but is respectable tomorrow? Such as the Impressionists, Klimt ... (only trying to put a spoke in the wheel :)) -- Robert

32. Posted by Maurits on 1/22/2006 4:10:51 AM
I think it is Art when you abbreviate Arthur ;-D

33. Posted by GO STEELERS on 1/22/2006 8:09:55 AM
If you have to sell it for it to become art, then why are there starving artists?

34. Posted by GO STEELERS on 1/22/2006 8:10:23 AM
Congrats on the ASOTD!

35. Posted by euphoria on 1/22/2006 10:08:07 AM
congratulations on ASOTD :-)
What is art but an inclined appreciation. At least to me. :-)

36. Posted by Robert K. on 1/22/2006 10:57:09 AM
Congrats on the ASOTD Tony!!

37. Posted by Jaime aka Cowboy Fan on 1/22/2006 10:58:12 AM
Cool!

38. Posted by Maurits on 1/22/2006 11:03:41 AM
congratz on ASotDay AND the Chat of the day you were previously...
a rare combination not seen before on TA ;-]

39. Posted by francis on 1/22/2006 12:29:29 PM
ASOTD! Good job. See, that's another vote for this vision as art.

40. Posted by The Max on 1/22/2006 12:33:31 PM
Congratz!

41. Posted by tony on 1/22/2006 3:57:51 PM
I'm back from Maldon and reading this amazing 'Chat' (thanks Viory) of diverse thoughts and perceptive views that has now become an 'Artistic' SotD (thanks Janet). It's late here, time to sleep now, I'll come back to this tomorrow, maybe even look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art

42. Posted by Ivan on 1/22/2006 4:00:11 PM
Hi there, Soon I think I'll inaugurate my moblog.
Besides thinking of how to name it... I'm having a lot of thoughts about if I should add a watermark/copyright to pictures.
What do you think about this issue?.
I'd appreciate very much your opinion and/or advise.
Thanks.
Ivan.
(Madrid, Spain)

43. Posted by tony on 1/23/2006 1:15:09 AM
Hi Ivan, good to have you pop by. I haven't thought to much about watermarks and copyright on pictures, maybe I should. Thanks for bringing up the subject.

44. Posted by mojo ™ on 1/23/2006 2:11:11 AM
very cool picture!

45. Posted by GavinO on 1/23/2006 4:13:19 PM
great shot!

46. Posted by tony on 1/23/2006 11:35:39 PM
Mojo, thanks - good to have you stop by

47. Posted by tony on 1/23/2006 11:36:33 PM
Thanks GavinO

48. Posted by robert on 1/24/2006 1:46:03 AM
Hi Tony, congrats on ASOTD for Sunday

49. Posted by Melissa on 1/24/2006 5:06:45 AM
Yes, congrats on ASOTD *and* Chat of the Day with this one.
Double whammy! :)

50. Posted by tony on 1/24/2006 6:59:59 AM
Hi Robert, thanks .. btw, I think the point you made that suggests 'if it's Art you can sell it' has got something going for it .. and the other question that comes to mind is, if it is artistic is it Art? I'm thinking about the visual arts here. Probably this is where the conversation could develop .. for instance, we seem to accept that being artistic is something we can all involve ourselves in, but being an artist is something only a few people call themselves. But if you choose to call yourself an artist and try to sell your 'work', would you call it 'art'?

51. Posted by tony on 1/24/2006 7:07:13 AM
Thanks Melissa, this has now become an artistic chat .. but can we make this artistic chat into a work of art?

52. Posted by FUNNY on 1/24/2006 3:26:25 PM
ART HAS TO BE FORGOTTEN
BEAUTY MUST BE REALISED----@PIET MONDRIAAN?

53. Posted by tony on 1/26/2006 3:35:46 PM
Hi Funny, thanks for stopping by, another thought - 'Art' hasn't been forgotten and 'Beauty' still abounds .. and .. 'Art is not made for anybody and is, at the same time, for everybody' - Piet Mondrian

54. Posted by Tom on 1/28/2006 1:18:39 AM
Art? Lets throw a little suffering into the equation. You go to hostile environments (eg Euston Road) and bring back beauty. That is art.

55. Posted by Tom on 1/28/2006 1:19:29 AM
PS. I like the choice of music too.

56. Posted by tony on 1/28/2006 1:53:22 AM
Hi Tom, I couldn't get this view in the summer, the blessed trees get in the way!

57. Posted by tony on 1/28/2006 1:56:28 AM
Tom, I'm always keeping an ear open for 'slideshow' music.

58. Posted by Cat on 1/31/2006 6:11:39 AM
For me the the word art has become synonymous with interpret. What's the old saying? I may not know art but I know what I like? I guess one man's trash is another man's art. What ever makes you see or feel something ... I guess that's art. To each his own. :-)
Love your pictures!

59. Posted by tony on 2/1/2006 12:43:14 AM
Hi Cat, thanks very much for your comment. I suppose as individuals we tend to build a picture of what we like. I think it's interesting to wonder how we come to like what we like, or why we respond to some images in a curious and positive way and others in a negative or uninspired way. Some thoughts I'm sure we'll come back to.

60. Posted by angie on 2/12/2006 2:31:48 PM
Art... or not.. i guess eye of the beholder and all that, but.. I do like this shot.. which IS art for sure!!

61. Posted by tony on 2/12/2006 3:19:07 PM
Angie, hi and thank you .. maybe the art of everyday life is just trying to be creative.