What is art?

The other day I was at a presentation of David Armengol, commisionair of "Espai Montcada". He gave an interesting lecture about the development of Art proyects. Also he asisted in several (contemporary) art proyects in Barcelona. The most interesting part of his presentation was however his final question: What is art? Do we think the concept art has gone or changed severely over the last decades?

Of course it is obvious that the concept of Art has changed, because of the way of thinking and because of the technology involved. If art could be difined as an well-thought expression of the artist to the receiver in a creative way and with controlling the techniques involved, than yes: Art has made a mayor change.

Globalizacion, the internet, are two developments (first one is a state of mind and de other technological) which have changed the world. A more commun thought, freedom of thought, contact with other cultures and freedom of traveling. One of the obvious examples is students going on internship. Now the one who says that these developments not have lead to a better understanding of humanity in general did probably not think verywell. The basic of understanding lies in better communication. Moreover communication, as we now know, is not only text and speach but experiencing as well.

The last one is the most important. Once experienced you can understand others, was you understand you can understand life in general better. So this leads to a reunion of art, and a globalizazion and standarization of art. I think the ancient concept is fading away untill everything merges together again: Art, technology, media, entertainment, teaching, politics will all be more in commun, rather than individual things...

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