This cliché has been a label given to many entities.
Only yesterday, a fellow artist used this reference to art. He is right and wrong, so here we will explore the meaning further.
Art comes in many forms, with painting, drawing and sculpture being common ones, each with their own sections.
Other categories fall under conceptual art, visual art, installation art, performance art and the stage arts, including musical performance art.
Let’s also not forget the fibre artist, and the men and women of today who create the most exquisite quilts and tapestries, fit for the most lavish décor. Consider the ancient Bayeux Tapestry, made in 1066 and nearly 70m long — surely this is an artwork and not a craft.
When a person is on the lookout for a special piece for their home, the choices are enormous and they might narrow it down to colour to enhance their décor, image to portray a mood for the décor, or subject, if they might be looking for something to enhance and give interest to a special room, as in an entertainment room, for example.
One could search for many smaller artworks, thus creating an artwork by the homeowner herself, such as a group of small black and white paintings and sketches with one “zinger”, which is a colourful painting that pulls the whole ensemble together and gives it meaning.
The serious collector, on the other hand, goes to the large exhibitions specifically to acquire artworks to add to her collection, and is prepared to spend hundreds of thousands of rand for a single piece or an installation (a selection of pieces either standing on their own or mounted on a wall or stage).
There are other collectors who collect works of newer potential artists from local (meaning our main business centres), well-known galleries and attend the larger exhibitions.
For the new collector, or someone wanting something worthwhile for their homes, these are exciting exhibitions to visit.
Remember you are always welcome to question the curator on the worthiness of an artist or her paintings.
Let us also not forget the print, especially for the new homemakers who are decorating on a budget, or have chosen a print to live with before buying a similar artwork which they might regret having bought later.
The only setback of a print is that it should be framed with a mount and glass to protect it and that could work out almost as costly as a painting in the first place, so weigh up the pros and cons before the purchase.
The reasons for choosing art are endless, and it is a good idea to shop around, go to many exhibitions, visit artists in their studios to get the feel of a painting, the surroundings and the atmosphere from whence the painting will come, and simply enjoy the journey. Image by Nan Spurway
