What effect does art have on the emotions?
It only a Tree??
I was out walking the other day when a tree
that I have past almost every day for years suddenly caught my eye.
Standing as it has done for hundreds of years in its own private little
plot, silent and majestic in the middle of a field. Its giant trunk
anchored firmly to the ground by a maze of entangled roots mirroring its
immense bulk, burrowed deep into the ground and constantly clawing at
the soil seeking out its nourishment, unseen and yet crucial to its
survival. Huge branch's like giant limbs gracefully bowing to the floor
playing host to an entanglement of smaller twigs covered with a plethora
of individual delicately coloured autumnal leaves in shades of green,
brown, yellow, orange and red, the sun highlighting and illuminating
every detail of its form as it stands statuesque against the landscape.
As I gazed upon it, I thought "Wow, why have I
never noticed it? I have passed this way more times than I can remember and
yet It has never demanded my attention before."
But, in that moment, there I was, mesmerized and inspired and feeling a huge
need to capture the image and commit it to something more lasting so that I
could possess it and keep it for ever.
However almost immediately after my initial reaction, and completely out of
no where, I thought " WHY?"
Why do I need to possess it, what is it that makes me want to own the
moment. Can I not just enjoy it and appreciate it for what it is today?
Tomorrow the tree will still be there and there will be a different picture
for me to see, and different emotions for me to feel.
As I continued on I began thinking about art. Is art really about the
moment, an impulse, a sudden flash of inspiration, a eureka moment if you
like. The moment when the sun hits the leaves and the tree explodes into
colour, demanding your immediate attention and triggering a multitude of
thoughts and emotions in the subconscious that initiates the desire to want
to capture and possess it so that it will never be forgotten. Or is art more
about preconceived ideas, planned conscious decisions executed by the
artist. The privilege that allows the artist to carefully choose and
manipulate their subjects and then through exacting technique and use of
colour, present them in a way that suggests to us what they are and how we
should see them. The artists way to stop us in our tracks and demand our
immediate attention and forcing us to question our own perspective of the
piece. "This is a tree." It's only a tree??
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