What does art mean and what power does it have on both the artist and the audience?
There is no denying that art is a powerful tool to get a message across that sometimes is tough to verbally share.
Young artist, Clara Qualls from Joburg north shares with us what art means to her.
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Here is what she had to say…
Art has been a special part of my life since I was little. I see the world through pictures and images and love the way art can evoke emotion and say so much without needing any words.
Impressionist artists such as Monet and Vincent van Gogh have always had a place in my heart, making me wish to live in their worlds of swirling colours. Art helps people see things from a new perspective, which is something that the world is in desperate need of. It is good to look at things and wonder how we can see them differently and even how we can make them better.
Art is how I cope with the stressful things that are going on around me. As a Christian, it is even a way for me to worship. I like to focus on what is beautiful about art, but sometimes even sad or frightening things can be beautiful. Something that fascinates me is how artists can take a very unpleasant subject and make a painting that reflects the hidden beauty.
An example is the late South African artist Gerard Sekoto and his beautiful, bright-coloured paintings that reflect the state of black African life without taking from the artwork’s beauty. Picasso is another artist that makes this effect.
In his painting, The Old Guitarist, a sad old man is sitting while playing his guitar. The scene is depressing, but the painting itself is lovely nonetheless. There is mystery and wonder in creating something new and that is why I love art.
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