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Define Art
Art has remained part of our life since humanity came into existence. Human beings have been looking at, forming, enjoying, and criticizing art for many years now. Art can mean many things to different people. Generally, I consider art to be a form of communication. It is a way through which people communicate or express their ideas or emotions through various forms. The true definition of art is hard to identify because it entails a vast number of meanings. Art is viewed in different ways, seen in different ways, admired and valued differently. Art is quite vague and can mean anything being conceived as artistic work. The meaning of art arises from the artist’s intentions and the ideas and feelings it brings forth to the viewer. Its meaning may also be based on various cultures of different societies. Art refers to “the application or expression of creative or imaginative skills through visual forms such as sculptures, drawings, paintings and many other things which are attractive and beautiful, and worth being appreciated by others” (Andina 28). In this paper, I explore the meaning and purpose of art and cooking as an example of art.
Art is beautiful, magical, memorable, fascinating, educational, and historical and abstract at times. Art is an expression of the things that we think, imagine, and feel. It is said that some things can only be expressed in symbols, drawings, or paintings. This is where art comes in. Art captures the eye, and it is not something that an individual has to study to enjoy or understand (Andina 28). Art inspires and transports our minds into different realities, moving us to the subconscious locations that we never knew to be in existence. Art entails imaginative skills because it is a representation of the real world. Also, its meaning may be dependent on the cultural context. The function of art can be to communicate spiritual, social, political, philosophical, and economic ideas (Andina 28). Art can also be used to create a sense of aesthetics, for pleasure, to generate emotions, and to explore the nature of perceptions among people (Zaidel 28). Art is also a way of exploring and appreciating formal elements or representations. From another perspective, art has been exploited as a means by which society establishes for itself a form of self-expression and interpretation. In its broadest sense, it is a way through which people communicate their skills (Zaidel 36). Its meaning is shaped by techniques, forms, and materials used, as well as the feelings and ideas it creates in viewers. Art stands out to be an act of expression of thoughts, feelings, and observations.
Food is a basic need, but some food cannot be consumed raw, and they have to undergo the cooking process. Cooking is one of the original forms of artistic activities that still exist. To be a chef also requires a display of various skills just like a craftsman, until you are able to come up with a delicious meal. Unlike other artistic works, cooking has the capacity to engage all the senses (Bottineli and Margherita 18). As a chef, I understand that a dish’s presentation is as significant as its aroma, texture, and taste of what is served. Cooking involves a comprehensive process of preparing meals and foods to be eaten or served to people. A person may not be born and become an automatic chef but has to undergo some training to acquire necessary cooking skills. Cooking is a form of art because it can only be known through rigorous training and practice (Bottineli and Margherita 78). Nearly everything that is done by a chef in the kitchen adds up as art. For example, decoration of food and arrangement of plates in the kitchen adds up as art forms. As I mentioned earlier, art inspires people, and this can be seen through food and cooking. Cooking as an art is educational, and it also brings people together whenever this exercise is being done. Many chefs are artists just by the way they present the food cooked. The presentation of the food itself is an art itself as it makes food more appealing. Additionally, chefs are innovative and creative regarding how they cook their dishes (Bottineli and Margherita, 102). Furthermore, chefs can also cross boundaries beyond science and learn more artistic ways to create new, attractive, and appealing meals. These efforts and processes make cooking an art.
In conclusion, art has a lot of meaning in life, and it is worth embracing. Art helps individuals to express their ideas, thoughts, and feelings. Society requires art for its growth and development. Through arts, we become more innovative and creative, thus enhancing talents, abilities, and skills. Art results in the growth and development of the creative economy. Art opens our world of imagination as it opens the mind and heart to more possibilities. Art enhances problem-solving skills and makes people more observant in life. It may also improve our analytical skills based on what we see or feel. It also boosts self-esteem and enhances a sense of responsibility and accomplishment. Lastly, defining art makes sense because it helps us express ourselves and understand the world’s realities.
Works Cited
Andina, Tiziana. “What is Art?: The Question of Definition Reloaded.” Brill Research Perspectives in Art and Law 1.2 (2017): 1-88.
Bottinelli, Silvia, and Margherita d’Ayala Valva, eds. The Taste of Art: Cooking, Food, and Counterculture in Contemporary Practices. University of Arkansas Press, 2017.
Zaidel, Dahlia W. “Culture and art: Importance of art practice, not aesthetics, to early human culture.” Progress in Brain Research. Vol. 237. Elsevier, 2018. 25-40.