If I think that art is the manifestation of spiritual state instead of symbol and characteristics of some objects then I shall not be wrong. If you have an idea for an art and you think that you can have a masterpiece from that idea then you should execute it spiritually rather than in symbolic or object oriented forms.
When we study about art and its history, we do not only learn about that particular art but also the civilization of the people use to live there and then. It is utmost important to start looking upon the ideas which created those art rather than the pictures which is present upfront. The seed of those particular ideas can be found in the art but only after diving deep. Noticing the idea and understanding the civilization of that time will help the historian or the art explorers to understand the realism of the past, otherwise we will be only introduced to the artistic thinking and techniques which doesn’t play the most important role in the human civilisation than the fact that knowing the idea do.
History of art should be pointing towards the spiritual history of human beings and it should offer us a chance to explore the possibilities of future civilizations. It should not be only the history of the objects and subjects or even the techniques. It is important that the art that are studied by the historians should play a positive role in the present scene to create the work for the future which doesn’t only admired and appreciated by the critics but also become a history in the future which is significant and valuable for the human race.
When we look in the past we are imagining the future. Understanding an art is important but the more important part of these all process is feeling the art and searching the spiritual, dynamic and floating aspects of the artistic endeavour. I am no historian neither an art critic but as a writer I put significant value in creating something that captures the present. It should define a role to the people around us and give them an aim to move forward and art is something same. It is valuable part of a human life and it follows the same pattern as writing. It offers visual representation of verbal or written aspects.
When we read an old book we understand the incidents and accidents of that time while we also understand the writer leaning areas and in the same way when we look on a painting or any visual art we see the patterns of time period when it was created. It is a watermark of that time which is preserved in the artistic form and artist is mere a medium to create that mark.
Vikash Kalra is a self-taught artist and writer based in New Delhi whose work has been exhibited across India and is held in several private and corporate collections.