Art : idea vs skill

Another Perspective:

Since the days of the European Renaissance, the guild model had master artists and craftsmen coexisting in the art world of the post-humanist period. As new forms of artistic expression emerged, involving architects, music composers, film directors, and others where multiple contributors played a role in creating art, questions of authorship, both in terms of conceiving and crafting, have posed significant ethical and philosophical challenges in both the art world and academia. The relevance of this question grew substantially after Marcel Duchamp's introduction of readymades and reached its zenith with the rise of installation art. This was especially true with the arrival of the Young British Artists (YBA) and others in the new world of market-driven art, where artworks were often commissioned or outsourced. Interestingly, the arguments put forth by William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement remained ever-present, ensuring that this debate stayed alive.

When we consider that it's not just the idea but also its translation through craftsmanship that is exhibited, the question arises: if the idea is the sole essence, then why does one need to rely on the craft of making or translating for an art exhibition, as discussed in Sol LeWitt's tenets of conceptual art? Conversely, if one argues that craftsmanship alone defines art, then questions arise about the evolution of aesthetics and the role of artistic imagination. Beyond mechanical reproduction, something even a computerized printer can achieve with precision, where does the creative aspect come into play? This dilemma, it seems, is one that the art world may never fully resolve.

However, despite these arguments, when one witnesses people admiring a painting of a soiled shoe, even though in real life, they wouldn't go near such an object, it continues to raise questions about the role of craftsmanship in art. Whether it's the art of imagination, the art of craft, the craft of imagination through the art of craft, or the craft of the art of imagination, this debate will persist. This debate becomes especially intriguing in an era when the concept of the author's demise is contemplated within post-modernist theoretical constructs, ironically often associated with the names of their authors – a conundrum that can be a nightmare for art teachers.