What is art?
Try to define that word and you’ll find that no definition is able to fully describe its glorious results other than to experience it by oneself.
I will not define art here nor will I even try to, that would be rather egoistic of me to construct such a guideline on what art should be or should not be. I would be dictating such a subject that involves individual taste. To do such a thing would be limiting its freedom which will ultimately destroy the individual qualities in art, which in fact has made art become the preferred (if not the only) medium to truly express ourselves in any possible way. Adding to this, I am merely an amateur to this vivid subject, I see myself unfit to discuss thoroughly of such an intelligent matter.
I as an amateur will simply share my views towards this issue because I am bothered by an opinion, an opinion that I see as a faux pas or a social mistake. Scold me, criticize me, do as you wish to do, it is but a novice’s opinion. To take deeply of it is unwise.
–
Unlike my family, I am not gifted in any other form of art, my hands cannot portray vigorously what my eyes colorfully see, nor can they longer vibrantly play the fascinating instruments of music as I have done in the past. That is why I chose photography as my medium to express my creativity and this expression of creativity has led me to 10 years of learning.
Given the appropriate amount of time and the eagerness to learn photography, the technicalities of photography can be easily learned by anyone in mere weeks, but it does not and cannot end there. Photography is more than simply compositions, lighting, and so on. I see photography as an art, and if you concur with me towards this simple equation then you will also understand that photography too should express what we wish to express. This is a form of photography, which in my opinion seems to be lacking in Indonesia.
I was filled with fury, while I was listening to a workshop concerning photography. The seemingly intelligent person conducting the workshop spoke with a clear, loud and passionate voice,
…”so photography does not require philosophy, poetry, artsy ways of thinking or any other vague concepts, you just see, compose and shoot, this will do for any form of photography! By understanding this you will easily make money-making photos and we all want that right?”…
No my friend, I do not. What I truly want is my photos to reflect on what I feel. For me photography is putting one’s head, one’s eye, and one’s heart on the same axis. If you are a photographer have you done such an intimate thing? Or are you merely shooting without remorse? What good are my photos if it cannot take the viewer of my photos into the realm of my emotions?
What do I mean by all this tirade? I simply mean that main stream photography in Indonesia is dull, empty and shallow. If you see photography as art then you should see that there is no uniqueness in them; there is no individual taste, there are no questions to engage the mind, there are no expressions to be felt. Art should challenge you, it should make you think, it should make you see the beauty, the sadness, the happiness, the rage of the object of the art or the expresser of the art.
The easiness of modern photography has indeed advantaged us greatly but it has also simplified it and to simplify things is often to take away its essence. If you see photography as an art then take part of your heart and express it in every photo you take. There are no rules towards expressing oneself, remember that ultimate beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Express yourself freely without the boundaries constructed by our society and you will find an essence that is being undermined and forgotten by modernity.
What is art without heart?
It is dull, empty and shallow.
Mind my ranting it is but a novice’s opinion
In order to 'give a meaning' to the world, one has to feel oneself involved in what he frames through the viewfinder - Henri Cartier Bresson
