Exploring Art Forms: 7 Creators Who Expand the Definition of Art
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From its very launch, .ART has been building a community that is driven and united by an inherently human desire: to create. Art—in all its various forms—is what sets humans apart from the rest of the animal kingdom.
But what defines a work of art? Many are just now learning to acknowledge the wider definition of an art form. Beyond well-known media like painting, photography, and sculpture, we see artists of all kinds making a living by sharing their creations with the world. Writers, musicians, scientists, furniture makers—the list goes on.
Anything is art if you’re the master. As Charles Bukowski wrote in one of his poems: “To do a dangerous thing with style is what I call art. Bullfighting can be an art. Boxing can be an art. Loving can be an art. Opening a can of sardines can be an art.”
Here are some stories to illustrate the all-encompassing breadth of artists and creators across .ART’s community. As you explore, may you be inspired to ask yourself: What will I create next and how will I share it with the world?
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Case Studies
The Art of Pottery
Thodoris Galigalidis (GALIGALIDIS.ART) is a Thessaloniki-based ceramic artist and tutor. He says that for him, the best thing about working with ceramics is that it is “a very practical way of presenting your ideas. When you get the result, it’s something you cannot describe with words.”
Meanwhile in Hutchinson, Minnesota, Andrew and Katie Webster (WEBSTERPOTTERY.ART) specialize in making functional pottery. Though it didn’t happen immediately, the couple has managed to make pottery their full-time occupation.
And here’s another story of true passion: Vesna Medic (PINEPOTTERY.ART) studied economics and business in Zagreb, Croatia and works as a software quality assurance engineer, but is truly dedicated to pottery. She uses her website to host an online shop that is full of sold-out items such as vases and flowerpots.
We are motivated by the vision of our pottery being used in daily life, enhancing the lives of the people who use it. We love the idea of an object being both beautiful and functional.
Andrew & Katie Webster
Webster Pottery
The Art of Craft
Thinks spoons are ordinary? They don’t have to be. Czech craftsman Břetislav Jansa (LZICE.ART) will prove you wrong. He takes wooden spoon carving to the level of an art form, teaching courses and contributing to industry publications.
Another example is MADEINARUBA.ART, a foundation that believes in the recognition of Aruba’s artisans in local and tourism communities. The website unites these artisans and helps them showcase and sell their products directly to the local audience.
When you buy something from an artist you’re buying more than an object. You are buying hundreds of hours of errors and experimentation. You are buying years of frustration and moments of pure joy. You’re not buying just one thing, you’re buying a piece of heart, a piece of soul … a small piece of someone else’s life.
Made in Aruba
Arts & Crafts Foundation
The Art of Comics
Are you a Marvel fan? Do some of your best childhood memories come involve Tintin, Batman, or Archie? Comics have often been mistakenly considered as for kids only or regarded as low art. This is all changing now, with names like KAWS, Kenny Scharf, and Takashi Murakami finding inspiration for their work in comics and cartoons.
At .ART, comics are represented by numerous artists including Justin Castaneda (WHENUWERELITTLE.ART), who won the 2015 S.P.A.C.E. Prize for Best Web Comic. Another notable example is PRETTYWEIRD.ART, the “love child” of Bird and Ethan Mongin. Illustrators and storytellers, they collaborate on paintings, graphic novels, and projects ranging from magazine illustrations to clothing design. Their love for science fiction, horror, and all sub-genres of metal are perceptible in their spectacular illustrations.
The Art of Food
Rupa (CHARMINGMINIATURES.ART) is a chef trained at the renowned culinary school Le Cordon Bleu who also creates detailed miniature food pieces of art. She replicates some of the dishes featured on the menu at the restaurant she is working. Guests can appreciate the taste and then purchase a miniature souvenir.
Netherlands-based coffee company Sprout Coffee Roasters (SPROUTCOFFEEROASTERS.ART) treats coffee sourcing and roasting as a true art. The team believes that they can give meaning and value to their dedicated farmers and a desire to create a sustainable chain of coffee production. They also host master classes to teach anyone the art of making beautiful micro foam with fun shapes.
We want to impact the people in coffee by building partnerships and creating a community where everyone can share their knowledge and grow together.
Sprout Coffee Roasters
Coffee Company
The Art of NFT
Let’s face it: NFTs are a great divider of the art world. “This too shall pass,” you might say, but the digital artworks craze doesn’t seem to be slowing down – yet.
With .ART’s mission being inherently linked to innovation and tech, we are curious and appreciative of all adopters, including the crypto trailblazers. Some of them have once-in-a-lifetime domain names, like BLOCKCHAIN.ART and LIMITEDEDITION.ART, while NFT liquidity pool ALL.ART has outdone many by being a three-letter website name.
And some projects have already made headlines. Launched by the renowned digital artist Pak, BURN.ART allows users to burn NFTs to receive ashes ($ASH – Pak’s token) in return. All in all, dozens of cryptocurrency projects are finding a home with .ART every day, proving that this, too, is an art form.
The Art of Ecology
As we know, every day should be Earth Day and despite the multitude of projects and initiatives striving to address the issues of the crumbling ecosystem, we are still behind. Needless to say, .ART is thrilled to host a plethora of projects which put ecological issues on its agenda.
To begin, WORLDBIENNALE.ART is a worldwide traveling innovation laboratory for the contemporary arts with a strong focus on sustainability and responsibility. Another example is the Institute for Land and Environmental Art (ILEA.ART), an international research center that supports the practice, study, and mediation of artistic interaction with nature.
Catherine Coulson (CATCOULSON.ART) uses her artwork to explore ecology, biodiversity, and conservation, and contemplate our connection with nature. Curious about the relationship between aesthetics and emotion, Coulson uses photography, poetry, gouache, and mixed media sketches to demonstrate thought and responsibility.
My work considers our relationship with nature. I am interested in the sense of calmness and curiosity that we often feel in nature. Far from overwhelming us, these complex ecosystems can serve as places of reflection and emotional restoration.
Catherine Coulson
Visual Artist
The Art of Poetry
As with many art forms, there have been many claims made about poetry through the years, most of which have been refuted. Is poetry dead? It is boring? Far from it, actually: many poems have become cultural icons.
These days, poets are also taking to the Internet equipped with .ART website names. Shamanic (SHAMANICVOCAL.ART) is a Beatboxer, MC, Spoken Word Poet, and Singer/Songwriter living in Japan. Luxembourg-based friends Flame and Davide (LETZWRITE.ART) were compelled to create a platform where they could share their poetry, and discuss the role that poetry plays in our modern, digitalized world.
Running Dog (RUNDOG.ART) is an online arts publication platform producing articles on contemporary art, which aims to provide a platform for experimental modes of arts writing. Thanks to their graft, you can have access to a range of quality work by poets, critics, film scholars, musicians, and fiction writers.
The Art of Calligraphy
Calligraphy and lettering are forms of art almost as old as the invention of the written language itself. A practice that requires a balanced mind, it lives on in the world full of noise and distractions.
For those who would like to learn and happen to be based in New Delhi, there is CALLIGRAPHIA.ART, an institution for the people who want to master the art of handwriting. Be it a student struggling with the challenge of poor handwriting or a retired person who is passionate about writing beautifully, Calligraphia takes on all challenges.
The Art of Makeup
Makeup is an industry worth more than $530 billion, with popular trends helping it grow each year. Makeup goes far beyond today’s trends, however, as it dates back all the way to ancient Egypt. And the .ART community is no stranger to makeup artists.
Samantha Coles (SAMANTHACOLES.ART) is both a makeup artist and a hairstylist living in Australia. She has worked red carpet events, including The BRIT Awards and has a host of celebrity clients like David Beckham, Ruby Rose, Snoop Dogg, and Rebel Wilson.
Sol Kellan (SOLKELLAN.ART) is a Mexican costume creator and makeup designer. She designed the characters’ costumes for Jesus Christ Superstar 2019, directed by Nick Evans. She also designed costumes and makeup for Natalia Lafourcade, Chula the Clown, and Sampo Kurppa, to name a few.
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